Which Washington Commanders find themselves on the hot seat heading into another important offseason for the franchise in 2023?
A campaign that promised much ended with the Washington Commanders failing to secure a second-straight playoff berth. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, with the surprising competitiveness of the NFC East something else that left them on the outside looking in once the regular season concluded.
Some big decisions await the Commanders in the coming months. Finding a stable solution at the quarterback position remains a top priority, with the pursuit of a new offensive coordinator set to be resolved sooner rather than later as important scenarios in free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft are on the immediate horizon.
If the Commanders hit some home runs this spring, they might not be too far away. Although the promise of further progress from their divisional rivals cannot be ruled out, either.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders that find themselves on the hot seat heading into the 2023 offseason.
Commander No. 1
John Matsko – Washington Commanders OL coach
While John Matsko is one of the most experienced position coaches anywhere in the league, the offensive line was a weak link for the Washington Commanders in 2022. Something that needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency before the next campaign.
Matsko is a long-time Ron Rivera staff member stemming from their time together on the Carolina Panthers. But if things don’t progress effectively, the head coach could have a difficult decision to make in pursuit of improvements.
Curtis Samuel – Washington Commanders WR
There’s no denying the skills Curtis Samuel brings to the table. He was one of the first marquee signings made by Ron Rivera in free agency and there are times when defenses have no clue how to cope with his supreme threat.
Samuel’s ability to create separation quickly and generate significant yards after the catch makes him an outstanding asset to call upon. Keeping him healthy can sometimes be a problem, but the one-time Ohio State standout made strides in this area in 2022 and hopefully, this is a trend that continues long into the future.
Rivera knows all about the player’s capabilities. The head coach was a key factor in Samuel’s early development with the Carolina Panthers, but the 2023 season is a big one for the wideout heading into the final year of his deal.
The former second-round pick is set to count $13 million against the salary cap next season. This is a significant sum that the player must live up to if he wants to earn a new deal with the Washington Commanders next spring.
Much will depend on how Washington’s new offensive coordinator thinks of Samuel. But if the Commanders hit the jackpot with their upcoming appointment, then the do-it-all weapon stands to benefit more than most.
Martin Mayhew – Washington Commanders GM
It was a turbulent first season as Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew in 2022. The respected figure thoroughly deserved the opportunity – there’s no getting away from that – but a failed quarterback trade set the team back and this is something he must rectify during the upcoming offseason.
Mayhew developed a sound working relationship with head coach Ron Rivera. But with the unpredictable nature of Dan Snyder hanging over almost every employee, it’s vital the correct moves are made in the weeks and months ahead.
There is enough talent across Washington’s roster to launch a playoff bid if one or two key areas are addressed. However, this all starts with the quarterback and something Mayhew freely admitted during his media availability once the campaign concluded.
"“Well, you pretty much have to enter every season and look at the entire landscape of what’s available. We talked about drafting guys. We talked about who we could trade for and we talked about free agents. We went through the entire process of all those guys and did a very thorough evaluation. We will do the same thing this year. We’re not gonna rule out acquiring a vet. We’ll go through the entire landscape of who’s available. We’ll evaluate ’em and we’ll get to a consensus on somebody.”"
This sounds positive if nothing else. And a collective approach to recruitment is the best way to build a winning organization looking at recent history.
Mayhew’s under more pressure than most to figure things out under center. The NFC East will only get stronger next season and could have a defending Super Bowl champion to contend with, so the front office figurehead won’t want another rash decision impacting his future.
Ron Rivera – Washington Commanders HC
Achieving more with less has been the hallmark of Ron Rivera‘s time with the Washington Commanders so far. The head coach overcame significant personal adversity to attain playoff football in his first season and managed to keep repeatability despite a crumbling quarterback carousel that kept them out of the postseason picture in 2022.
Rivera is deeply respected both within Washington’s locker room and around the league. He’s a proven leader of men that knows how to successfully run an NFL team from a coaching standpoint, but this is his third year on the job and the margin for error is slimmer than ever.
The NFC East emerged as the league’s most competitive division this year, which is a far cry from the laughing-stock status it acquired in 2021. This won’t have gone unnoticed by Rivera, who needs to put the right offensive coordinator in place and assist in finding a signal-caller capable of getting this organization back into contention.
If Rivera can do this and develop the talent already on Washington’s roster, they have a chance. Should influential figures fail with their offseason objectives, the repercussions might be severe.
Dan Snyder is known to be a rash decision-maker. What Rivera’s done since joining the Commanders should hold plenty of weight with ownership, but it’s also worth remembering that the NFL is a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ league and if things turn sour, the head coach normally carries the can.