For anyone under the age of 40, there has never been a more exciting time to be a Washington Commanders fan than right now.
Fresh off a stunning turnaround from winning only four games in 2023 to making the NFC Championship game last season, Washington has only continued to snatch up victories over the offseason.
First, it was the deal for a new arena at the RFK Stadium site that should be completed by 2030, pending city council approval.
Days later, Josh Harris and company have secured yet another major achievement as Washington was confirmed as the host city for the 2027 NFL Draft.
2027 NFL Draft announcement is more vindication of Commanders' exciting project
This will be Washington's first time hosting the event during the Super Bowl era and doubtlessly comes as a direct reflection of the franchise's rise in competence from the top down. After a season like the Commanders had in 2024, there is a honeymoon period in which all vibes surrounding the organization are positive. Harris's ownership group has capitalized on this in every possible way.
From the new stadium agreement to trading for stars such as Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel Sr., Washington is doing everything it can to maximize a window of not only success on the field, but in general as a football city. The Commanders' fanbase, one that has traditionally been among the NFL's most passionate but had fallen dormant in recent years, is revitalized by the energy that the team's new leadership provided.
Holding the draft in D.C. on the National Mall will result in a large, active turnout, and it should. Not only is this the capital of our nation, but it's a city home to a franchise with a storied history and an iconic place in NFL lore.
The Commanders deserve to be nationally relevant as one of the league's top markets. Due to their organizational ineptitude for the past 30 years, it's been far too long since they have been treated that way.
Once upon a time, former general manager Bruce Allen infamously stated that despite the organization's lack of results on Sundays during the fall, they were at least "winning off the field." They were not.
Fast forward more than a decade, and it's hard to think of a better way to describe what is happening with the Commanders this offseason.