Lowly ranking outlines hard work ahead for Commanders' offense in 2024

Where once there was nothing but concern and pessimism, there is hope. The Washington Commanders have growing expectancy levels long-term thanks to some outstanding additions throughout the offseason. Meshing so many new faces will be a tough ask, but Dan Quinn and his accomplished coaching staff have the credentials capable of attaining these objectives.

If the Commanders want to stand any chance of progressing next season, their offense must become more prolific. This unit flattered to deceive last time around despite the introduction of Eric Bieniemy, who failed to find the right balance and reportedly rubbed some players up the wrong way with his harsh coaching methods.

It's all changed in that regard. Bieniemy is no longer around as the Commanders opted to move forward with Kliff Kingsbury instead. They also improved the skill positions and found a potential franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Commanders offense ranked No. 28 in offseason list

All signs are pointing up for the Commanders, but a lowly offseason ranking for Kingsbury's offense outlines the hard work ahead in pursuit of altering narratives next season.

Alex Ballentine from The Bleacher Report placed the Commanders at No. 28 in his list of offenses league-wide. Although this puts them in the bottom echelons. the analyst acknowledged improvements could be drastic if Daniels thrives and others also meet their respective targets when competitive action resumes.

"The Washington Commanders were in the bottom third of the league in most offensive metrics last season, but it's hard to hold that against this year's offense. The unit is nearly unrecognizable with Adam Peters taking over as general manager. Jayden Daniels will take over as quarterback, and his running ability gives him a higher floor than some of the other first-year players. Even if it takes time for him to grow into the passer he can become, he's going to contribute to the offense with his legs. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are an explosive pair who will provide big-play potential, while Austin Ekeler is a quarterback's best friend as an outlet in the passing game."

Kingsbury is a progressive thinker and will be molding the scheme to suit Daniels' outstanding gifts. There are also some intriguing weapons for the young signal-caller to lean on during his initial transition. It's not going to be perfect, but the foundations are there for gradual growth if the Commanders can overcome a testing set of games to open the campaign.

Perhaps the biggest concern centers on the offensive line. This unit should have three new starters if third-round pick Brandon Coleman wins the starting left tackle job throughout the summer. Whether the Commanders have enough is debatable, but Adam Peters boasts enough financial resources to make additional alterations if things aren't progressing effectively in the weeks and months ahead.

Daniels has the electrifying traits typically associated with modern-day quarterbacks. He's also made a tremendous start to life in the nation's capital. Nobody is getting ahead of themselves, but there is growing belief within the organization that they might have something special on their hands with the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU.

If Kingsbury maximizes his second NFL play-calling opportunity, Daniels hits the ground running, the offensive line performs above expectations, and the established skill position stars all shine, expect the Commanders to be much higher on this list in 2025. Whether this perfect concoction comes together collectively is the million-dollar question nobody knows the answer to right now.