It'll likely take more than one off-season for the Washington Commanders to fix the roster and replenish it with top young talent, but that doesn't mean general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn can't lay the foundation through free agency and the draft this year.
One player who could be on the Commanders' radar is Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The veteran cornerback is set to hit free agency this offseason, and Bleacher Report listed him as a "potential dream signing" for the Commanders.
"Washington has to add cornerback help, especially with Kendall Fuller slated to hit the market," Bleacher Report writes. "Adding Stephon Gilmore from the rival Cowboys would make a ton of sense, both because he's a quality starter and because he's an experienced leader who could help in the locker room. This Commanders team isn't accustomed to success, and Gilmore, a former Defensive Player of the Year and one-time Super Bowl champ can help show Washington how to win."
Gilmore was the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, and he's also a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. In 2023, he had two interceptions for the third straight season, plus 13 passes defended for the Cowboys, his most since 2019. Of his 12-year career, Gilmore has had multiple interceptions in 10 of them.
Outside of defensive tackle, the Commanders need all the help they can find on defense. Washington was dead-last in points and yards allowed per game and was 27th in rushing yards allowed per game.
Gilmore can be a more than serviceable option in the backend of the Commanders' defense, not just with his play but leadership as well. Gilmore could be the perfect mentor to second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and help the 2023 first-round pick bounce back from a rough rookie campaign.
His presence can also help the rest of the Washington defense adjust to Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.'s scheme.
Solid veterans can be the backbone of a rebuilding team. Not only can they produce, but they can mentor young players and show them what it takes to make it in the NFL. If Gilmore was interested in signing with the Commanders, they should be willing to do what it takes to sign him.
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