NFL-NEWS: The Washington Commanders have formally taken over the Las Vegas Raiders’s Long Snapper services. ESPN reports that a four-year, $179.4 million contract was signed after……

The 5 O’Clock Club: Clearly, the Commanders know exactly what they’re looking for at the safety position

The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

The four safeties listed on the left side of the chart are the players returning from the 2023 Commanders roster. Those on the right were brought to the team by Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt. Jeremy Chinn, of course, was one of the higher-profile free agent signings in March. Dominique Hampton was drafted in the 5th round of the April draft as what the Washington Post described as a “heigh/weight/speed prospect”. Tyler Owens is an undrafted college free agent out of the University of Texas and Texas Tech.

Here’s part of Tyler Owens’ draft profile from NFL.com:

He’s big, physical and rangy with a temperament for striking near the line of scrimmage. He’s not ready to handle high safety responsibilities but can be a tough out when he’s in position to contest a throw. His A+ special teams potential could buy him time as he continues his schooling as a hybrid linebacker/safety with a higher floor and lower ceiling.

The fourth safety brought in this offseason — Ben Nikkel — is an undrafted college player from Iowa State. He is unlikely to see the field on a defensive snap in 2024 (if ever). NFL.com describes Nikkel this way: