Commanders 2024 midseason awards: Jayden Daniels blazes franchise-changing trail

Best Offseason Signing - Tyler Biadasz

This is where Adam Peters did his best work. He added a lot of veteran free agents - some old, some young - and completely transformed an inferior roster into one that could compete against anyone. No one has been more central to the newfound success of the offensive line than Tyler Biadasz.

Dan Quinn knew Biadasz from his days in Dallas. As a defensive coach, he knew just how crucial it would be to have a steady presence at center.

The Washington Commanders have lacked that since Chase Roullier’s career was ended by injury. The protection has featured three new starters this season and a rookie playing serious minutes.

Except for right guard Sam Cosmi, none of the starters have ever been considered elite. Yet they have performed very well, both as run blockers and as pass protectors.

To be sure, that protection has benefitted from having the Houdini-like Jayden Daniels under center, but the line rarely looks disorganized. They had some false start and illegal man downfield penalties early on, but those seem to be clearing up as the unit grows more comfortable.

However, a lot of the organization is attributable to a smart, savvy veteran like Biadasz in the middle.

Most Improved Player - Dyami Brown

This was a hard one to choose. Adam Peters jettisoned so many players from the 2023 roster that there just aren’t that many players left to choose from. Most of those who remained, like Terry McLaurin and Daron Payne, were already upper-level talents. Of the younger players, none has taken a major step forward.

However, wide receiver Dyami Brown has been able to move from a roster afterthought to a legitimate playmaker.

With the addition of Noah Brown, the former third-round pick's role seemed like it would shrink to virtually nothing. He has only been targeted 15 times through nine games, but the wideout made the most of his opportunities, hauling in 11 catches at better than 14 yards per reception.

Brown is tied with Austin Ekeler for the best big-play percentage, meaning that a higher percentage of his catches go for more than 20 yards than any other receiver on the team. His outstanding run-after-catch on a 3rd-and-18 at the end of the first half against the New York Giants was just one more example of how reliable he has become.

That drive was likely to end in a long field goal attempt, but Brown’s run set up a touchdown. He used to make plays like that once a season. Now, despite limited chances, he is making them consistently.