What moves could help the Washington Commanders return some much-needed respectability to the organization in 2024?
The Washington Commanders have an untold amount of hard work ahead. Dan Snyder's dark cloud has been lifted and Ron Rivera's underwhelming stint as head coach is officially over. Hopes are high that this storied franchise can begin making strides toward contention in the coming years. It won't happen overnight, but the pieces are slowly coming into place.
General manager Adam Peters is the man tasked with molding a competitive roster. He will be assisted by some experienced front-office staff and new head coach Dan Quinn, who's enthusiastic and keen to maximize his second head coaching opportunity after how things ended with the Atlanta Falcons.
This is going to be a gradual process. Nobody should expect the Commanders to become Super Bowl favorites overnight. After a turbulent two decades under Snyder, getting the league to look at this organization differently will be the first primary objective.
With this in mind, here are four moves that can help the Commanders return to respectability in 2024.
Commanders must revamp the OL
This was a recurring theme under Ron Rivera. The head coach inherited a decent offensive line littered with Pro Bowlers and All-Pros. It quickly disintegrated into one of the league's worst units after poor investment in free agency and the college ranks.
It seems like this lack of attention is about to change. The Washington Commanders released Charles Leno Jr. and Nick Gates ahead of time. This indicates Adam Peters is going to completely revamp the protection, which would be a major step in the right direction.
Finding the correct blend of youth and experience capable of meshing together quickly is paramount. Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson's appointment received mixed reviews, but if he can prove his doubters wrong, the Commanders will be in a good spot for improved fortunes.
Commanders must bolster their pass-rush
After the Washington Commanders traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young for second and third-round picks respectively before the 2023 deadline, it was seen as waving the proverbial white flag on their chances. As expected, it also completely evaporated any legitimate pass rush the team had over the second half of 2023.
While these moves provided the Commanders with extra financial flexibility and additional draft assets, the need to bolster this unit is one of Adam Peters' biggest priorities this offseason. Anything less would jeopardize the chance of immediate progress under new head coach Dan Quinn.
K.J. Henry looks like someone who could be a useful rotational piece after flashing as a rookie. Quinn's presence could also be the spark that provides linebacker Jamin Davis more opportunities to get after the quarterback. Aside from that, the cupboard is pretty bare on Washington's edge.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they are in a good position to fill this need if the right reinforcements are sought. Their salary-cap space indicates a splash or two can be made in free agency. It might also be worth targeting one of the top-end edge rushers with their bounty of draft picks to further strengthen the ranks.
If the Commanders can find genuine difference-makers capable of wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, it would help enormously. It will also take the pressure off other areas and ensure they can improve as a result.
Commanders must develop Emmanuel Forbes
Emmanuel Forbes was the darling of Ron Rivera's final draft process as Washington Commanders head coach. It seemed from a long way out as if the cornerback would be chosen at No. 16 overall. Even when projected top 10 pick Christian Gonzalez fell into their laps, it didn't alter the intended course.
Forbes was a ballhawk at Mississippi State, which is something the Commanders lacked in their cornerback room under Rivera's watch. While he was a little undersized compared to most shutdown corners, his explosiveness and athleticism were intriguing traits worth gambling on.
Things couldn't have gone much worse for Forbes as a rookie. He wasn't capable of guarding No. 1 wideouts and was carved open by most physically imposing pass-catchers. The first-round pick was eventually benched and even when he did return to the lineup, there weren't anything more than fleeting moments of promise.
The jury is still out on Forbes, but it's far too early to be giving up on the player just yet. He'll also have the benefit of a more accomplished coaching staff during a critical preparation period before his NFL sophomore campaign.
If defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and his team can start getting more from Forbes, it'll be like having a new signing. More will be needed in the secondary - especially if Kamren Curl and Kendall Fuller depart in free agency - but getting consistent performances from their primary college target this time last year is a core component to any success that comes Washington's way in 2024.
Commanders must find a long-term QB
Ron Rivera couldn't get football's most crucial position right during his four-year reign as head coach. This is a quarterback-driven league, so it came as no surprise to see the Washington Commanders falter accordingly thanks to having no consistent, long-term plan under center.
Again, this is something Adam Peters should be looking to resolve urgently this offseason. Had Sam Howell shown a little more during his first campaign as the starter, Rivera might still have a job. But his concerning regression in difficult circumstances could force the Commanders' hand when push comes to shove.
The Commanders have the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. While hometown hero Caleb Williams will be gone by that point according to most reports, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye have the exciting traits normally associated with productive modern-day quarterbacks. Peters hasn't shown his hand yet - nor should he - but it would be surprising if Washington didn't end up taking one of the aforementioned prospects to spearhead their exciting new era.
Regardless of which way the Commanders go - free agency cannot be dismissed either - it must be done with conviction and with the future in mind. Banking on reclamation projects is no longer an option. Peters must get the chance to build around a rookie contract and mold other areas of the roster to a high standard in pursuit of their chosen signal-caller thriving.
These four steps would go a long way to the Commanders reaching their goals much sooner than many anticipate. The hard work starts now.