Commanders gain power rankings boost before 2024 journey into the unknown

There is newfound optimism across the Washington Commanders. This is spreading to media, fans, and everything in between with just a couple of weeks remaining until their regular-season opener at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nothing was going to be perfect in Year 1 of such a vast rebuilding project. The new regime inherited a complete mess on the field and severe dysfunction off it. The organization looks in a much better place now after a significant makeover. Whether it can amount to any immediate improvements in 2024 remains to be seen.

Nobody is anticipating the Commanders to go on a Super Bowl surge. Almost everyone is anticipating growth, but it might be more gradual rather than something that unfolded with the Houston Texans last time around.

Commanders ranked No. 26 in NFL Spin Zone power rankings

Optimism is rising, especially with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' performance levels over the preseason. This was a sentiment echoed by Sayre Bedinger from NFL Spin Zone, who placed the Commanders at No. 26 in his final power rankings ahead of the 2024 campaign.

"This might be the highest we’ve had the Commanders in any of our offseason NFL power rankings so far. Maybe.  The Commanders used the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, who could end up immediately being one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. When you combine [Dan] Quinn’s defensive play-calling abilities with a dynamic quarterback like Jayden Daniels, you might have the recipe for a little overachieving. Maybe…"

- Sayre Bedinger, NFL Spin Zone

The keyword - in case you missed it - is maybe. Hopes are high, but this is a journey into the unknown for all involved.

Washington did a nice job of finding the right blend of youth and experience. This should ensure complications are kept to a minimum. Navigating a tricky start with plenty of road trips will be the first major obstacle to overcome.

Dan Quinn is on his second head coaching gig. He'll have taken on some harsh lessons from how things ended with the Atlanta Falcons. He's also done a nice job of galvanizing the new-look roster and molding them into a cohesive, close unit heading into the challenges that lie ahead. That might not be enough, but it's not a bad place to start.

This could go either way, in all honesty. There are plenty of concerns about the current state of affairs. There are so many new faces to mesh, so things might get worse before they get better. Fans should keep the bigger picture in mind, but the infrastructure enhancements suggest something special might be brewing.

Peters and the new regime have a long-term plan in place. There's a clear, aligned vision for the future. If rapid progress comes immediately, great. But that won't change the team's trajectory with professional football men running the operation at long last.

Fans just want a team to be proud of. It's been years since the stadium now known as Commanders Field was rocking to its foundations. They believe in Peters' direction and will give their full support. Hopefully, that can provide the spark needed to get a few more wins in the column.

If this comes to fruition, expect the Commanders to surge up the national power rankings in no time.

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