The Washington Football Team surprised everyone in 2020 when they won the NFC East despite a 7-9 record in Ron Rivera’s first season as head coach.
A big reason for Washington’s success in 2020 was the offensive line. Washington ended the 2020 season with the NFL’s No. 6-ranked offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.
Despite its success in 2020, Rivera and offensive line coach John Matsko retooled the unit for 2021. Washington drafted Sam Cosmi in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft and signed left tackle Charles Leno in free agency after the Bears released him in a salary-cap move.
While Cosmi missed some time with ankle and hip injuries, he proved he belonged as a rookie. Leno, meanwhile, started every game and earned a three-year contract extension at the end of the season.
Washington also brought back left guard Ereck Flowers after a disappointing 2020 season with the Dolphins. The WFT’s only returning starters for 2021 were right guard Brandon Scherff and center Chase Roullier.
In response to drafting Cosmi and signing Leno, Washington released longtime right tackle Morgan Moses and former draft pick Geron Christian.
While Moses went on to have success with the Jets, Washington’s offensive line didn’t miss a beat without him. Leno and Flowers were outstanding, Scherff was, too, when he played. He missed six games — Washington lost all six. In his place, Wes Schweitzer and Saahdiq Charles played well.
Roullier was lost for the season in Week 8, and by Week 17, Washington was on its fourth center. Both Tyler Larsen and Schweitzer ended the season on injured reserve. Second-year center Keith Ismael started the last several games at center.
In Cosmi’s absence, veteran Cornelius Lucas held down the right tackle position. Lucas played left tackle for Washington in 2020.
Yet, through all of those injuries, Washington’s offensive line had another strong showing. According to PFF, Washington ended 2021 with the No. 6-ranked offensive line for the second consecutive season.
Washington’s offense should have been far better than it was this season given the platform the team was getting from its offensive line. There was no weak link on the unit, especially in pass protection, and even the players who replaced injured starters acquitted themselves well. The dynamics did shift a little with those injuries. Samuel Cosmi, Wes Schweitzer and Chase Roullier earned the three best PFF run-blocking grades, but each missed significant time, and their replacements were better pass-blockers than run-blockers.
Can Washington repeat its performance in 2022? Scherff is unlikely to return and Lucas is a free agent. However, Leno, Flowers, Roullier and Cosmi are all back. Will Washington turn to Schweitzer or Charles to replace Scherff at right guard? Or, would Washington choose to replace Scherff via the draft?
While it was an overall disappointing 2021 season for Washington, don’t blame the offensive line.