Commanders' biggest remaining need has huge implications for Jayden Daniels

The Washington Commanders have gone through a roster makeover of epic proportions this offseason. Adam Peters had a bounty of assets - both financial and draft capital - at his disposal. The new general manager made the most of them by completely gutting the playing staff after another underwhelming campaign under previous head coach Ron Rivera.

No NFL team undertook more roster turnover than the Commanders. Things are looking up as a result, but there are still potential complications with the scope to complicate legitimate progress with Dan Quinn leading the charge next time around.

ESPN highlights Commanders biggest remaining need

While the holes became far fewer thanks to Peters' exceptional transition to the front-office leadership role, some position groups could use some extra polish before competitive action arrives. When examining the biggest remaining need for every NFL team heading into the new campaign, Aaron Schatz from ESPN highlighted Washington's lack of wide receiver depth as something that could hold the team back in 2024.

"Here's another team with a surprising lack of holes in the starting lineup. The biggest issue with the Commanders might be figuring out the wide receivers behind the great Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. They're depending on rookie Luke McCaffrey to come in as the main slot receiver immediately, and we'll have to see whether the 100th overall pick can make that happen. Behind McCaffrey, Washington has Dyami Brown, who has never lived up to his potential and caught just 12 passes last season; veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, who had just 10 catches for the Eagles in 2023; and Dax Milne, who lost all of last season to a groin injury. Jamison Crowder is also here, but he will be 31 years old and has just 22 catches in the past two seasons."

Schatz is right to point out the concerns surrounding Washington's pass-catchers. Terry McLaurin is the only dependable pillar of consistency for new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. Aside from the Pro Bowler and locker room alpha, everyone else has questions to answer.

The Commanders made a huge commitment to Daniels after taking him No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Those in power genuinely believe he has the tools to spearhead their ambitious plans. But if the supporting cast doesn't meet their end of the bargain, there's only so much the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU can do.

One could also make a strong case for the offensive tackle positions being Washington's biggest remaining need. The Commanders look set to give Andrew Wylie another shot on the right-hand side, but whether rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman has what it takes to man blindside responsibilities immediately remains to be seen.

Keeping Daniels upright in the pocket is pivotal. Peters will have something up his sleeve with a close eye on the waiver wire throughout the offseason. The Commanders are No. 2 on the priority list, so it would be surprising to see the general manager not capitalize on this based on his aggressive approach during his first offseason in the nation's capital up to now.

Daniels has the talent to thrive immediately. But that won't be enough if the wide receiver depth and offensive tackle position become exposed during his first year in a professional environment.