“Quietly one of the best guards…”: Commanders, Quinn Persuaded To Offer Elite RG Long-Term Contract

The Washington Commanders aim to build their roster around quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 choice in the 2024 NFL draft, with the goal of developing him into a franchise player over the next years.

Keeping elite offensive linemen, such as right guard Sam Cosmi, is crucial for Daniels’ success.

According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, the Commanders’ top goal before training camp should be extending Schatz’s contract.

“(The Commanders) do need to start looking at their 2025 roster, and it would be a good idea to lock up Cosmi long term,” Schatz stated in an email. “Cosmi finished 14th in pass block win rate among guards last season and was above average in run block win rate. He’s the greatest player on the Commanders’ offensive line, and his contract expires after this season.”

Cosmi is entering the final season of the four-year, $6.2 million contract he signed when the Commanders chose him in the second round (51st overall) out of Texas in 2021.

Cosmi Had Breakout Season After Position Switch

Cosmi struggled with injuries throughout his first two seasons, missing a total of 11 games in 2021 and 2022 before switching from right tackle to right guard late in 2022.

In 2023, Cosmi excelled at his new position and avoided injuries, starting all 17 games at right guard and grading out at a brilliant 80.6 percent, according to PFF. PFF’s Thomas Valentine ranks him as the No. 3 guard in the NFL for the 2024 season.

“Cosmi was quietly one of the best guards in the NFL in 2023,” Valentine stated. “His 80.6 PFF overall score placed him fifth at the position, and he had seven games with an overall grade of 80.0 or better. Despite this, Cosmi did not receive the recognition he earned during his first full season as a starter. He played the majority of his first two NFL seasons at right tackle for the Commanders before moving inside to guard in 2023. Last year, his allowed pressure rate was 4.3%, the 19th lowest at the position.”

Cosmi is now part of an interior offensive line that might be one of the NFL’s best groups, with free-agent arrivals at center Tyler Biadasz and left guard Nick Allegretti from the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’m excited to build this relationship with (Biadasz and Allegretti),” Cosmi told Commanders.com’s Zach Selby in April 2024. “I can really tell it’s gonna be easy, so that’s just gonna allow the process to go even smoother on the field.”

Looking at the Market for the NFL’s Elite Guards

Cosmi may not receive a contract as high as Atlanta Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom, who signed a 5-year, $102.5 million contract extension with $62.5 million guaranteed in March 2023. However, he may still receive a contract worth around $10 million annually.

Cosmi, 25, might be in line for a deal comparable to the 4-year, $44 million contract extension granted to New Orleans Saints right guard Caesar Ruiz in September 2023, with $32 million in guaranteed money.