Commanders 2024 Free Agency Thread

[mredskins]

Grade: B

After losing Antonio Gibson in free agency, the Commanders manage to upgrade their third-down running back situation with Ekeler at just $5.5 million per year. He will turn 29 before the season begins, and he had 628 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in 2023 (14 games). That's a drop-off for the talented back who had more than 1,550 scrimmage yards in back-to-back seasons (2021-22) and 38 touchdowns during that span.

Ekeler struggled to stay on the field and averaged only 3.5 yards per carry in 2023, and with the Chargers' offensive philosophy changing under new coach Jim Harbaugh, Ekeler was available in free agency. Despite previously signing a four-year, $24.5 million deal before the 2020 season, Ekeler is seeing the reality of the running back market with a much lower offering this time around.


The Commanders needed a second back to run behind Brian Robinson Jr. and work as the team's primary receiving option out of the backfield. Washington ranked 27th in rushing yards last season (93.6 per game), though it ranked in the top 10 for running back targets in the passing game (109). Ekeler likely won't see the volume in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's offense that he once did in Los Angeles, but he does have an opportunity to be a valuable playmaker thanks to his speed and receiving skills. He has the tools to be among the league's better third-down backs in this setting. -- Miller