Head coach Dan Quinn is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to find the right defensive coordinator. The Washington Commanders have a lot riding on next season, and if it takes a little longer to make the correct appointment, so be it.
Several candidates are being considered. Some who've already spoken to the Commanders have taken jobs elsewhere. There are also rumors that Quinn wants to speak with Raheem Morris, who is currently a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals' head-coaching vacancy.
That's to be determined. The Commanders aren't sitting on their hands until Morris' status becomes official, one way or another. And the latest interview request brought more intrigue than most.
Commanders have requested permission to speak with Daronte Jones
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Commanders have requested permission to speak with Daronte Jones, the Minnesota Vikings' defensive passing game coordinator. This comes just a few short days after Brian Flores spurned Washington's advances to sign a new deal with the NFC North club.
Jones has more than two decades of coaching experience. He started as a high school defensive coordinator before making his way up the college ranks and into the pros. He's highly respected in the building and around the league. Other organizations have already spoken with the ascending coach throughout this hiring cycle.
He's also helped develop some exceptional talent. An aggressive philosophy, such as Flores's, would greatly benefit the Commanders. They didn't land the big fish, but this might be the next best thing if everything goes well.
It's clear that Jones is ascending. The Commanders would have two rookie play-callers if they went in this direction, which is risky. Having absolute conviction in the new man is more important than any experience. That makes bringing him in for further investigations a worthwhile exercise.
Quinn cannot get this wrong. There was no danger of the Commanders firing him after a 5-12 season. However, the pressure on his shoulders has built up, and he must do everything in his power to get this ambitious project trending upward.
Changes were demanded by fans. Quinn took both coordinators out of the equation in one fell swoop. Now, this is all about what comes next, and Jones has the rising credentials to potentially make a significant difference if he ends up getting the job.
Time will tell on that, but the Commanders shouldn't be criticized for wanting to find out a little more about what Jones could possibly bring to the franchise.