The Washington Commanders have given offensive guard Sam Cosmi a multi-year contract extension. Details of the extension were not disclosed.
Cosmi, a second-round pick out of Texas by Washington in 2021, has been a mainstay of the team’s offensive line over the past three seasons, playing in 40 games with 32 starts, including all 17 in 2023.
“This is a great day for the Washington Commanders. We are pleased to have reached an agreement on a contract extension with Sam Cosmi. Sam has supported the vision DQ and I have had for this team since day one,” said General Manager Adam Peters. “He is a pillar of our offensive line and we believe Sam’s best days as a player are still ahead of him. Sam is a great leader and teammate and we are excited to have him as a member of our team for many years to come. I would like to thank Sam’s representatives Ryan Tollner, Chase Callahan and Richard Buffum for their professionalism and partnership in getting this deal done. I would also like to thank Brandon Sosna and Rob Rogers for their tireless work in getting this extension done. It has been impressive to see how well both sides work together. On behalf of the entire Commanders organization, I would like to congratulate Sam, his wife Blair and their daughter Clara on this special day.”
Cosmi played right tackle his first two seasons before moving to guard ahead of the 2023 season. Cosmi had never played guard in his career, but the move paid off for the former Longhorn. He allowed just one sack and four hits in 1,103 offensive snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
In terms of his performance compared to guards in the league, PFF ranked Cosmi fourth at his position in overall offensive efficiency (80.6). He performed best as a run blocker with a sixth-best grade of 80.9 in that category, but PFF also ranked him 11th in pass blocking with a grade of 74.
“Sam Cosmi has been really consistent,” head coach Dan Quinn said during training camp. “You would have thought he’s been a guard for a very long time, but he hasn’t been, considering he moves from tackle to guard. I would say his ability to stay straight and pull. He’s an athlete that comes from the inside. He’s someone that impressed me with his size and his agility.”
Like many positions on the Commanders’ roster, the offensive line saw several changes this season. General manager Adam Peters and Quinn brought three new starters into the fold, but Cosmi was one of only two starters from last season’s first season that the team retained.
Cosmi said he didn’t feel any pressure to prove himself to the new regime. Last season was a chance to show his identity as a player, and this offseason he just wanted to let his skills and performance speak for themselves. It didn’t take long for the staff to take notice.
“He doesn’t turn, doesn’t give up the edges,” Quinn said. “And then I think because of his size and his initial quickness off the ball, he seems ideally suited to the guard position. I thought it was the right move to put him there and he’s really coming into his own.”
Cosmi’s goals for his fourth season are simple: He feels “one of the best in this league” and wants to continue to prove it.
“I’m going to be dirty, I’m going to be mean,” Cosmi said. “I’m not going to take any, excuse my language, (expletive) from nobody. So I’m going to do that every time I step on the field and that’s the type of player I’m going to be.”
