Chris Paul’s Rise from Roster Bubble to Reliable Starter Could Force Commanders’ Hand in Free Agency
Adam Peters has some tough calls to make this offseason, and one of the more intriguing decisions centers around a player who wasn’t even supposed to be in the starting lineup when the year began. Chris Paul’s journey from seventh-round pick to entrenched starter at left guard has been one of the more unexpected - and impressive - developments for the Washington Commanders in 2025.
Let’s rewind. Heading into the season, the plan was for second-year lineman Brandon Coleman to take over at left guard.
He’d held his own at left tackle as a rookie, and the thinking was that moving him inside - after acquiring Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil - would strengthen two spots at once. On paper, it made sense.
Coleman slid to left guard, Nick Allegretti filled in on the right side until Sam Cosmi got healthy, and the revamped offensive line was ready to roll.
But football isn’t played on paper.
By Week 3, the plan had unraveled. Andrew Wylie stepped in at right guard, and Chris Paul - who had been lingering on the roster bubble for much of his young career - got the call to replace Coleman on the left. He hasn’t looked back since.
Paul, one of the last remaining draft picks from the Ron Rivera era, has always been a grinder. A seventh-rounder in 2022, he’s had to fight for every rep, every roster spot, and every opportunity.
In his first start - late in his rookie season - he showed flashes of potential, but also plenty of rawness. His pad level was inconsistent, and he struggled to generate push in the run game.
But he kept working. And when his number was called this season, he was ready.
In Week 3 against the Raiders, Paul didn’t just hold his own - he dominated. His Pro Football Focus grade for that game was a stellar 85.4, and he backed it up with quality tape in both pass protection and run blocking. Since then, he’s quietly become one of Washington’s most reliable linemen.
According to ESPN Analytics, Paul ranks among the top 20 interior offensive linemen in pass-block win rate. His 95% success rate ties him with some of the league’s better-known names, like Dallas’ Cooper Beebe and the Rams’ Coleman Shelton. That’s elite territory - and not bad for a player who was once viewed as a developmental project with questionable pass-blocking upside.
What’s more, Paul’s growth in pass protection hasn’t come at the expense of his run blocking, which was always his calling card. He’s become a steady presence between Tunsil and Tyler Biadasz, and at 27 years old, he’s just now entering the prime of his career.
So here’s the question: Should the Commanders re-sign him?
The answer is yes - but with a caveat. It all depends on the price.
Nick Allegretti offers a useful comparison. He followed a similar path: backup turned capable starter, and now on a deal that carries a $7.17 million cap hit for 2025. If Peters could bring Paul back for something in that range, it’d be a smart piece of business.
But Paul’s market might push higher. A deal in the three-year, $25-27 million range - about $8-9 million annually - isn’t out of the question. That’s Biadasz money, and it might be what it takes to keep Paul in burgundy and gold.
The challenge? Washington’s already spending big on its offensive line.
Tunsil is due for a new deal, Cosmi’s not cheap, and there are plenty of other roster holes to fill. At some point, Peters has to decide how much he’s willing to invest in the interior line - and whether Paul’s production is worth the premium.
There’s always the draft. Or maybe Peters finds another undervalued free agent who can outperform his contract.
But here’s the thing: Washington already has that guy. His name is Chris Paul.
And after a season like this, he’s no longer just a feel-good story. He’s a legitimate starter - and maybe one the Commanders can’t afford to let walk.