The annual NFL Players Association report card came with impeccable timing attached for the Washington Commanders. Second-year general manager Adam Peters must capitalize on it accordingly.
This report was always a source of great dread for Washington in previous years. The franchise descended into decay and embarrassment under Dan Snyder's ownership. A toxic environment, no attention to detail, and poor facilities saw them languish rock-bottom among players. Things have changed now.
A sensational turnaround under the new regime with ambition and purpose saw the Commanders go from 32nd to 11th overall. While the facilities remain among the league's worst, Josh Harris' ownership group's plans for the future and the improved atmosphere in the locker room have gone down extremely well.
Commanders have another strong selling point after NFLPA report
Head coach Dan Quinn placed first among all head coaches. The notable improvements included ownership (obviously), nutrition, the strength coaches, and even the team's travel comfort. This is a fair reflection on how the NFL is perceiving the franchise after years of languishing in the proverbial abyss.
"Key to the turnaround was the hiring of Dan Quinn, who finished the season as the No. 1 ranked head coach across the league. Additionally, the team invested in the food program, improving their grade from a D+ to a B+. They also increased the frequency of family events and began providing daycare during home games which boosted their grade for treatment of families, rising from an F- to a B+. The improvement in team travel is notable, with 95% of players reporting comfortable personal space on flights, up from just 50% last year. The team’s strength coaches deserve special recognition for maintaining an A rating year after year."NFLPA players' survey
The Commanders turned themselves into an attractive destination quickly. Quinn is building a sustainable winning culture. Harris will continue to invest as part of his ambitious plans for the future. Peters is the man tasked with putting the right roster pieces in place for Washington to become a perennial powerhouse.
This positive reflection of developments behind the scenes, coupled with the remarkable on-field success, represents strong selling points for the Commanders in pursuit of attracting the right free agents. That counts for nothing if Peters cannot bring the right characters into the organization.
It also helps that Peters is loaded with salary-cap space. The Commanders boast $82.21 million at their disposal based on current projections. This would increase to $98.65 million if, or when, veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen takes his chances elsewhere. Washington doesn't need cash to be an enticing destination, but it doesn't hurt that's for sure.
Peters won't be reckless. He's a methodical roster builder with a long-term strategy. There is a lot to get through in a short timeframe, but there is nobody more capable of helping the Commanders kick on this offseason.
The tide has turned in Washington. Everyone can see it. The NFLPA report confirms it. Peters must take advantage by using this positive momentum as a strong bargaining tool when negotiations begin with targets of interest.
These are exciting times for fans. They were dragged through the mud and became disillusioned beyond measure throughout Snyder's two-decade reign of terror. Nobody deserves this more.