The Washington Commanders are prioritizing building their roster around quarterback Jayden Daniels for the foreseeable future, aiming to establish him as their franchise player after selecting him second overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
A crucial part of this strategy involves ensuring they retain elite offensive linemen like right guard Sam Cosmi to protect Daniels. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes the Commanders’ top priority before training camp should be securing Cosmi with a long-term contract extension.
“(The Commanders) need to start planning for their 2025 roster, and it would be wise to secure Cosmi for the long term,” Schatz commented. “Cosmi ranked 14th in pass block win rate among guards last season and performed above average in run block win rate. He is the standout player on the Commanders’ offensive line, and his current contract expires after this year.”
Cosmi is entering the final season of his 4-year, $6.2 million rookie contract signed after being drafted in the second round (51st overall) from Texas in 2021.
Cosmi Overcame Early Challenges to Excel
After battling injuries in his first two seasons, Cosmi switched from right tackle to right guard late in 2022. In 2023, he thrived in his new role, starting all 17 games and earning a strong 80.6% grade from PFF. Thomas Valentine of PFF ranks Cosmi as the NFL’s third-best guard heading into the 2024 season.
“Cosmi quietly emerged as one of the top guards in the NFL in 2023,” Valentine noted. “His overall PFF grade of 80.6 ranked fifth at the position, with seven games graded at 80.0 or higher. Despite this, Cosmi’s contributions were somewhat overlooked in his first full season as a starter.”
Cosmi is now part of an interior offensive line that could become one of the league’s best, complemented by the acquisitions of center Tyler Biadasz and left guard Nick Allegretti from the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I’m looking forward to building chemistry with them,” Cosmi told Commanders.com’s Zach Selby in April 2024. “I can already see it’s going to be smooth, which will make our on-field process even easier.”
Considering the Market for Elite NFL Guards
While Cosmi may not command a contract on par with the highest-paid right guard in the NFL—Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons, who signed a 5-year, $102.5 million extension with $62.5 million guaranteed in March 2023—he could potentially secure a deal in the range of $10 million annually.
At 25 years old, Cosmi could aim for a contract similar to the 4-year, $44 million extension received by Cesar Ruiz of the New Orleans Saints in September 2023, which included $32 million guaranteed.
