Early odds paint bleak picture for Commanders under Dan Quinn in 2024
By Dean Jones
Early Super Bowl odds indicate it could be another hard season for the Washington Commanders under new head coach Dan Quinn in 2024.
After another disappointing campaign, the Washington Commanders are about to embark on an important offseason. There is a new power structure in place. There are enough resources available to find upgrades almost everywhere. It's going to take time, but fans should have a cautious level of confidence that better days are ahead.
Unfortunately, that might not happen right away. Certainly not if early Super Bowl odds are any indication.
Peter Dewey from BetSided delved into the various sportsbooks to see how the Commanders' chances in 2024 are being perceived. While optimism remains in those who follow the organization closely, this is not shared by those looking to make money in Vegas.
Commanders early Super Bowl odds make grim reading
As things stand right now, the Commanders are +15000 to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season (bet $100 to win $15,000). This is the same level of expectancy of the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants. Only one team - the Carolina Panthers - have worse odds.
Of course, their chances could increase depending on the team's acquisitions this offseason. The Commanders have six selections in the top-102 in the 2024 NFL Draft - including the No. 2 pick. According to Spotrac, they also boast $83.54 million to spend in free agency to further bolster their hopes of a quick turnaround.
Looking at how things unfolded last season and the number of problem areas they need to fill, these odds are probably a fair reflection of where the Commanders stand currently. It's also a prime indicator of the task awaiting new head coach Dan Quinn next season.
Nobody is expecting Quinn to miraculously turn around the Commanders in Year 1. They were one of the league's worst teams in 2023 for a reason. Going from a bottom feeder to a genuine contender is going to take time.
That said, there is an opportunity for Quinn and general manager Adam Peters to lay the correct foundations for a stable future. There seems to be an encouraging working relationship building between the new power couple in Washington. Hopefully, this can enable a smooth offseason of planning to be more competitive in 2024.
Fans remain skeptical of Quinn, which is fine. The most important thing is creating a sense of alignment within the building and demonstrating enough on-field growth to inspire confidence for the future.
The Commanders are not going to win the Super Bowl next season. That was a pretty easy determination for sportsbooks to make, in all honesty. But improving on their four-win campaign is a realistic objective.
After that, the league might start looking at the Commanders a little differently. That - above all else - is the primary goal for Quinn and Peters as they look to drag Washington out of the proverbial wilderness and into contention.
Get some pride back. The rest will take care of itself.