4 emerging alphas on the Washington Commanders roster in 2024
By Dean Jones
A lack of leadership and players going through the motions became the catalyst behind another woeful campaign for the Washington Commanders. Ron Rivera thought the culture he'd built was something to be proud of. That wasn't an opinion shared by those in the locker room, the fanbase, or Josh Harris' ownership group when push came to shove.
Things look a lot different now. Dan Quinn's arrival brought fresh direction and purpose across the franchise. Players are excited to be part of something special. There's renewed vibrancy within the building as the Commanders look to make the NFL sit up and take notice next season.
They need their established alphas to set the tone and maintain a level of engagement that some lacked last season. Those in power also require some younger players to become more influential on and off the field to reach their raised expectations.
With this in mind, here are four emerging alphas on the Commanders' roster in 2024.
Darrick Forrest - Commanders S
Things might not have been so bad in the secondary last season had Darrick Forrest not gone down with an injury early into the campaign. Percy Butler couldn't fill the void effectively and everyone else suffered as a result. The player is fit and ready to fire on all cylinders in 2024 within a scheme that looks well-suited to his strengths.
Forrest will have a new safety partner on the backend after the Washington Commanders didn't offer Kamren Curl a new deal. Jeremy Chinn is an athletic, explosive playmaker who looks tailor-made for Dan Quinn's system. Having the former Cincinnati star alongside him has the makings of a prolific tandem if they stay clear of health complications.
There's a lot to like about the way Forrest applied himself over early offseason workouts. There's a more focused mindset and willingness to step into a leadership role. Something that will serve the defensive back extremely well heading into a contract year.