David Blough was a strong contender for the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator position after the team parted ways with Kliff Kingsbury. Head coach Dan Quinn took the plunge, which immediately brought raised eyebrows from fans and the media alike.
Blough hasn't called plays before. He hasn't even been a permanent position coach. However, the former quarterback is well respected, is rising quickly, and the Commanders clearly didn't want to let him leave the building.
Even though some fans were calling for a fresh start with an outside hire, Washington's offense is going to look a lot different with Blough leading the charge. There may be some looks from Kingsbury's playbook, but he's also worked with the likes of Ben Johnson and Kevin O'Connell — two of the brightest offensive minds around the league.
David Blough's expected scheme could mean Commanders let Deebo Samuel leave
This keeps some continuity around quarterback Jayden Daniels, which also matters. Blough's hire comes with intrigue and massive risk. But unfortunately, not everyone is going to come along for the ride.
Expect the Commanders to run an up-tempo, no-huddle offense, with an increased run game and play-action sequencing. This requires more explosiveness and dynamism at the skill positions. That makes Deebo Samuel Sr.'s future increasingly uncertain, at least from the outside looking in.
Samuel joined the Commanders via trade from the San Francisco 49ers before the 2025 campaign. He silenced his doubters with a decent season, emerging as the one constant in Washington's receiver room amid some torrid injury problems. However, he's a free agent this spring, and general manager Adam Peters may not want to keep him around.
The former South Carolina standout isn't going to be cheap. Peters already paid McLaurin, so doing the same with another wide receiver over 30 years old is risky. Given that Blough's scheme is likely to demand much more speed and energy, the money Samuel will demand could be better spent elsewhere.
Obviously, nothing has been confirmed. Samuel could get another deal if the money works for all parties, but the chances have seemingly decreased after the Commanders opted to promote Blough rather than bring in someone else. Interest in the All-Pro should be high on the open market, especially with teams that are looking for a versatile weapon to help get them over the hump.
Blough will share his ideas on advancing the Commanders' offense. Quinn obviously liked what he heard during the interview. What that means for Samuel is anyone's guess, but it's not looking especially promising.