4 players who'll benefit most from Commanders hiring Dan Quinn
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders players stand to benefit most from the team making Dan Quinn their next head coach?
Dan Quinn is the new Washington Commanders head coach. While many expected the franchise to go with an offensive mind - especially with the prospect of picking a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft - those in power felt like a more experienced leader was needed to help them through such a pivotal transition.
Quinn deserves his second shot at being a head coach. He worked wonders with the Dallas Cowboys defense, turning them into a dominant force after inheriting one of the league's worst units statistically. Players respect him and he's proven to maximize the talent at his disposal. That's exactly the sort of figure Washington needs after a lackluster final campaign under Ron Rivera.
There is a lot of hard work ahead. The Commanders' roster is going to look entirely different once free agency and the draft have been navigated. But that does not detract from the need to get more out of the options already on the books.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders players who stand to benefit from the team's decision to hire Quinn.
Quan Martin - Commanders DB
It was a slow start to Quan Martin's rookie campaign. However, the former second-round selection looked like a player of real promise over the second half of 2023.
Martin coped well with increased responsibilities. He came on in terms of run support. He looked assured in coverage as the Washington Commanders' big nickel, bringing eye-catching physicality and anticipation to a key position.
Dan Quinn's prowess when it comes to coaching up defensive backs should work in Martin's favor. The Illinois product cannot rest on his laurels, but there's a lot to like about his chances of developing further if he buys into the new head coach right out of the gate.