The Washington Commanders have an anticipated $101.5 million in salary cap room in 2025, allowing them to surround quarterback Jayden Daniels with players who can help him develop.
According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder, one of those players might be New Orleans Saints tight end and upcoming free agency Juwan Johnson.
Johnson is now in the final season of a two-year, $12 million contract deal signed in March 2023.
“Washington might be in the market for a veteran tight end this spring since Zach Ertz and John Bates are on expiring deals,” Holder told reporters on December 16. “While Johnson has only had one season with more than 400 receiving yards — 508 in 2022 — he does everything you’d expect from a big-bodied pass-catcher: move the chains and get the ball in the end zone. With 130 career receptions, the 28-year-old (who turns 29 in September) has 18 touchdowns and 81 first downs as of this weekend. That’d be an excellent security blanket for Jayden Daniels.”
Despite having foot surgery in June, Johnson has played 14 games for the Saints in 2024, accumulating 36 receptions for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns on 47 targets.
NFL teams can sign unrestricted free agents starting March 12, 2025.
From undrafted to veteran NFL tight ends
Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, was not taken in the 2020 NFL draft despite having 111 receptions for 1,560 yards and 6 touchdowns during 4 college seasons—3 at Penn State and a final season at Oregon.
“(Johnson) has a big, strong frame, is decent when tasked with catching through contact, and is a willing, effective blocker in space,” said NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein in 2020. “Putting it all together, a move to matchup tight end makes sense. Pass-catchers will not make a team if quarterbacks do not trust them, thus his hands must improve if he wants to stay.
Johnson joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent and earned six starts in his first two seasons before emerging as a full-time starter in 2022, with 42 receptions for 508 yards and seven touchdowns.
If the market for tight ends isn’t too high, the Commanders might be able to negotiate a 1-year, $5 million contract with Johnson.
Ertz has been a pleasant surprise for commanders.
The Commander’s success in bringing in veteran Ertz on a one-year, $3 million contract in 2024 makes it unlikely that they would invest heavily in tight ends in the foreseeable future.
Ertz, a 34-year-old three-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl champion, has seen his career come back to life with the Commanders and collecting passes from Daniels after appearing to be past his prime.
Ertz is second on the Commanders in receiving behind Terry McLaurin, with 54 receptions for 526 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Commanders might consider signing Ertz to a one-year contract with a minor rise and using salary cap room to sign a great wide receiver in free agency, such as Cincinnati Bengals standout Tee Higgins.
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