Commanders News: Magic Johnson, Hendon Hooker and Ron Rivera’s future

The NFL offseason seems to bring about different stories with every passing hour. This bears special significance for the Washington Commanders, who are in the midst of a potential sale and also looking to finalize their plans ahead of the upcoming draft later this month.

Among the topics that came up in the last 24 hours include some intriguing top 30 visits, the comments from Magic Johnson about a bid he’s involved with to purchase the Commanders from Dan Snyder, the lingering interest in quarterback Hendon Hooker, and head coach Ron Rivera discussing his thought process on what comes next.

Let’s delve into each topic in a little more detail.

Commanders set to bring in two OL prospects

According to multiple reports, the Washington Commanders are bringing in two prominent college offensive linemen for top 30 visits later this month. Steve Avila and Ricky Stromberg will visit the organization in the coming weeks, which could make a big difference ahead of what appears to be a pivotal selection period for those in power.

Avilva is riding on the crest of a wave after contributing significantly to TCU’s memorable run to the college football national championship game. He is projected to go early on Day 2, which puts the Commanders in play at No. 47 overall.

Stromberg is expected to be taken a little further down the pecking order. However, the Arkansas product is versatile enough to play anywhere along the interior and also comes with future starting potential, which is exactly what the Commanders need as part of their offensive line makeover in 2023.

Magic Johnson on Commanders bid

After speculation and reports that were swiftly followed by radio silence, one of the figureheads behind a bid to buy the Washington Commanders spoke on Tuesday morning. Magic Johnson recently joined the ownership group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales, giving the duo a sporting icon to be the face of their planned exciting new era if the bid is successful.

Johnson appeared on the Today Show and the topic came up briefly. While the former NBA megastar didn’t give too much away, he did confirm an offer has been made and he is hopeful that everything can be rubber-stamped in the near future.

"“Our bid is in. We hope that we win. We don’t know what’s going to happen … We’ll see what happens with Mr. Snyder making that decision. But we’re excited about it.”"

While others have or will throw their hat in the ring, having Johnson and Harris’ previous experience of running sports franchises could make this the best option for the Commanders. One that would all but guarantee a smooth transition in pursuit of sustained success.

It’s been a long time since Washington was at the NFL’s top table. Despite this, it remains a highly valuable commodity in a big market, which is probably why Snyder is holding out for a little more than the supposed $6 billion already on the table.

As always, we wait with enormous anticipation to see what comes next.

Commanders’ interest in Hendon Hooker

Although the chances of taking a quarterback in the opening few rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft appear remote, it hasn’t stopped the Washington Commanders from finding out more about certain prospects. One, in particular, seems to be getting more traction than most.

According to John Keim of ESPN, the Commanders are set to bring in Hendon Hooker for a top-30 visit before the draft. Recently appointed assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieneimy was also at Tennessee’s pro day last week, so it’s not hard to connect the dots.

Hooker was one of college football’s best signal-callers last season. He looked right in contention to win the Heisman Trophy before a serious knee injury derailed his progress, but all signs point to the player being ready to go at some stage during the preparation period.

The Commanders have already stated their intent to move forward with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett, who’ll participate in a training camp battle for the No. 1 job. Hooker is expected to go anywhere from the late first round to the second, which means Washington would be ignoring other critical needs if they went in this direction.

There are just too many questions surrounding Hooker for the Commanders to justify taking him in the first two rounds. But if Bieniemy bangs the table hard enough, nothing can be ruled out.

Ron Rivera on his Commanders future

With all the positivity surrounding the Washington Commanders finally being sold, one cannot overlook the impact this is going to have on head coach Ron Rivera and other influential figures within the organization. Seats will get warmer from top to bottom, with new owners sure to want their guys as they look to make lead an immediate change of fortunes.

Rivera does have previous experience with an ownership change, which is particularly unusual considering how very few cases there are in recent years. When speaking to the Washington Times, the respected figure acknowledged there will be increasing pressure that might see him out next year, but this would not result in panic or plan deviation whatsoever.

"“I could be gone in a year, that’s football. I understand that. But what I want to do, is when I leave, I want everybody to go and say, ‘Boy the roster’s in a good place.’ … That’s great. I want to walk away saying that’s what I did. I’m good with it. I understand it.”"

This will be Rivera’s fourth season at the helm. So regardless of whether a new owner came in or not, any lack of progression would have likely seen the coach relieved of his duties.

The extra sense of urgency across the franchise in this scenario might be a good thing. At the same time, pressure breaks pipes and it could harm some – whether it be players, coaches, or front office personnel.

Rivera will go about his business unaltered and unwavering in equal measure. But the stakes are about to get much higher for the head coach.