4 primary catalysts behind former Commanders HC Ron Rivera's demise

Commanders couldn't find a franchsie QB

This is the gravest complication above all else. No matter what he tried or how increasingly desperate he became, Ron Rivera couldn't provide the Washington Commanders with a legitimate franchise quarterback under his leadership.

Aside from Cam Newton falling into his lap with the Carolina Panthers, it's been the story of Rivera's coaching career. His failed trade for Carson Wentz was the worst decision. Had Jacoby Brissett not suffered a hamstring injury, the coach would have given up on Sam Howell, too.

The former fifth-round selection flashed genuine promise. Rivera proudly declared he'd found the guy at long last midway through the campaign. No sooner had those words left his mouth, Howell regressed to a level that now sees the Commanders faced with no option other than to select a signal-caller at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Finding a consistent quarterback capable of producing elite-level production is difficult. Not every move is going to pan out, but it's the erratic way Rivera went about his thought process that made this more complicated than it needed to be.

Hopefully, the incoming regime can identify a genuine difference-maker and strike with conviction. Some veteran names set to become available are worth considering, but it would be a huge surprise if Drake Maye or Caleb Williams weren't in a Commanders' uniform by the time 2024 OTAs arrive.