The Washington Commanders have a serious problem at left tackle, and the ripple effects could define their 2025 season. Laremy Tunsil’s injury leaves a significant void on the blind side for quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the early returns on the Commanders’ contingency plans are not encouraging.

The assumed replacement is offensive lineman Brandon Coleman, who was originally slated to play guard this season. That positional shift was supposed to be a better fit for his skill set. From a scouting perspective, Coleman always profiled as a player with upside on the inside. He projects well as a guard, but the tackle spot is a different story entirely.

Why Coleman at left tackle is concerning

There is a reason Washington went out and acquired Tunsil in the first place.

The Commanders wanted to legitimize the blind side for Daniels, a quarterback who takes significant hits in the pocket and when he scrambles. The goal was to mitigate that as much as possible. Coleman was not serviceable enough to hold down the starting left tackle job, which is precisely why the team brought in an All-Pro caliber player at good value.

With Tunsil in the lineup, Washington’s offensive line graded out as decent to good. Without him, the unit drops tremendously in the offensive line power rankings. Coleman being thrust back into the starting role feels like a step backward, and the vibes on this one are leaning toward potential disaster.

A better solution might already be on the roster

Rather than rolling with Coleman at left tackle, there is an argument for a different configuration.

Moving Josh Connerly Jr. to left tackle and shifting Sam Cosmi to right tackle could be the smarter play. Cosmi is a 6-7 mauler who started his NFL career at tackle and showed some natural ability at the position. Critics point to a few reps where speed rushers beat him, but overall, he was solid in that role before the team moved him inside to guard.

The depth behind the starters only reinforces this idea.

Trent Scott is the swing offensive lineman, but he profiles better as a pulling guard than as a tackle in pass protection. Chris Paul plays guard. Matt Gulbin plays center and guard. The room is full of guards, and the one player who can legitimately play tackle is starting inside.

Having Cosmi and Connerly on the edges protecting against defensive ends and edge rushers makes more sense than forcing Coleman into a role the team already decided he could not handle.

Could Taylor Decker be the next call?

There is also the possibility that a Taylor Decker call comes down the pike soon. The fit makes sense on multiple levels, and there is a connection worth noting: a Commanders quarterback and Decker spent time together in Detroit. At minimum, a call or a reach out seems likely, though a signing is far from guaranteed.

One thing is very clear about this Washington offensive line situation. The Commanders cannot afford to stand pat and hope Coleman figures it out at left tackle. Whether the answer is an internal reshuffling of Cosmi and Connerly or an external addition like Decker, the front office needs to act.

Daniels is too important to leave exposed behind a patchwork blind side.