Washington Commanders 3 best offseason additions in 2022

Washington Commanders top offseason pickup no. 2: G Andrew Norwell (Jacksonville Jaguars)

When it was all said and done, the Washington Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars wound up swapping guards. There was no trade involved. But it’s interesting that Andrew Norwell is now a member of Ron Rivera’s squad and Brandon Scherff wound up signing with the Jaguars for huge money.

Filling the latter’s shoes certainly won’t be easy. Scherff was the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He started all 16 games in his first two seasons, as well as the club’s wild card playoff clash with the Green Bay Packers.

The former University of Iowa standout earned the first of his five Pro Bowl invitations in his second NFL campaign. And it’s worth noting that Scherff earned All-Pro honors in 2020 despite missing three games. And via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he was the site’s 13th-ranked player at his position.

Meanwhile, Norwell started all 17 games for the Jaguars in 2021. He’s the 42nd-ranked guard by the folks at Pro Football Focus. His forte comes more in the form of pass protection as opposed to run blocking. That’s good news for a Washington team that allowed 43 sacks a season ago. Norwell will pair up front with another newcomer at guard in Trai Turner – late of the Pittsburgh Steelers.