Commanders reach midseason haunted by one regret they can't undo

"That is a far cry from what fans expected before the campaign. Fans were anticipating the Commanders to make another deep postseason run after an aggressive offseason from general manager Adam Peters. They've come nowhere close, and unless things change soon, this rising franchise could be staring down the barrel of a top-10 draft pick when it's all said and done."

"When the Commanders signed free-agent safety Jeremy Chinn during the 2024 offseason, nobody really knew what to expect. The 2020 second-round pick was nothing sensational to start his career, with many believing he should have been named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year over Washington defensive end Chase Young. However, he became an afterthought with the Carolina Panthers after new coordinator Ejiro Evero switched to a 3-4 base scheme, and he couldn't wait for a fresh start elsewhere."

"Chinn seized this chance in Washington. He was explosive, dynamic, and aggressive. The urgency and athleticism with which he went about his business were first-class. There were some frailties in coverage, but even that troubled part of his game showed improvement as the campaign progressed. Extending Chinn was a foregone conclusion for most fans. Peters disagreed, allowing him to walk in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Commanders replaced him with Will Harris, who had a couple of nice games early."

Washington arrives at the midseason point struggling and facing collapsing playoff prospects; a loss to the Seahawks would eliminate slim postseason hopes. Fans expected a deep run following general manager Adam Peters' aggressive offseason, but the team has underperformed and risks a top-10 draft pick. Some offseason moves produced positives, yet the biggest shortfall is letting safety Jeremy Chinn depart. Chinn, a 2020 second-round pick, played explosively and improved coverage in Washington. Peters allowed Chinn to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders and replaced him with Will Harris, who later went to injured reserve, exposing the safety unit.

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