The Washington Commanders were nothing short of sensational during the 2024 season. They achieved more than even the brightest optimist envisaged. Now is the time to kick on and firmly establish themselves as an NFL powerhouse.
General manager Adam Peters found the right blend of youth and experience during his roster regeneration. Head coach Dan Quinn spearheaded a remarkable culture shift that got everyone believing anything was possible. Jayden Daniels was the quarterback fans had been craving for decades.
It was the perfect concoction to spark Washington into life. The Commanders were eventually undone at the NFC Championship stage, but they reannounced themselves among the league's heavyweights much sooner than anticipated.
That was the easy part.
Sustaining these achievements will be difficult. This is a good start, but more is needed. Peters knows that better than anyone else, so expect to see the front-office leader be aggressive to put the right pieces in place for another strong bid next time around.
With this in mind, here are five changes the Commanders must make to bolster their Super Bowl hopes in 2025.
Changes the Commanders must make to bolster Super Bowl hopes in 2025
Commanders must acquire another veteran CB
Mike Sainristil is an exceptional young cornerback. Noah Igbinoghene played well enough in the slot for another deal. The Washington Commanders' bold trade to acquire Marshon Lattimore didn't go according to plan initially, but all hope is not lost.
Lattimore dealt with a frustrating hamstring issue that made life difficult. He lasted just two games in the regular season and wasn't his typically explosive self in the playoffs. Although disappointing, Adam Peters is not throwing in the towel just yet.
Even if Lattimore gets back to his Pro Bowl-caliber production, the Commanders need another dependable cornerback capable of picking up the slack. Benjamin St-Juste and Michael Davis are not going to take Washington where they want to go. The last thing they need is a major production drop-off when someone gets hurt.
Elite offenses exploit any weak link. Lattimore won't be that next season, but someone else will unless the correct acquisitions are made. And if the Commanders want to hang with the NFL's best, they cannot leave anything to chance.
This is an achievable objective. Lattimore, Sainristil, and Igbinoghene represent a productive trio. One more missing piece of the puzzle is all it might take to make this unit a legitimate force.