The Commanders created a real opening for themselves this offseason when they moved on from starting center Tyler Biadasz, and the replacement plan still feels like a work in progress. Nick Allegretti is the current answer, sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin is behind him, and Washington has every reason to keep looking if a better fit surfaces.
That’s where Ethan Pocic enters the picture.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Pocic, a nine-year veteran who played for the Cleveland Browns last season, has been medically cleared to return to football activities at training camp. Pocic remains a free agent, but a source told Schefter the center is "full go" and ready for another opportunity.
For a team trying to shore up the middle of its offensive line, that kind of availability matters. Reliable linemen are tough to come by this time of year, and Pocic’s experience gives him a profile that should draw attention. Any team kicking the tires would still need to be comfortable with the medical side of it, but the upside is obvious: a proven interior presence who could raise the floor of the room right away.
Allegretti has earned some trust in Washington. He handled himself well when he filled in for Biadasz late last season, and the extension he received beforehand showed the team believed in him. Even so, he’s still something of an unknown as a full-time center.
Pocic offers a different level of certainty. If he doesn’t beat out Allegretti, he would still bring valuable experience across the interior and immediately strengthen the backup picture. That alone makes him worth a hard look.
The former LSU standout was a second-round pick in 2017, and he’s likely hoping for a path to start. Those chances are scarce once rosters are mostly set and camp battles are already underway, which is why Washington stands out as one of the few places that could give him a real shot.
His play in Cleveland last season wasn’t spectacular, but that was true for much of the Browns’ protection. Pocic still has enough going for him to get the benefit of the doubt, even if that doesn’t guarantee the Commanders will jump in.
Biadasz is a meaningful loss on the field and in the locker room. Allegretti might be good enough to hold the job, but that won’t be settled until games begin. Gulbin has long-term upside, yet asking him to take on starting-level responsibility right now would be a stretch.
In Other News...
Commanders Fans May Finally Get Their Answer On One Veteran Rumor
The Commanders have spent the offseason with their receiver plans under a microscope, and the latest buzz has centered on whether Washington might add another established name to the room. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported the team was discussed in connection with Keenan Allen, but the broader picture around general manager Adam Peters suggests a shift in philosophy after last seasons veteran-heavy approach did not produce the desired results.
Stefon Diggs has also made clear he would welcome a move to Washington, which has only added to the speculation around what the Commanders might do next at the position. For now, though, the front office appears to be leaning toward a different kind of roster build, leaving fans to wait on whether the veteran receiver chatter turns into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Put Washington In A Really Uncomfortable Spot
Brandon Aiyuks latest online run-in has kept his name attached to Washington in a way the Commanders probably never wanted. The former 49ers receiver has been a topic of conversation well beyond the field, and the chatter has only grown after his recent trolling of Jayden Daniels, a move that has people around the league talking about where this all goes next.
For Washington, the uncomfortable part is that Aiyuk had already become linked to the franchise as a possible destination if his situation in San Francisco ever broke open. Now that possibility looks far murkier, with former players publicly questioning both his future in the league and whether the issue has drifted into something bigger than football. The Commanders are left watching a story that once seemed about roster movement turn into something far more complicated. [Read more 🡒]