Cornelius Lucas is returning to the Washington Commanders, one of a handful of carryovers coming back as the team remakes the offensive line and the roster as a whole.
The Commanders on Tuesday re-signed Lucas to a contract for next season that’s worth up to $4 million, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.
Lucas, who turns 33 before training camp opens in July, is expected to compete for the vacant left tackle position after the release of former starter Charles Leno earlier this month. Lucas started 31 games and appeared in 62 as the swing tackle for Washington since signing with the team in 2020, after previously playing for Detroit, the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans and Chicago.
He’s the fourth player brought back from the previous regime, joining safety and 2022 All-Pro special teams player Jeremy Reaves, punt returner Jamison Crowder and defensive end Efe Obada. New general manager Adam Peters has also brought in roughly 20 new players as part of a total roster overhaul.
The Commanders are expected to select at least one left tackle prospect in the upcoming NFL draft as Peters pieces things together for new coach Dan Quinn. They could target a quarterback at No. 2 but also have pick Nos. 36 and 40 in the second round and Nos. 67, 78 and 100 in the third.
Peters’ retooling of the offensive line is already well underway after Sam Howell — recently traded to Seattle — was the most sacked QB in the league last season. Washington released center Nick Gates and has already signed former Dallas center Tyler Biadasz and Super Bowl-winning Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti, who could start alongside holdover right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie.
They’ll be run blocking for Brian Robinson Jr., free agent addition Austin Ekeler and 2023 draft pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. It remains to be seen who they’ll be pass-blocking for, with the team linked to North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Michigan’s national championship-winning J.J. McCarthy and LSU’s Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels after signing veteran backup Marcus Mariota to a contract for next season and trading Howell.
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