Which Washington Commanders’ news stories have taken up column inches recently as excitement builds for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft?
Those within the Washington Commanders are ignoring the outside noise and coming up with various scenarios that could impact their decision-making process during the 2023 NFL Draft. However, that hasn’t stopped fans and the widespread media from drawing their own conclusions about the franchise and its chances next season.
Among the stories hitting the headlines recently include a potential trade for Devin White, the sale saga potentially hitting a snag, the Commanders quarterback battle, and Ron Rivera’s future as head coach.
Let’s delve into each topic in more detail.
Should Commanders explore Devin White trade?
A shockwave reverberated around the NFL this week when linebacker Devin White requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Something that came with calls from some sections of the Washington Commanders fanbase on social media to throw their hat in the ring.
While there’s no doubt White represents an immediate upgrade on almost anything the Commanders have at the defensive second level, the compensation coupled with the player’s desire for a new deal probably makes this a non-starter.
Money isn’t readily available for the Commanders until a sale is confirmed. This is also not in keeping with Ron Rivera’s preferred method of roster building based on what we’ve seen throughout his NFL coaching career.
White is a tremendous player. But don’t expect the Commanders to become involved even if the Buccaneers do end up taking calls at some stage.
Commanders’ sale hits a snag?
Another day, another plot twist regarding the impending (sort of) sale of the Washington Commanders by Dan Snyder.
With two formal offers on the table that reportedly meet Snyder’s asking price, the hold-up in the days after has been notable. Perhaps the billionaire is holding out for more as reported, but A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports gave another potential reason as to why everything seems in flux right now.
The report indicated that the Federal Reserve and its inflation raises are proving complicated to overcome. Especially considering most wealthy individuals have their assets tied up rather than boasting an abundance of cash sitting in the bank.
"“The Washington Commanders bidding process has been impacted by something outside owner Dan Snyder’s control: the Federal Reserve. The cost of borrowing has gone up as the Fed attempts to tamp inflation with rate hikes — and the increased cost of borrowing has become an added barrier for those interested in the Commanders, two sources told Front Office Sports.”"
While the promise of making substantial funds owning the Commanders makes this an attractive proposition, any potential bidder must take everything into account. They also have to make sure there is enough disposable income afoot to satisfy NFL owners ahead of their vote.
Snyder is waiting for the biggest offer and doesn’t much care how it arrives, one suspects. But this latest twist is an overlooked part of the equation without a doubt now that Jeff Bezos is reportedly out of the running.
Commanders QB battle
One of the biggest highlights throughout the upcoming offseason will be the expected quarterback battle between Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett. Ron Rivera stated at the NFL owners’ meetings that it will be a legitimate competition and the best performer will get the chance to start in Week 1.
Howell might be the favorite, but Brissett’s production with the Cleveland Browns in 2022 under difficult circumstances means he cannot be ruled out by any stretch of the imagination. Something that only adds to the fascination surrounding this particular situation.
Former NFL professional Logan Paulsen – during an appearance on the Kevin Sheehan Show via Yahoo Sports – provided some insight as to how the competition might go. The one-time Washington tight end expects Howell to get the majority of reps, adding that based on last season, Brissett could end up as the team’s starting option in 2023.
"“I would guess Sam is going to get the majority of starter reps, and they are going to expect Jacoby to learn the offense, getting limited starter reps and majority QB2 reps. If for some reason it is not where you want it to be, you got Jacoby Brissett in the wings, who can step in, be the starter for a little bit and then step out, if they feel Sam gets himself ready at some point this year. It’s hard for me now to see Sam giving them a better opportunity than Jacoby, given what I saw from Jacoby last year.”"
Howell represents the best-case scenario given how cheap his rookie deal is over the next few years. However, writing off Brissett entirely would be unwise considering how much is at stake for Rivera during his fourth campaign at the helm.
Ron Rivera’s future with the Commanders
It’s no secret that the upcoming season will be a defining one for Ron Rivera. The Washington Commanders could be in new hands by the time Week 1 begins, which only raises the stakes further for the head coach after an up-and-down start to his tenure.
Rivera seems to be taking everything in his stride despite the uncertainty across the franchise. But once the sale gets confirmed, his seat will go from lukewarm to piping hot in a hurry.
During a recent mailbag from Ben Standig of The Athletic, the writer was asked if the sale prevented the Commanders from going in a different direction this offseason. While this claim was denied to a certain extent, he indicated Rivera’s status could genuinely go either way unless substantial improvements arrive.
"“After considering the data, history suggests Rivera likely would have received another season even without a franchise sale and various investigations going on. As for whether Washington’s “one-voice” on the football side can take the Commanders to the next level, there’s evidence on both sides: Two Coach of the Year awards and a 15-1 record with 2015 NFC champion Carolina suggests maybe. But Rivera’s teams finishing without a winning record in nine of his 12 seasons paints a different story.”"
Rivera’s overall record and suspect quarterback moves mean the jury is still out. But all hope is not lost entirely given the young core in Washington and the chance to make additional improvements with eight selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Just how much progress the Commanders can make will make or break Rivera’s future with the organization.