Which Washington Commanders players don't deserve another season under new head coach Dan Quinn's regime in 2024?
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that big roster changes are coming to the Washington Commanders this offseason. There is a new power structure in place. Josh Harris' ownership group has ambitions to take the franchise into contention. They also have substantial resources to make improvements across the board.
Adam Peters has been waiting for an opportunity like this for some time. He's spurned several advances during previous hiring cycles. He waited for the challenge to take a storied organization off its knees and back to being an industry leader on and off the field.
What this means for those currently around remains to be seen. The Commanders have some tough upcoming personnel decisions to make with those under contract. There is also the small matter of determining the future of free agents looking for new deals.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders players who don't deserve another season in 2024.
Joey Slye - Commanders K
Joey Slye's had more lives than a cat since joining the Washington Commanders. The veteran kicker's close relationship with previous head coach Ron Rivera probably meant he got more leeway than most. There was the threat of a kicking competition last summer, but it was merely a formality with the eventual outcome determined from a long way out.
Slye didn't enjoy the best of seasons in 2023. He wasn't alone in that regard, but with the Commanders embarking on an exciting new regime with an almost complete coaching staff overhaul, this seems like the perfect time to find a better kicking option.
Before we get to the next player, take a moment to claim FanDuel Sportsbook's $150 sign-up bonus for any $5 winning bet today! All you have to do is deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on any game in any sport and you'll get $150 in bonus bets if your wager wins. Don't miss out on this promo for Commanders fans - sign up for FanDuel now!
Saahdiq Charles - Commanders OL
One has lost count of the number of chances given to Saahdiq Charles. The offensive lineman was always seen as a talented player who went through his fair share of injury struggles. While that impacted performance levels on occasion, it doesn't detract from his lack of consistency being a major complication.
Again, hopes were high for Charles after he beat out Chris Paul for the starting left guard job. Unfortunately, he couldn't bring this production to a competitive setting. And of course, the inevitable spell on the sidelines through injury followed.
The former fourth-round pick out of LSU played 643 snaps on offense in total. Charles was lackluster on running downs despite flashing. He also gave up four sacks and conceded three penalties. It simply wasn't good enough for someone who had a significant opportunity awaiting them in a contract year.
And in truth, these failings represented the norm for Charles throughout his four-year stint in Washington.
The Washington Commanders need an overhaul across their offensive line in 2024. Charles is a free agent, so there won't be a better time for those in power to cut their losses and go in a different direction.
Dyami Brown - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders couldn't get anything going consistently on offense last season. There were many disappointments to emerge from the campaign. This was arguably the biggest of all thanks to the high-profile arrival of Eric Bieniemy.
There was a lack of balance offensively, which caused severe complications and made things too one-dimensional. Bieniemy needs to take his fair share of blame for the team's failings. It was also evident that a distinct lack of quality options in the passing game held them back.
Hopes were high that Dyami Brown could take a monumental leap forward in 2023. He's the sort of wide receiver who's thrived under Bieniemy previously. His former college quarterback Sam Howell was under center. Everything seemed to be in place for a breakout season.
Unfortunately for Brown, none of this came to fruition. The 2021 third-round selection couldn't firmly establish himself despite everyone aside from Terry McLaurin struggling to make an impact. Costly individual errors didn't help. There was also an inability to create separation effectively to inspire confidence.
The Commanders cannot afford to ignore their skill position options this offseason. This bears more significance if they take a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Brown is under contract for one more season, but the sample size is big enough to suggest he's undeserving of another look.
Nick Gates - Commanders OL
As previously stated, the Washington Commanders offensive line failed to meet even modest expectations in 2023. Fans were deeply concerned about the protection in front of Sam Howell before the campaign. Most felt this critical position group wasn't given nearly enough attention by recently fired head coach Ron Rivera. They were right.
There wasn't much money to go around with Washington's ownership in flux during free agency last spring. Andrew Wylie was the biggest addition. The Commanders also shelled out decent money to Nick Gates, who looked to have the necessary qualities for an upgrade depending on where the coaching staff placed him on the interior.
Gates ended up being the team's starting center. This gamble failed to reap the required rewards. The former Nebraska star looked like he'd never played the position before. He was undersized and treated as a weak link. He was eventually benched in favor of Tyler Larsen.
While Gates' performance levels improved slightly when reinstalled into the lineup, it was nowhere near good enough to warrant another go-around in 2024. Unfortunately for the Commanders, they'll need to eat some significant dead-cap money to part ways with the player ahead of time.
This was a horrible contract to give someone like Gates. He'll either be a highly expensive backup or moved on with big financial ramifications attached.