Which Washington Commanders players are emerging alphas ahead of what promises to be a franchise-altering 2023 campaign under new ownership?
There is an awful lot at stake for the Washington Commanders next season. With the ownership group led by Josh Harris set to officially receive sale approval in the coming weeks, the pressure is going to rise exponentially for influential figures from top-to-bottom across the franchise.
The Commanders have the talent to potentially do some damage. It's not been easy this offseason with so many distractions, but Ron Rivera and his staff have a quiet sense of confidence that a postseason return is well within their capabilities.
One of the biggest priorities for Rivera since taking the job was to form a core young nucleus and roster build the more traditional way. Whether the head coach will be around to watch these individuals flourish into their prime is another matter.
With that being said, here are four Commanders players who are emerging alphas in 2023.
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
After a rookie season that came with 523 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, Jahan Dotson certainly looked the part on occasions. With another offseason of progression this summer, the Washington Commanders can expect big things from the former first-round selection in 2023.
Dotson is a slick route runner that can generate significant yards after the catch. The Penn State product also has an eye for the end zone, which is something new play-caller Eric Bieniemy is sure to exploit to Washington's advantage when competitive games arrive once again.
If Dotson makes further improvements next season, there's just no telling what he might be capable of. Having a high-caliber offensive mind such as Bieniemy only whets the appetite more.
Daron Payne - Commanders DT
When the Washington Commanders opted not to pick up Daron Payne's fifth-year option last spring, it laid down the gauntlet to the defensive tackle in no uncertain terms. Anything less than a steep upturn in production would have cast his future with the franchise into significant doubt.
The reward for Payne was obvious. As it turned out, it was a challenge he was more than ready for.
Payne was absolutely outstanding in 2022 en route to some career numbers and a first Pro Bowl selection. There is still some work ahead for the player in terms of stopping the run, but this was far better than anyone anticipated in the grand scheme of things.
This put the Commanders in a financial predicament as they looked to prevent Payne from hitting the free-agent market. Ron Rivera made keeping the former first-round pick around his top priority, using the franchise tag before reaching an agreement on a four-year, $90 million deal with $60 million guaranteed.
Perform above expectations and you'll be rewarded. This has been the ethos of Rivera throughout his coaching career and stayed true to his word where Payne was concerned.
Expect Payne to take another leap forward next season and also gradually emerge as a leader within the locker room. Hopefully, the lineman's situation can also serve as inspiration for Chase Young, who enters the 2023 campaign in a similar spot.
Kamren Curl - Commanders S
For all the draft picks made by Ron Rivera throughout his tenure with the Washington Commanders, there's little argument about which one stands out above all else. This, of course, is Kamren Curl.
The former Arkansas standout was Washington's seventh-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Just why Curl had to wait so long before hearing his name called is anyone's guess, but he immediately set about making 31 other teams regret their decision to look elsewhere.
Curl instantly became an important member of the defensive rotation. The hard-hitting safety wasn't overawed and put the enormous chip on his shoulder to good use, which has steadily risen him to indispensable status heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
Had the ownership saga not been in such flux, there's a high chance Curl would already have a long-term extension in place. Once the Josh Harris group's bid officially gets rubber-stamped, this should be among the team's biggest pressing priorities.
There's every chance Curl can get even better, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the NFL. His partnership on the backend with Darrick Forrest is among the league's best already and once the big dollars come his way, his status as a team alpha is all but assured.
This obviously comes with increased expectations. But for someone who wasn't given much of a chance before joining the Commanders, it's a refreshing change of pace.
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
After shining brightly during his only starting appearance in 2022, it was enough for Ron Rivera to potentially bet his head coaching job on Sam Howell providing the Washington Commanders with more stability under center. This is a big ask for the former fifth-round pick given his extremely small sample size, but everyone seems to be of the belief he can thrive with extra responsibilities.
Howell is self-assured and has the intangibles needed to make a success of this opportunity. Having Eric Bieniemy as his play-caller helps enormously, with the Commanders also boasting their fair share of outstanding pass-catchers to further raise optimism around the gifted quarterback.
Much will depend on how the revamped offensive line holds up, which could go either way in all honesty. However, the onus will also be on Howell to come through in clutch situations and hopefully lead the Commanders back to prosperity after years in the proverbial wilderness.
His production throughout offseason workouts has already made believers of established figures such as Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. Howell's gained command of the huddle and is leading by example - which is always half the battle for any young player looking to emerge into potential NFL superstardom.
It's hard to know what Howell's ceiling is. But looking at the Commanders' regular-season schedule to begin the 2023 campaign, it won't take too long to find out for sure.