Commanders' path to solving lingering problem just became crystal clear

Aside from wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract chaos that's currently enveloping the Washington Commanders, there is another matter that needs Adam Peters' attention.

And now, there is a clearer path to get it resolved.

This centers on second-round pick Trey Amos not signing his rookie contract as yet. He's not alone, which is thanks to the fully guaranteed deals given to Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (No. 33) and Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (No. 34).

That raised the eyebrows of every other second-rounder. They wanted either more guaranteed money or full guarantees. Teams were reluctant, but one was always going to crack with training camp only a few short days away.

Commanders have a clear path to finally sign rookie cornerback Trey Amos

The San Francisco 49ers were the first domino to fall. They signed defensive lineman Alfred Collins, who was the No. 43 overall selection out of Texas, to his rookie deal. The money was already set in stone at $10.3 million, but the interior force now has more than $9 million of it guaranteed.

This is the new measuring stick. And it should set off a ripple effect that will get most, if not all, second-round picks signed before the start of training camp.

Peters doesn't need to make this more complicated than it needs to be. He's doing that with McLaurin's extension, so increasing the guarantees slightly without allocating a fully guaranteed deal for Amos should bring a successful conclusion to this saga.

Amos wouldn't be permitted to participate in training camp without his deal signed. He was allowed to take the field over Washington's offseason program, but the Collective Bargaining Agreement states that's where taking the field ends without signing on the dotted line.

Now that Collins has broken the mold for fully guaranteed second-round deals, this should be relatively straightforward for the Commanders to figure out. Then, Peters can focus his entire attention on trying to reach a deal with McLaurin before the relationship sours further.

This saga will change the landscape around the NFL for years to come. The rookie bar has been raised for second-rounders, and all it took was for two teams to break from the norm. It didn't make things easier for anybody else, but this is a big boost for the prospects following in their footsteps moving forward.

Compared to the other problem facing Peters, this seems minuscule. And it must be done quickly.

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