To say it's been a dramatic offseason for the Washington Commanders wouldn't do it justice. Fans were eagerly awaiting what came next as Josh Harris' ownership group began their ambitious plans for future progress. Not many envisaged such wholesale alterations during a frantic few months for the franchise.
Adam Peters was the right man to spearhead this ambitious project. The new general manager instilled a sense of professionalism and purpose that wasn't evident previously. He turned this into a competent football operation quickly, implementing a decision-making process that centers on short-term gains without jeopardizing long-term prosperity.
The roster and infrastructure look completely different from the one that concluded the 2023 campaign. This is an undoubted positive, but the onus is now on head coach Dan Quinn and his staff to mold this group into one that can become more competitive next season.
Easier said than done, but expectations are growing. With this in mind, here are three winners and two losers from the Commanders' offseason overhaul in 2024.
Winner No. 1
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
After an underwhelming first season with the Washington Commanders and a new coaching regime coming into the fold, speculation rose about whether Andrew Wylie's time with the organization would be short-lived. Adam Peters had no trouble getting rid of those he felt weren't pulling their weight, but the veteran right tackle got a reprieve in pursuit of better fortunes next time around.
Wylie had moments of quality last season, but he looked exposed on the edge despite having Sam Cosmi alongside him on the interior. The Commanders did nothing to enhance competition aside from re-signing swing tackle Cornelius Lucas. This is a sign that those in power see something in the Super Bowl winner that can be molded into better production.
The possibility of additional reinforcements arriving before the campaign cannot be dismissed. But for now, Wylie's fortunes look a lot brighter than most anticipated heading into the 2024 offseason.
Loser No. 1
Phidarian Mathis - Commanders DL
The Washington Commanders were not in a position to be turning down gifts throughout the offseason in their current state. A prime example of this arrived during the 2024 NFL Draft when defensive lineman Johnny Newton fell out of the first round.
Adam Peters was probably not looking for another interior lineman so early in the college selection process. That said, Newton's game-wrecking capabilities meant the Commanders shifted course and made him the No. 36 overall selection.
Newton is dealing with some foot issues that could prevent him from making an impact early in the campaign. Once the player is at 100 percent, it would be a surprise if he wasn't given prominent reps within Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s creative scheme. Slotting him next to Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen on a three-man front comes with mouth-watering potential attached.
This surprising turn of events cannot be seen as anything other than bad news for Phidarian Mathis. The former second-round pick hasn't made any notable impact over his first two years with the franchise. Injuries haven't helped, but a huge effort is needed this offseason to remain part of Quinn's plans.
Mathis is a big body capable of clogging up space on the interior. Perhaps some better luck on the health front this summer can stand him in good stead, but the margin for error is slimmer than ever thanks in no small part to Newton's arrival.
Couple this with the Commanders opting to keep Allen rather than entertaining trade offers, and it's not hard to see why things look bleak for Mathis. He'll be in a fight for depth chart standing with John Ridgeway III, which could determine who goes through onto the 53-man roster depending on how many interior linemen Washington takes through onto their squad.
All hope is not lost for Mathis. But the Commanders got themselves a pretty good contingency plan if he cannot raise his performance levels accordingly.
Winner No. 2
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
Things didn't go according to plan for the Washington Commanders offense in 2023. Expectations were through the roof thanks to Eric Bieniemy's arrival. It didn't take long to figure out that the play-caller wasn't going to be the answer.
The Commanders lacked the right balance offensively. Bieniemy adopted a pass-happy approach despite the offensive line fluffing their lines constantly in pass protection. Sam Howell spent the campaign running for his life and the skill positions also failed to meet their targets aside from ultra-consistent wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Jahan Dotson was tipped for a major breakout campaign under Bieniemy's guidance. The former first-round pick had moments of quality, but it was nowhere near what many pundits envisaged entering his second season in a professional environment.
Dotson needs to shoulder his share of the blame, too. He struggled with concentration and couldn't create consistent separation. The jury is still out for the former first-round pick as a result, but the Commanders are giving him another shot to prove himself under the new regime looking at their offseason moves.
Washington drafted Luke McCaffrey in the third round and signed Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency. Nothing else arrived in terms of reinforcements, which was a supreme vote of confidence in Dotson's ability to make improvements within Kliff Kingsbury's expansive offensive scheme.
The Commanders also drafted the quarterback Dotson wanted, which should help. Jayden Daniels looks like the franchise-altering presence under center this team desperately needed. If things click between the signal-caller and the third-year wideout immediately, expect to see improved production across the board.
This could be a last-chance saloon situation for Dotson. Anything less than progress and improved consistency will likely see the Commanders diminish his role. A rousing effort is needed and the player appears confident things can start trending upward with the fresh injection of energy across the franchise.
Getting off to a strong start is crucial. However, there remains optimism around Dotson's potential to become a focal point in 2024.
Loser No. 2
Darrick Forrest - Commanders S
Adam Peters attached no sentiment to his decision-making process this offseason. The Washington Commanders were one of the league's worst teams in 2023, so the general manager was well within his right to completely gut the roster in pursuit of brighter fortunes.
Established stars were let go with little fanfare attached. The Commanders also turned up the heat on those currently under contract. If they aren't up to the challenge of increased competition, their time with the franchise won't last much longer.
Darrick Forrest is a prime example of this. The safety lost his long-term partner on the backend when Kamren Curl signed for the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. Washington signed Jeremy Chinn to replace the former seventh-round pick, who seems to have the athletic intangibles needed to thrive under the expert guidance of Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.
The Commanders also spent a second-round selection on slot cornerback Mike Sainristil. This indicates Quan Martin could switch back to his college position, which means Forrest is facing a fight for extended playing time under the new regime.
Forrest has talent, there's no getting away from that. Injuries significantly derailed his progress in 2023, so Peters and Quinn weren't going to wait around on the off chance no further problems on the health front arrived.
Washington has raised the stakes across almost every position group throughout one of the busiest recruitment periods in franchise history. Forrest knows that he'll need to impress a different set of eyes with no emotional attachment to his depth chart status, so it'll be fascinating to see how things unfold in the safety room in the weeks and months ahead.
The former fifth-round selection out of Cincinnati has plenty of added incentive next season. Forrest is entering the final year of his rookie deal and needs to make a lasting contribution to get an extension. If not, Peters has already shown a willingness to dispose of those who don't fit into his way of thinking.
Winner No. 3
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Giving up chunk plays in the passing game was an ongoing frustration for the Washington Commanders last season. Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio couldn't resolve this complex issue and paid with their jobs. Hopefully, having shrewd defensive minds such as Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. leading the charge can improve matters.
Quinn and Whitt are renowned developers on defensive backs, so hopes are high they can work their magic and get more out of the cornerback unit. Drafting Mike Sainristil and signing Michael Davis should help, but it's a case of wait-and-see based on how things unfolded during the previous campaign.
The moves made throughout the offseason mean Benjamin St-Juste has a significant opportunity awaiting him in 2024. His production was sketchy last season. While he broke up plenty of passes, he also gave up 739 receiving yards along the way.
That said, with Kendall Fuller departing for the Miami Dolphins in free agency, St-Juste becomes their No. 1 outside coverage option. This is a risk, but one those in power believe is worth taking thanks to his size and ability to make things difficult in press situations.
Unless Emmanuel Forbes makes the necessary improvements during the summer, the onus is on St-Juste to become a prolific presence at the cornerback spot. Quinn and Whitt will put him in better positions to thrive, but this could go either way in all honesty.
Much like the situation with Darrick Forrest, there is some added financial motivation for St-Juste. He's also entering the final year of his rookie contract and counts $3.38 million against Washington's salary cap. If he wants a bigger, longer-term commitment from the Commanders, performance levels must improve accordingly.
Washington's offseason overhaul didn't include someone who could potentially replace St-Juste unless Davis far outperforms expectations. The former Minnesota star must not waste this chance to firmly establish himself in 2024.