2024 April - Pro Football Rumors

Commanders G Nick Allegretti Eyeing Starting Role

April 1st, 2024 at 9:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Nick Allegretti spent the first five seasons of his career in Kansas City, but a new deal with the defending champions would have consigned him to backup duties. The veteran guard instead departed in free agency, signing a three-year, $16MM deal with the Commanders.

Allegretti played 74 regular season games during his tenure with the Chiefs, one which included four Super Bowl appearances and three titles. He logged only 13 starts, however, and the presence of Joe Thuney and Trey Smith meant 2024 would have been a repeat of backup and spot-start duties. The 27-year-old will now look to carve out a first-team role in Washington.

“I have a ton of respect for the guys in Kansas City,” Allegretti said (via the Commanders’ website). “I enjoyed my role there, but I think I had gotten to the point in my career where I wanted to come and be a starter in Week 1. That’s my goal coming to Washington.”

After Thuney suffered an injury in the divisional round of the 2023 playoffs, Allegretti took over as a starter for the AFC title game and Super Bowl. The former seventh-rounder also started each of Kansas City’s three postseason contests in 2020, and he will aim to parlay that big-game experience into full-time duties with his new team. Allegretti’s overall PFF grades have ranged between 52.4 and 70.4 in his career, with strong showings in pass protection being a common theme in his evaluations.

The latter factor will be a key one for the Commanders, after quarterback Sam Howell led the league in sacks taken last season. Changes along the O-line have been a priority for Washington’s new regime (led by general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn), and only right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie remain in place as 2023 carryovers projected to start this year.

Given the terms of his contract (which includes $9MM guaranteed), Allegretti will certainly be expected to hold down a starting position with the Commanders. If he can replicate his Chiefs performances in Washington, he could go a long way toward helping his new team take a much-needed step forward along the O-line.

Jets DT Javon Kinlaw: 49ers Connections Influenced Free Agent Decision

April 1st, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

One of many moves the Jets made in the early portion of free agency was the addition of defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. The former first-rounder played out his rookie contract with the 49ers, and as such he had a pre-existing relationship with Jets head coach Robert Saleh. To no surprise, that connection influenced Kinlaw’s decision to head to New York.

“I’m glad we were able to get something done,” the 26-year-old said, via SNY’s John Flanigan. “I kind of banked on it coming into free agency. Saleh played a big part in drafting me in 2020. I always loved being around him and his energy because I could tell that he really believed in me.”

Kinlaw was drafted to replace DeForest Buckner, and he immediately had a starting role as a rookie. He managed to play 14 games that year, but a recurrence of his knee issues dating back to college limited him to just 10 contests between 2021 and ’22. After seeing his fifth-year option declined, the South Carolina product put together his first fully healthy campaign last season, setting himself up for a one-year. $7.5MM Jets deal.

The short-term nature of the New York agreement comes as no surprise given Kinlaw’s injury history. He managed to set a new career-high with 3.5 sacks in 2023, though, demonstrating the pass rush ability which generated his first-round draft stock. Reuniting with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton (who served as an assistant in San Francisco when Saleh was the team’s defensive coordinator) could allow Kinlaw to build off his success from last season.

The Jets have another ex-49er along the D-line in the form of Solomon Thomas, who had a productive first season in New York last year. The team also has Quinnen Williams and free agent addition Leki Fotu along the interior, meaning Kinlaw will have plenty of competition for playing time this season. If the latter can thrive under familiar coaches, though, he could prove to be an effective signing and help his free agent stock ahead of the 2025 offseason.