Which players could follow Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders during the 2024 offseason after he officially became their new head coach?
Once the Washington Commanders were forced to pivot away from Ben Johnson and Mike Macdonald joined the Seattle Seahawks, there was a sense of inevitability about Dan Quinn becoming the team's new head coach. Some remain skeptical of the hire given how things ended during his previous head coaching stint with the Atlanta Falcons, but his leadership credentials made him a strong candidate throughout the process.
The Commanders feel like an experienced coaching leader can be of great assistance to first-time general manager Adam Peters. This new power couple in Washington needs to form a close working relationship quickly. Anything less could jeopardize the chances of laying the foundations for a successful future.
Just how much of a say Quinn has in playing personnel matters remains to be seen. Peters is on record saying he wants an aligned vision full of collaboration. That might see the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator turn to some trusted associates to ensure his second chance at a top job goes smoothly right out of the gate.
With this in mind, here are six players who could follow Quinn to the Commanders in 2024.
Commanders could sign Neville Gallimore
The Washington Commanders aren't blessed with great depth along their defensive line. Many rotational pieces are out of contract and might not return. Phidarian Mathis' lack of impact over his first two years is another cause for concern. This need will be far greater if Jonathan Allen decides to take his chances elsewhere.
If the Commanders decide to bring in a reinforcement or two via free agency, Neville Gallimore is a name to watch. The versatile lineman has been a solid part of the Dallas Cowboys rotation since becoming a third-round selection in 2020. He's not done enough to earn prominent starting responsibilities, but there could be some merit in acquiring the Oklahoma product on a short-term deal in pursuit of increasing competition.
Commanders could sign Dorance Armstrong Jr.
Dan Quinn is one of the best defensive strategists around. If one overlooks the playoff capitulation against the Green Bay Packers, he did a tremendous job overall in turning a porous defense before his arrival into a highly productive unit at all three levels. This came from outstanding schematics and finding ways to bring the best out of his players.
Another example of this is Dorance Armstrong Jr. The physically imposing defensive end looked on a road to nowhere before Quinn became Dallas' defensive coordinator. Whatever the coach did to nurture the edge rusher worked almost immediately.
Armstrong looked like a different force under Quinn's guidance. He's been on an upward trajectory over the last three years. His 7.5 sacks from 42 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 2023 are proof positive of his growth with the new Washington Commanders head coach steering him in the right direction.
It's no secret that the Commanders are desperate for pass-rushing assistance after trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the deadline. Adding someone like Armstrong could give their rotation a significant shot in the arm. It might even give them a viable starting option if he continues developing.
The Cowboys are embarking on some salary-cap difficulties this offseason. That's a problem the Commanders don't have, so this possibility could become highly likely if Quinn gives it his seal of approval.
Commanders could sign Stephon Gilmore
When Dan Quinn goes into greater depth to find out what went wrong with the Washington Commanders this season, the number of splash plays given up defensively will be right at the top of things to fix. The secondary was nothing short of woeful from start to finish. Aside from Kendal Fuller, nobody performed consistently enough as another campaign spiraled out of control.
If Fuller departs - which is possible if the cornerback wants to land on a contender in free agency - the Commanders need another dependable option capable of potentially locking down one side of the field. He might be in the twilight of his potential Pro Football Hall of Fame career, but Stephon Gilmore showed he still has some life left within Quinn's scheme in 2023.
Few players around the league boast Gilmore's credentials. He is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He's a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. Despite being on the older side, his exceptional football acumen and coverage technique remain a force to be reckoned with.
The former first-round pick out of South Carolina gave up just 55.8 percent of targets thrown in his direction this season. Gilmore's passer rating when targeted was 82.7 - the highest of his career but still pretty good nonetheless.
This would be nothing more than a short-term fix. However, there's just no telling what Gilmore's on-field presence and quiet leadership could do for the likes of Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, and Quan Martin.
Commanders could sign Deion Jones
One of Ron Rivera's biggest personnel flaws during his four-year stint as head coach and roster constructor was a failure to prioritize the linebacker spots. A strange development considering he used to play the position and how his successful Carolina Panthers teams always had a dominant defensive second level. And yet, it's something that came to fruition.
Dan Quinn won't be making the same mistake. He knows how vital having experience and explosiveness is to a linebacking unit. Aside from former first-round pick Jamin Davis, the Washington Commanders have nothing to genuinely depend upon in key moments.
Perhaps it might be worth Quinn going to someone he helped guide to the Pro Bowl once upon a time. Deion Jones is another who thrived under the coach's leadership. After a rocky road once they were parted, everything seemed to get back on track during his one - and perhaps only - season with the Carolina Panthers in 2023.
The Panthers won just two games this season, but their defense was surprisingly good. Jones enjoyed something of a career renaissance filling in for the injured Shaq Thompson, emerging as a core part of the rotation and being dependable in all phases.
While the Panthers might look to keep him around if Evero stays on as defensive coordinator under Dave Canales, the prospect of reuniting with Quinn on the Commanders could be a tempting proposition. This is a low-risk move, but the rewards will be substantial if this previous connection flourishes once again.
Commanders could sign Calvin Ridley
Although Dan Quinn's specialty centers on the defensive side of the football, there needs to be a huge focus on improving the offense. Eric Bieniemy's arrival didn't come with any surge in production. Quarterback Sam Howell regressed behind woeful protection. The skill position options also flattered to deceive outside of Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson Jr.
It seems for all the smart money as if the Washington Commanders will utilize the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft on a promising signal-caller from the college ranks. Hiring the right offensive coordinator is of critical importance in this scenario. It also makes the need for reinforcements around the rookie quarterback all the more essential.
The Commanders are rich in draft assets and this is a deep wide receiver class. They also have the league's most salary-cap space available currently. Something that could lead them to a dynamic playmaker from the free-agent pool capable of assisting immediately.
Quinn knows Calvin Ridley well. He was Atlanta Falcons head coach when they drafted him out of Alabama. He was around to develop his skills alongside Kyle Shanahan en route to making an instant impact. Although things turned sour for both with the NFC South outfit, a reunion in Washington comes with significant intrigue attached.
Ridley was perhaps underused in 2023 after being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's also worth remembering he was coming off a year-long suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy. He should be a lot better next season, but where he'll be suiting up is the big question.
The Jaguars should attempt to keep him around in the hope his chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence comes along. But if Ridley hits the open market, the Commanders might be a potential landing spot with Quinn at the helm.
Commanders could sign Tyron Smith
This would be more of a long shot. However, the short-term benefits might make a huge difference to an area of the field that was frustratingly not prioritized throughout Ron Rivera's tenure.
The Washington Commanders offensive line descended into chaos once again in 2023. There was a lot to like about Sam Cosmi's improved consistency, but he was the only one to emerge with any semblance of credit.
Adam Peters and Dan Quinn must recognize the need to upgrade their protection to stand any chance of thriving next season. They need to hit the ground running, so using both the draft and free agency to mold a cohesive unit should be strongly considered.
Again, this would be a band-aid solution to a long-term complication. Tyron Smith is out of contract and still playing at a high level despite his advancing years. There are some injury red flags to contemplate and the future Pro Football Hall of Famer is far from the force of old. Even so, he's a massive upgrade on the likes of Charles Leno Jr. and Andrew Wylie based on their body of work throughout the recently concluded campaign.
Whether Smith would leave the Dallas Cowboys for their fierce division rivals after spending his entire career in Texas remains to be seen. It's always worth putting in a call from the Commanders' perspective. The one-year, $7.4 million deal he's projected to get seems affordable for a team flush with cash.
Unlikely, but stranger things have happened that's for sure.