Daily Slop: 12 Mar 26 – WR Treylon Burks speaks to the DMV local media after re-signing with the Commanders

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A to Z Sports

Grading the signing: Commanders land young, ascending LB Leo Chenal to thrive in Daronte Jones' defense

A to Z Sports Kansas City beat writer Charles Goldman says that Chenal was a key part of the Chiefs' defense, and still has his best ahead of him.

Chenal was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in 2022 out of the University of Wisconsin. Chenal has played the role of a physical downhill SAM linebacker in Steve Spagnuolo's 4-3 scheme, becoming an integral part of Kansas City's base and heavy personnel packages, bringing aggressive run defense and blitzing ability while rounding out his coverage skills. Over four seasons with the Chiefs, Chenal became a two-time Super Bowl champion, recording 218 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, six passes defended, and one interception across 65 regular-season games and 44 starts. He feels like a player with some untapped potential as a full-time pass-rusher in a 3-4 scheme." - Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports Kansas City

He's an elite athlete who had a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score, and it helps him thrive in coverage and become an effective pass rusher as well. At 6-3, 250 pounds, Chenal can fly and cover a lot of ground, which is what Jones wants in his defense. The Commanders got a younger ascending player who is hitting his prime with a larger role coming his way, and also an overall top LB in the NFL at a good price.

GRADE: A

#Commanders Leo Chenal deal: three years, $24.75M, $12.4M gtd, $6.5M signing bonus, salaries $1.6M, (gtd), $7.1M ($4.3M gtd), $7.6M; up to $510K annually in per game active roster bonuses, $140K annual workout bonuses. APY; $8.25M

- Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 11, 2026

We also discussed a new addition, LB Leo Chenal. Although he's not a finished product as a coverage LB, you can see the elite athleticism that he has.@MarkBullockNFL captures a clip where Chenal is isolated in coverage and thrives. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/zN9czTvxqf

- George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) March 11, 2026

Bullock's Film Room (subscription)

What Tight End Chig Okonkwo brings to the Washington Commanders

He's another explosive athlete, though at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds, he's a little undersized for the tight end position. That lighter frame makes him vulnerable as a run blocker, but it comes with benefits too. He's more agile and shifty as a receiver, which makes him tough for linebackers and safeties to cover.

Undoubtedly. Okonkwo is coming to Washington to be the Commanders top receiving tight end, a spot that was vacated by Zach Ertz. He doesn't win in the same ways as Ertz, so new offensive coordinator David Blough will have to change how the Commanders use the tight end in the passing game, but fortunately Okonkwo is a versatile piece that can be used in a lot of different ways.

The most obvious way to use Okonkwo's athletic ability is vertically. He has good long speed and can threaten in the seams and down the field while linebackers and safeties struggle to stay with him.

Washington commanders new TE Chig Okonkwo is like that. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/OfDnoDPJvJ

- Chris Bryant (@HogfarmerChris) March 11, 2026

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders add safety Nick Cross to new-look defense

Cross gives Washington some needed speed in the back end of the defense. The Bowie, Md. native and alum of D.C.-area power DeMatha Catholic ran a 4.34-second 40 at the NFL combine in 2022, the fastest among safeties that year.

Only 20 years old at the time, Cross was selected by the Colts, who traded up to get him in the third round of the draft at 96th overall. He's started every game for Indianapolis the last two seasons, totaling 266 tackles (11 for loss), four interceptions, 10 passes defended, 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits in that span.

Like many of the other defensive players Washington has agreed to acquire this week, Cross's versatility is one of his selling points. Last season, he played almost everywhere on defense - in the post, in the box, on the line, in the slot, and out wide.

Nick Cross tied for the most run stops resulting in an unsuccessful offensive play among safeties last season with 33.

Cross also tied for the 2nd-most run stuffs (10) and run tackles (59) at the position.@Commanders | #HTTChttps://t.co/pXouUVHsnApic.twitter.com/iIod9PLfvO

- Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 11, 2026

"I was a Washington fan all the way, I lived and died with Washington, cried when they lost"

DMV native @Nick_Cross26 from our interview at @TerpsFootball Pro Day in 2022

Now Cross will play for the hometown team @JPFinlayNBCS@jordangiorgio#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/bg7QyThlOj

- NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) March 12, 2026

Nick Cross tweet after the Caps won the Cup https://t.co/PLl5nudjoq

- JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 11, 2026

Commanders Roundtable

Washington Commanders Sign Former Chiefs Defensive Lineman Charles Omenihu

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Charles Omenihu has reportedly agreed to a one year deal with Washington worth up to $7 million, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Omenihu joins the organization after three seasons in Kansas City where he posted 11.5 sacks and 62 total tackles along with three forced fumbles. He joined the organization after a stint with the San Francisco 49ers, giving Peters and the Commanders familiarity around the free agent.Omenihu was sent to the 49ers in exchange for a future draft pick after posting 11 quarterback pressures with the Houston Texans in 2021. With the 49ers, he tallied 37 total tackles with 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 2022.

The latest signing also marks a signal that the front office is doing what the fanbase hoped for - rebuilding the front seven.Omenihu becomes the latest defensive lineman in the fold after inking Odafe Oweh to a four deal worth up to $100 million, along with signing Tim Settle who adds to the interior defensive line. Former Patriots edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson became the first of three impact free agent signings on Wednesday, while Washington already re-signed Deatrich Wise Jr, Drake Jackson and Shy Tuttle ahead of the legal tampering window, which officially opened on Monday.

Year 8. https://t.co/rhSWJBeLKB

- Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) March 12, 2026

Keep Charles Omenihu away from 5 at practice. pic.twitter.com/p0VgcHPIfA

- Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 12, 2026

Riggo's Rag

Chiefs expert offers cautionary tale around Commanders' Charles Omenhiu deal

Matt Conner of Arrowhead Addict acknowledged that a season under his belt after tearing his ACL could see him return to the form of old. He also outlined a cautionary tale that Commanders fans should know about their newest acquisition.

[Charles] Omenihu is an interesting buy on the open market. He signed with K.C. in '23 as a catalytic rotational addition to the edge and it paid off to begin with: a career-high 7 sacks for a team on another deep postseason run. Then he tore his ACL in the AFC Championship and missed all but 6 games the following year.

The Chiefs brought him back on a one-year deal hoping for a rebound season, but an ankle injury nagged him, but it's easy to tell something was missing either way. Maybe some distance from the ACL tear will yield better numbers. Maybe age mixed with wear and tear will limit him. But taking the risk with an incentive-laden deal is not a bad move, all things considered."

Obviously, the Commanders will have done their due diligence on Omenihu's injury complications. They must have been satisfied with his prognosis, and hopefully, he'll get a full offseason to fully adjust and prepare for the new campaign in a different environment.

Peters also knows the player well from their time together on the San Francisco 49ers. The front-office leader knows what the player can bring to the table when healthy. Omenihu may not start, but he's a valuable chess piece capable of lining up almost anywhere in the trenches, depending on the situation.

Commanders Wire

Commanders' free agency: 5 things to know about LB Leo Chenal

Super Bowl history

Chenal's talent didn't disappear when he landed in the NFL. No, as part of the Chiefs beginning in 2022, Chenal is a two-time Super Bowl Champion. He's not just a two-time champ; he actually participated in both Super Bowl games and made an impact while he was on the field. During his rookie season, he recorded six tackles and a sack against the Philadelphia Eagles to aid the Chiefs in their 38-35 victory. The following season, the Chiefs were back in the Super Bowl, this time facing the San Francisco 49ers. Chenal continued to show his prowess by recording six tackles, one tackle for a loss, one forced fumble, and a blocked extra point in the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime win.

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders agree to deal with former Patriots edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson

Chaisson, a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was one of a slew of free-agent signings by the Patriots last year who worked out in a big way. He took a one-year deal with New England, hoping it would yield the best football of his career and fulfill some of the expectations that arrived when he was the 20th pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars six years ago.

The breakout he hoped for arrived in the form of a career-high 7.5 sacks and 59 pressures. Chaisson, 26, was at his best in the biggest games, too, notching 20 pressures in New England's four playoff games during its run to the Super Bowl.

He was No. 43 on The Athletic's list of the top 150 free agents of 2026 and seventh among edge rushers.

Chaisson hasn't quite lived up to his first-round draft slot, but he is coming off two fairly productive seasons. In 2024 with the Raiders, he had five sacks, most of them coming off the bench (he started only four games that season). His 11.6 percent pressure rate was also the second-highest among Raiders players with at least 100 pass rushes that season, according to Next Gen Stats.

Last season, he had his most productive year yet, totaling 7.5 sacks plus a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Salary cap breakdown of K'Lavon Chaisson's $11 million contract with the Commanders. https://t.co/Vm1k3GCIIJ

- Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) March 12, 2026

while we have your attention...some new stadium renderings just dropped

- Washington Commanders (@Commanders) March 11, 2026

Podcasts & videos

LIVE: WR Treylon Burks speaks to the media after re-signing https://t.co/FA1BIgzlwV

- Washington Commanders (@Commanders) March 12, 2026

Episode 1,278 - Analysis of Leo Chanal. He's young, a freak athlete, durable, a quality tackler, good in pass coverage & good vs. the run. In other words, he's the exact opposite of the Washington Commanders' 2025 defense. Great signing.https://t.co/zNwDCymaVF

- Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) March 11, 2026

NFC East links

DallasCowboys.com

Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas traded by Cowboys

The Cowboys have agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers to send Odighizuwa to the Bay Area in exchange for a third-round pick (92nd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Thomas is heading to the Tennessee Titans for a seventh-round swap in April. The Cowboys now pick No. 218 in exchange for No. 225.

The deals come a few months after Dallas traded to acquire both Pro Bowler Kenny Clark and All-Pro Quinnen Williams, revamping the defensive tackle position in a major way, recently signing Otito Ogbonnia to join second-year player Jay Toia as depth, having recently waived Perrion Winfrey.

The Cowboys will move forward now having a third-round pick, having not had one prior, and $16 million in salary that will be accountable to San Francisco, with Dallas landing $4.75 million in overall cap savings from Odighizuwa's trade and another $2.5 million by moving on from Thomas.

The #Cowboys have moved on from the following defensive players over the last 12 months:

Micah Parsons
Demarcus Lawrence
Osa Odighizuwa
Jadeveon Clowney
Dante Fowler
Chauncey Golston
Mazi Smith
Solomon Thomas
Trevon Diggs
Jourdan Lewis
Eric Kendricks
Juanyeh Thomas
Donovan...

- Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 12, 2026

Dallas Goedert was not listed as a free agent by the league.

His void date has been pushed back to Friday, a league source told @TheAthletic.

This procedural move would give both sides a chance to work out a contract extension.

- Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 11, 2026

Eagles fans will be happy to learn that the signing of Tariq Woolen likely makes the team trading A.J. Brown before June 1st damn near impossible.

- Anthony DiBona (@DiBonaNFL) March 10, 2026

They would rather not move him, even though he would like to be moved. And they are not going to move him until they get what they feel is a fair price."@AdamSchefter on ESPN just now on AJ Brown pic.twitter.com/eGv0VVKke6

- John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 11, 2026

Jihaad Campbell is expected to miss most of the offseason" with a shoulder injury, Eagles DC Vic Fangio tells @JClarkNBCS. pic.twitter.com/X3XqfFDwXr

- Philadelphia Eagles Central (@pheaglescentral) March 12, 2026

aBit o'Twitter

The Commanders did not tender RB Chris Rodriguez, per source. He is a free agent.

- Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 11, 2026

I felt they'd be lucky to have 1 splash signing (top 10) & another 2-3 of the top 50. They ended up with 5 of the top 54 from this list. Kudos to them

But imo the most important addition of the offseason is Daronte Jones. He must be licking his chops right now #RaiseHailhttps://t.co/lfaioBoxh6

- Tim Meek (@IndySkinsFan) March 11, 2026

*Whispers

Washington Commanders are having a SLEEPER BUILD free agency

Pass rush help:
-DE Odafe Oweh
-DE K'Lavon Chaisson

Run Defense help:
-DT Tim Settle

Middle LB Youth:
-LB Leo Chenal

Secondary help:
-S Nick Cross
-CB Amik Robertson

Young Athletic TE:
-TE Chig Okonkwo pic.twitter.com/EECK7jFIcK

- Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 11, 2026

We rollin!! https://t.co/oKNnSd9GvW

- Leo Chenal (@lchenal54) March 12, 2026

The Broncos need to make a decision on Dre Greenlaw before Saturday, when $2M of his 2026 salary would vest to being guaranteed. https://t.co/RdHI3VSPUS

- Nick Korte (@nickkorte) March 11, 2026

.@AdamSchefter provides an update on Maxx Crosby and interested teams inquiring about trading for him pic.twitter.com/bMd7jQUsay

- NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 11, 2026

A record breaking amount of money was spent during Free Agency Frenzy

Congrats to the NFL and all of the players #PMSLivepic.twitter.com/RFLiQtNe9Q

- Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 11, 2026

The Commanders have been busy in free agency.@robertmays, @davehelman_ and Derrik discuss Washington's additions on the defensive side of the ball. pic.twitter.com/PY56TB3x2Z

- The Athletic Football Show (@TA_FootballShow) March 11, 2026

During film study today, @MarkBullockNFL did a great job illustrating the diverse pass rush plan of new #Commander Odafe Oweh.

Here you can find a sequence of three plays, in which he records two sacks. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/erz3cmyv82

- George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) March 11, 2026

The Commanders are back to having 4 first-round picks on their D-line with K'Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh on the edge, and Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw inside.

- Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) March 11, 2026

Mariota says his family wanted to get back to the West Coast but the culture and system in Washington outweighed the geography. Adds that seeing David Blough build his offense "was a challenge I didnt want to pass up"

- JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 11, 2026

Mariota: "I find this mentor role really rewarding."

- John Keim (@john_keim) March 11, 2026

#Commanders C/G Nick Allegretti on @team980 now "I've really enjoyed center throughout my life...it is the position I'm most comfortable at."

- Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) March 11, 2026

Odafe and K'Lavon went crazy in this playoff game. Odafe had 3 sacks 2 forced fumbles and K'Lavon had 2 sacks https://t.co/ARmG7Thgt9

- Eddy Del Negro (@EDtoooFLATT) March 11, 2026

BREAKING: The #Colts and QB Daniel Jones have reached agreement on a 2-year, $88M deal that can be worth up to $100M with incentives.

Jones gets $44M per year from Indy and could make up to $50M per year. @Schultz_Report was on it. pic.twitter.com/W3nFovkDJa

- Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 11, 2026

Thats a fantastic deal for Daniel Jones. $88M is more than 2 tags. Guarantee is far higher than one tag. Upside is more if he had been tagged twice. And he gets free agency again in 2028? Thats a great job by Jones' camp.

- Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) March 11, 2026

3/11/20.

6 Years Sober.

God Doesn't Make Mistakes.

- Maxx Crosby (@CrosbyMaxx) March 11, 2026

This is WILD

Russian wrestler hit a flying squirrel down 3 points AT THE BUZZER for the win pic.twitter.com/SFTM2n8A6S

- Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 11, 2026

It took 9 years and 3 billion miles to get this shot.

The icy mountains of Pluto.pic.twitter.com/TbL5djVACk

- All day Astronomy (@forallcurious) March 10, 2026