5 Commanders offseason moves reaping immediate rewards in 2024

Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels

The Washington Commanders ran a tight ship during their pre-draft evaluations. Everyone knew they were taking a quarterback once Sam Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Nobody knew which direction Adam Peters and his staff were leaning.

After an exhaustive process that saw a different rumor surface daily, the Commanders settled on Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. Peters honed in on the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU from a long way out. Looking at the start he's made at the next level, it's not hard to see why.

As almost every other rookie signal-caller struggles to adjust, Daniels hit the ground running. It's not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, he's protecting the football, making smart choices, and gaining confidence in his progressions. There's also a lot to like about his rushing ability, which adds another dangerous wrinkle for opposing defenses to counteract.

Daniels hasn't thrown a touchdown pass as yet. He hasn't thrown an interception either. Both will arrive the longer he plays, but the poise under center is rapidly improving. That's arguably the biggest positive above all else.

The dual-threat weapon proved he could lead the Commanders to victory in clutch situations if given the chance. There will be ups and downs to come, but those in power must be thrilled with what they've seen so far.

Commanders signed Zach Ertz

There was cautious optimism around the Commanders' decision to sign Zach Ertz to begin their free agency frenzy under general; manager Adam Peters. His experience and previous production left reasons for encouragement. However, most fans wondered whether the three-time Pro Bowler had much left in the tank after how things unfolded during the 2023 campaign.

It's early days, but Ertz is benefitting greatly from his decision to reunite with Kliff Kingsbury. The former second-round pick out of Stanford quickly became a trusted target for Jayden Daniels over short-to-intermediate routes. His ability to create separation in tight windows is an asset and he is a willing blocker on running downs to further enhance his influence.

Ertz also came up with an unbelievable highlight in Week 2 against the New York Giants, wrestling an almost guaranteed interception from the opposing defender's grasp for a decent gain. After missing so much football over the second half of 2023, it's great to see the competitive fire still burning bright within the player.

There is a long way to go. But if Ertz gets a clear run on the injury front and continues to shine when called upon, this will be a tremendous piece of business from Peters during his first offseason at the helm.

More Commanders news and analysis