The Washington Commanders are crawling toward the finish line of a season that started with playoff hopes and whispers of contention, only to unravel into a 4-11 campaign with more questions than answers. It's been a tough ride - no way around it - but even in a season this disappointing, there are a few bright spots worth holding onto as the team stares down a pivotal offseason.
Let’s be clear: this is a franchise on the brink of major transformation. With more pending free agents than any other team in the league, new general manager Adam Peters is about to face the defining stretch of his tenure.
And while a full-blown roster overhaul is on the table, not everyone is heading out the door. Some players have earned the right to stick around - and one of them is veteran defensive lineman Eddie Goldman.
Why Re-Signing Eddie Goldman Should Be a No-Brainer
The Commanders' defensive interior is a puzzle right now. Daron Payne, once seen as a cornerstone, could just as easily be extended, traded, or even released depending on how Peters wants to manage the cap.
Javon Kinlaw, meanwhile, hasn’t lived up to expectations. The former first-rounder was a gamble, and so far, it looks like Peters may have overpaid.
Then there’s Johnny Newton - still an enigma two years in. He’s shown flashes, but not enough to guarantee anything more than a rotational role.
In the middle of all that uncertainty, Eddie Goldman has quietly emerged as a stabilizing force. He’s not flashy, and he’s not logging gaudy stats, but what he brings to the table is something every defense needs: reliability against the run. Washington leaned on him in early-down situations, where his strength and instincts helped clog up running lanes and keep things manageable for the linebackers behind him.
Goldman’s journey back to the field is also worth noting. After opting out during the COVID season and briefly retiring, there were questions about how much he had left in the tank.
But the 2015 second-round pick out of Florida State has answered those doubts with solid, physical play. He might not be the every-down force he once was in Chicago, but as a rotational piece?
He’s more than serviceable - he’s valuable.
Yes, he missed the Week 15 loss to Philadelphia due to injury, but that doesn’t erase the impact he’s had throughout the season. In a year where so many parts of the defense fell short, Goldman did what he was brought in to do: hold the line, eat blocks, and make life a little easier for the guys around him.
A Low-Risk, High-Reward Move
This is the kind of move that makes sense for a team in transition. Goldman won’t break the bank, and he knows the system.
He’s a veteran presence in a locker room that’s about to see a lot of turnover. And while he’s not going to single-handedly fix the defensive front, he’s the kind of player who helps raise the floor - something Washington desperately needs right now.
For Peters, who’s staring down a long list of roster decisions, re-signing Goldman should be one of the easier calls. It’s not a headline-grabbing move, but it’s a smart one - the kind of decision that builds the foundation for whatever comes next.
And make no mistake: what comes next is going to define the future of this franchise. But in the meantime, keeping a steady hand like Goldman in the mix is a step in the right direction.