The Washington Commanders limped to the finish line last year with a 4-13 record, which was good for dead last in the NFC East. Ron Rivera named Sam Howell the starting quarterback during camp, and through their first two games, Howell led the Commanders to a 2-0 record. Back-to-back losses to Bullafo and Philadelphia followed, and Washington did not get about the .500 mark the rest of the way.
The Commanders' fourth and final win of the season came on the Road to New England in week nine, putting the team at 4-5. The following eight weeks were a mixture of blowouts and heartbreaking losses. The offense wasn't doing much scoring at all, and the defense was on its way to a league-worst points and yards allowed per game.
Washington's offseason has mainly involved overhauling the roster and coaching staff. Ron Rivera is out, and Dan Quinn steps in as the team's head coach. Sam Howell was quickly sent to Seattle in a trade that would pave the way for Jayden Daniels to be drafted second overall. Austin Eckler, Zach Ertz, and Bobby Wagner inked deals to bring some veteran presence to the team this season.
With training coming and the preseason all wrapped up, some optimism surrounds this year's team. Jayden Daniels may be a rookie, but his duel-threat ability and veterans like Eckler, Ertz, and McLaurin will be crucial to their success.
2024 Washington Commanders
Coaching Staff and Front Office Personnel
- Head Coach: Dan Quinn (First Year as Commanders Head Coach)
- Offensive Coordinator: Kliff Kingsbury (First Year as Commanders OC)
- Defensive Coordinator: Joe Whitt Jr. (First Year as Commanders DC)
- Special Teams Coordinator: Larry Izzo (First Year as Commanders STC)
- Notable Assistant Coaches: Ken Norton Jr. (Linebackers Coach), Tommy Donatell (Defensive Backs Coach), Darryl Tapp (Defensive Line Coach), Bobby Engram (Wide Receivers Coach), Bobby Johnson (Offensive Line Coach), Andre Coleman (Offensive Assistant), Brian Johnson (Assistant Head Coach/ Offensive Pass Game Coordinator)
- General Manager: Adam Peters (First Year as Commanders GM)
Notable Additions
- Free Agency: Austin Eckler (RB, Chargers), Zach Ertz (TE, Cardinals), Bobby Wagner (LB, Seahawks), Marcus Mariota (QB, Eagles), Dante Fowler (DE, Cowboys), Clelin Ferrel (DE, 49ers)
- Draft: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU), Mike Sainristil (DB, Michigan), Ben Sinnott (TE, Kansas State), Brandon Coleman (OL, TCU)
- Trades: Cade York (K, Browns)
Notable Subtractions
- Free Agency: Antonio Gibson (RB, Patriots)
- Trades: Jahan Dotson (WR, Eagles), Sam Howell (QB, Seahawks)
- Releases: Curtis Samuel
2023 Commanders Offensive Team Ranks
- 19.4 Points Per Game (t-25th)
- 312.8 Yards Per Game (24th)
- 219.1 Pass Yards and 93.6 Rush Yards Per Game (18th and 27th)
- 35.65% Conversion Rate on Third Down (24th)
- 63.27% Red Zone Conversion Rate (5th)
- 32 Turnovers (4th)
2023 Commanders Defensive Team Ranks
- 30.5 Points Allowed Per Game (32nd)
- 388.9 Yards Allowed Per Game (32nd)
- 262.2 Pass Yards and 126.8 Rush Yards Per Game (32nd and 27th)
- 41.59% Conversion Rate Allowed on 3rd Down (26th)
- 56.67% Red Zone Conversion Rate Allowed (19th)
- 18 Takeaways (t-23rd)
Can Jayden Daniels Be A Leader in His Rookie Year?
When teams start a rookie quarterback right out of the gate, it can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Plenty of quarterbacks who have been handed the reins right away have thrived and succeeded in their rookie season. There have also been a few that went through some growing pains and struggled but rebounded nicely in the following years.
Also, starting a rookie can be detrimental to the team and the player's career. Daniels already looked like a leader this preseason, showing his poise in the pocket and his ability as a dual-threat quarterback. Daniels' stats during his limited preseason action were even more promising. He completed 12 of his 15 pass attempts for 123 yards. The rookie did not throw a touchdown but scored with his legs in the team's first preseason game.
Now, the real test begins for the Commanders' rookie play-caller. Washington will open their season up on the road in Tampa before returning home for the opener against the Giants. The schedule for Washington to open the year won't be a friendly one, with three of their first four games on the road. With a new roster and plenty of question marks, seeing how Jayden Daniels leads this team will be fun.
How Will Washington Balance Snaps Between Austin Eckler and Brian Robinson?
The Commanders inked Eckler to a two-year $8.34 million deal, with Eckler coming off a down year. Even though last year didn't go as planned, Ekckler is the perfect fit for a team like the Commanders trying to get a young quarterback's feet wet in the league. Throughout his eight years in the NFL, Eckler has been a threat on the ground and through the air, being a go-to target for quick screens for a safety outlet that would help Daniels.
Brian Robinson is entering his third year after impressing on the field and showing his love for the game and determination after being sidelined with a gunshot wound during his rookie season. Robinson is a hard downhill runner and is coming off a big 2023. Robinson also showed he could be a receiving threat out of the backfield after hauling 36 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns.
With two dynamic ball carriers and pass catchers out of the backfield, it will be interesting to see how OC Kliff Kingsbury utilizes them. An idea would be to give each carries early in games and then roll with the hot hand for the remainder of the game as the lead back. The Cowboys, with Zeke and Tony Pollard, did this two years ago, proving successful.
What Does The Wide Receiver Room Look Like After Dotson Trade?
The Commanders sent shockwaves through the NFL late in the preseason when they traded 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Eagles for a rare in-division trade. While Dotson struggled in his first two years, he did not have much consistency with who was throwing the ball to him. With Washington hiring Adam Peters as the new General Manager, the move is not as surprising as many think. GMs want to bring in their players and will send off those that do not fit their plan.
Who will take over as the number two receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, and what receivers will make the team and provide value? Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus are the favorites for that number two spot, but plenty of potential could come from the other receivers. Rookie wideout Luke McCaffery comes off a preseason in which he had four catches for 55 yards. At the same time, Byron Pringle and Jamison Crowder showed some flashes and will be savvy veterans who will provide some depth.
Even though he's a tight end, Zach Ertz will be another option for Daniels to target. Sure, Ertz isn't the tight end we saw years ago in Philly, but if he can stay healthy (and that's a big if), he will be a red zone target and safety net option for the Commanders offense. Rookie Ben Sinnott, also known as a receiving tight end, should be another of Daniels' favorite options. With McLaurin destined to be the focus of opposing defenses, it will be crucial for one or more of the other options to step up.
Can The New-Look Defense Deliver?
Washington's defense ranked dead last in the NFL in 2023, and Adam Peters made various moves to prevent that from happening again this season. Peters brought in a plethora of veterans on the defensive side of the ball to promote leadership and consistency. Whether in the defensive backfield or the front seven, these newly signed veterans can right the ship this season.
Bobby Wagner enters the year as one of the more significant free-agent signings and has immediately become a leader in the locker room. Wagner had his best season as a pro in 2023, totaling 183 tackles, which was a career-high in his 12th season. Washington also brought in Dante Fowler and Clelin Ferrell to solidify their front seven.
Fowler comes over from Dallas, where he spent the past two seasons totaling 40 tackles and 10 sacks, but the Commanders are looking for him to provide a spark on defense like he did with the Rams back in 2019. Ferrell played in all 17 games last season with San Fransisco and put up better numbers than the prior three seasons. His 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks were the most he's had since his rookie year, and Washington hopes Ferrell can build on that and improve even more this season.
Will Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels Finally Provide Stability?
It has been no secret that Washington has had its fair share of turnover over the past few seasons. Since 2014, the Commanders have had four coaches try to turn it around for the franchise. Jay Gruden took over in 2014 and lasted a little over five seasons with the team.
Gruden led Washington to a playoff appearance in 2015, only to be knocked out by Green Bay in the Wildcard Round. Gruden was let go after a 0-5 start in 2019 and was replaced by Bill Callahan, who held down the head coach spot until the end of the year. Ron Rivera took over but was never able to get the team over .500, which leads us to the current head coach, Dan Quinn.
The quarterback room has been even more of a revolving door over the past ten years, with names like RGIII, Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez, Colt McCoy, Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz, and Sam Howell. The scary part is that even more have lined up under center in that time frame, but now Jayden Daniels will look to provide the stability that has been missed. Only time will tell if Daniels and Quinn can build something special in DC.
The Bottom Line
This team can take so many directions during its first year under Dan Quinn. The offseason overhaul will surely provide a spark, and this team will be much better than the group that finished 4-13 last year. If teams decide to focus on McLaurin, look for Jayden Daniels to rely heavily on his running backs in the passing game. We could see Kliff Kingsbury roll out some packages with Eckler and Robinson on the field together for some deceptive plays.
The defense cannot get any worse after a 2023 season in which it was in contention for the worst in the NFL. While the defensive backfield is still a significant hole, their pass rush and rushing defense are poised to improve. The additions of Fowler and Ferrell will help take attention off Wahsington's best pass rushers from a year ago, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu will also help Allen and Payne improve the team's rushing defense. There are no high expectations for this team, but they may be able to turn some heads if all goes well.
Defined Commanders Strengths
- A rookie quarterback with a high ceiling and a veteran backup option in Mariota
- A great one-two punch at the running back position on the rushing and receiving end
- A strong front seven with a future Hall of Famer that led the NFL in tackles last year
- Top-of-the-line specialists with Cade York at kicker and Tress Way at punter
Defined Commanders Weaknesses
- An offensive line that allowed 65 sacks last season and three new starters
- No true number two wide receiver after the Dotson trade
- A veteran tight end, Zach Ertz, has struggled to stay healthy in recent years
- A defensive secondary that did little to nothing to improve itself from a year ago
Commanders Seasonal Outlook
Record Ceiling: 7-10
Record Floor: 4-13
NFC East Finishing Position: 3rd/4th
Team MVP: Jayden Daniels
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