One Commanders player to benefit most from each head coaching candidate

Commanders could hire Anthony Weaver

• Player to benefit most: Daron Payne (DT)

Anthony Weaver coaches the Baltimore Ravens defense, and it is a ferocious unit. More significantly, in addition to being assistant head coach, he works closely with the defensive line.

This is a group that doesn’t appear to have any stars. However, it is insanely productive season after season.

Such productivity is nothing new for Weaver. He did it with the Houston Texans defensive line before coming to Baltimore, and with the line on the Cleveland Browns before that. He began coaching this area of the field with the Buffalo Bills in 2013. That year, three of his linemen recorded double-digit sacks, including defensive tackle Kyle Williams.

To put this into context, Williams had never had more than five sacks before his first season with Weaver. That is a testament to his ability to help players exceed expectations consistently.

This season in Baltimore, Weaver helped Justin Madubuike - who had a total of 8.5 sacks through his first three seasons combined - register 13 sacks and make his first Pro Bowl. He typically lines up at left defensive tackle, just as Daron Payne does.

Weaver moves him around, constantly changing the angle of attack. Payne has looked good on the rare occasions that the Washington Commanders have moved him outside. The head coaching outsider would take advantage of that and build a quality line around him.

And that would unlock a sleeping giant.