Grading the latest five Commanders' moves including Michael Gallup signing

Attention might be slowly turning towards the 2025 NFL Draft, but general manager Adam Peters is still busy behind the scenes making moves to strengthen the Washington Commanders' position. And one can make a good case for this roster looking much better than the squad that fell short in the NFC Championship game.

The Commanders are on the cusp of something special. Peters' job is to make sure their astonishing early accomplishments become something more sustainable. He's gone all out to achieve this objective, securing two big trades and re-signing the large majority of players who made lasting impressions in 2024.

This stage of the offseason is about adding competition. It's about finding depth pieces that could perhaps become something better than initially expected. It's about having the pieces in place to provide flexibility when the draft rolls around.

Achieving this objective is important considering the Commanders only have five selections at their disposal currently. Peters knows this project is ahead of schedule and changed his ethos slightly. But the purpose with which he's gone about his business further convinced fans he's the right man for the job.

With that being said, we took a look and graded Peters' latest five moves. We'll begin with the addition of wide receiver Michael Gallup.

Grading the latest five Commanders' offseason moves in 2025

Commanders signed Michael Gallup

When Michael Gallup lacked the motivation to settle with the Las Vegas Raiders after the Dallas Cowboys let him go, he took drastic action. The wide receiver walked away from the gridiron entirely, retiring from the NFL after just six seasons.

But the fire returned. Gallup felt there was still meat on the bone and wanted to get back into the game. The Washington Commanders are giving him the chance to resurrect his career.

Gallup knows Dan Quinn well. Some of his old teammates are in Washington, which should ensure a smooth transition. Just how much he has left in the tank is anyone's guess, but it's not costing the Commanders anything to find out one way or another.

At the peak of his powers, Gallup is capable of stretching the field and making big catches downfield. Injuries derailed a once-promising career, but a good rest over the last year might have restored some freshness all things considered.

• Signing grade: B+

Gallup went from Washington's one-time nemesis to a new, fascinating offseason storyline in D.C. This deal comes with no guarantees whatsoever. The former third-round pick has to earn everything, but his previous connection to some already around should serve him well.

Commanders signed Foster Sarrell

The Washington Commanders made one monumental splash on their offensive line this offseason by trading for elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil. This is a game-changer in no uncertain terms. It'll involve some reshuffling for others, but it's a small price to pay.

Cornelius Lucas knew his playing time would be limited and signed for the Cleveland Browns in free agency. The Commanders need to find a dependable swing tackle in his absence. Foster Sarell is getting a chance to fill the void.

Sarell didn't play much for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. He's got the size and some decent athleticism to call upon, but the former undrafted free agent out of Stanford remains something of an unknown quantity. The Commanders saw something that warrants further investigation. Capitalizing on the opportunity is crucial.

This might be nothing more than a camp body signing when it's all said and done. However, there is an opening in a backup role behind Tunsil or whoever is playing right tackle between Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman. Of course, this all changes if the Commanders add another edge protector via the draft.

• Signing grade: B-

If Sarell cannot seize the moment, it's hard to envisage a scenario where he's on an NFL roster in 2025. That's how high the stakes are for the lineman this summer.

Commanders reworked Deebo Samuel's contract

The Commanders believe Deebo Samuel Sr. has a lot more to give despite a down year in 2024. That wasn't an opinion shared by the San Francisco 49ers, who couldn't wait to remove the wide receiver from the equation before free agency.

This meant the Commanders got a good deal for Samuel, with a fifth-round pick being enough to rubber-stamp the transaction. Washington also reaffirmed its faith in the versatile offensive weapon by reworking his contract.

Samuel's $17 million salary will be fully guaranteed. There's a chance to earn an extra $3 million through incentives. This removes the need to extend him initially. It keeps urgency high from the player's perspective and also means the Commanders won't be on the hook for any dead money if this relationship becomes short-lived.

It's smart business from Adam Peters' perspective. He knows what Samuel can bring to the table after watching him flourish in San Francisco. At the same time, Washington's front-office leader was right to hedge his bets.

• Signing grade: A

This is a win-win for all parties. Samuel has some extra financial security with the promise of more if the production is as expected. For the Commanders, it keeps one of their new acquisitions happy and firmly focused on football. That's the most important thing.

Commanders re-signed Clelin Ferrell

Adam Peters' lack of conviction in this free agent class worked in the favor of Washington Commanders players looking to get re-signed. There was an emphasis on running it back in the hope that continuity and familiarity would bring similar or better results. Not everyone stuck around, but the large majority did.

Some were more contentious than others. Most fans and analysts thought Clelin Ferrell would be moved on with little fanfare attached after an underwhelming first season in Washington. Peters had other ideas, working out another one-year deal with the defensive end.

The Commanders have added to their trench options with the promise of more on the way during the 2025 NFL Draft. This means Ferrell needs to prove himself all over again in pursuit of making the roster. And looking at his overall body of work last season, these improvements must be drastic.

Ferrell flashed brief promise against the run. He found generating consistent pressure difficult, which saw his snap count diminish significantly down the stretch and into the postseason.

• Signing grade: C

The former No. 4 overall pick has a lot of hard work ahead. Peters gave him another shot, but the margin for error is long gone given the extra competition in Washington's edge-rushing room.

Commanders re-signed Jalyn Holmes

If Clelin Ferrell performed below expectations in 2024, the opposite can be said of Jalyn Holmes. The unheralded defensive lineman wasn't expected to generate any meaningful reps, but some early promise when called upon forced the coaching staff into a change of pace.

Holmes became a gradually influential part of the rotation. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but the former fourth-round pick was more than deserving of the one-year deal received from Adam Peters this offseason.

Building on this newfound momentum is key. The Commanders released Jonathan Allen but signed Javon Kinlaw. The money given to the new arrival suggests he'll play a significant role alongside Daron Payne and Johnny Newton on the interior. And with a big price tag to justify, he'll need to hit the ground running.

As for Holmes? He'll be hoping to earn a spot on the 53-man roster first. That's the opening objective for anyone on the fringes. After that, it's about accumulating enough trust to get starting reps despite the improvements made to the defensive trenches.

• Signing grade: B

There should be plenty of urgency attached to Holmes and everyone else fighting for depth chart standing. Peters raised the stakes for everyone by fortifying the defensive front. The Ohio State graduate gave himself a fighting chance with some eye-catching performances in 2024. But make no mistake, complacency cannot become an issue.

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