Commanders' glaring hole could have obvious fix after roster cuts

There was a lot to unpack when the Washington Commanders revealed their initial 53-man roster. But looking at the way general manager Adam Peters has gone about his business this offseason, there could be more twists to come before everything is finalized.

Peters' aggressive nature dictates that no stone will be left unturned. He'll go over new options from the veteran pool or the waiver wire after hundreds of players were made surplus to requirements around the league. The Commanders have loftier expectations on their shoulders this season, so nothing but being bold will do.

One of the biggest apparent flaws on the Commanders' initial roster was on the offensive line. At least from the outside looking in, there was no clear backup to starting center Tyler Biadasz. That has to change before preparations for Week 1 against the New York Giants gather pace.

Commanders need a backup center, and Cole Strange could be a useful addition

There's a chance someone like Michael Deiter or Nick Harris is brought back onto the practice squad. Neither inspires much confidence, so taking a chance on someone like Cole Strange wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Strange was one of the oddest first-round picks in recent memory. He was projected as someone who'd be taken just outside the top 100 by most analysts and scouts. However, the New England Patriots thought he was worth the risk at No. 29 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Bill Belichick made a mistake with Strange. He was solid, but never looked capable of reaching his first-round billing. After experiencing some struggles this summer under the new regime, the Patriots opted to pull the plug on this costly experiment.

Nobody would be expecting Strange to start in Washington. Biadasz is the established center and a pillar of consistency on the interior. What the Commanders need is a capable understudy who could provide relief if he's forced to miss time, which he did twice during the 2024 regular season.

Strange does have struggles against the run, but he's a sound pass protector. He also has the scope to play either center or guard, which is the sort of versatility every team covets in their backup options.

The Commanders might have alternatives in mind, but Strange is a solid pro who could benefit from a change of scenery. It's a low-risk move that could solidify one remaining issue along the offensive line depth chart, at least for one season.

It'll be interesting to see what unfolds, but the Commanders need somebody.

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