Expectations were high heading into the first full offseason with the Washington Commanders under new ownership. Josh Harris and his wealthy benefactors spent their opening few months in charge assessing everything across the franchise and what more is needed to get things trending upward. It didn't take long for them to put their ambitious plans into action.
It's been one of the most dramatic offseasons in franchise history. Nobody expected the Commanders to stand pat after another woeful campaign, but the widespread alterations have been drastic and welcome in equal measure.
The Commanders seem to be in a much better place as a result. There is renewed hope across the organization as they look to emerge from obscurity and back into contention. This is a big market team with a rabid fanbase who've been starved of legitimate success for decades. It might take time, but Harris' group has made a tremendous start.
With this in mind, we took a look and ranked the 10 best moves from Washington's dramatic 2024 offseason. We took into consideration their potential impact in the short and long-term, filling specific needs, and how their respective arrivals can benefit the franchise en route to brighter days ahead moving forward.
Let's get to it.
10. Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury
With the Washington Commanders moving in a completely different direction, there didn't seem much chance of Eric Bieniemy being around in 2024. He got a token interview for the head coaching vacancy once Ron Rivera was fired, but not many believed he had a legitimate shot at securing the job after an underwhelming first season with the franchise and how some players weren't too thrilled with his coaching methods.
The Commanders pulled off a coup by making Kliff Kingsbury their new offensive coordinator. It looked for a long time as if the respected coach would be heading for the Las Vegas Raiders before an interjection from Magic Johnson, who persuaded him to ignore overtures from the desert and join Washington's exciting project.
Things might not have ended well for Kingsbury with the Arizona Cardinals, but his accomplished work developing young quarterbacks and molding schemes to their strengths will be a significant addition for the Commanders in 2024.
9. Commanders signed Austin Ekeler
There wasn't much hope of Antonio Gibson getting a new deal with the Washington Commanders. The new regime didn't think much of Ron Rivera's roster construction and reacted accordingly. When the New England Patriots came calling for the running back, he was wise to accept their decent three-year contract offer.
The Commanders upgraded matters with the signing of Austin Ekeler. His powers might be waning, but the player remains one of the best pass-catchers out of the backfield and red-zone threats anywhere in the league. Something that could be a significant asset to Washington if there are no complications on the injury front.
Ekeler's presence should also help the likes of Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr. take their respective games to new heights. Learning from such an established veteran will be a key part of their development. If everything goes according to plan, this could be a highly productive running back trio within Kliff Kingsbury's scheme next season.
8. Commanders drafted Mike Sainristil
The Commanders were in desperate need of cornerback help this offseason. Their need for the position became greater once veteran Kendall Fuller signed for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. More might be needed on the outside, but Mike Sainristil's presence in the secondary comes with significant intrigue attached.
Sainristil was a fast climber up draft boards after a standout college career at Michigan, where he won the college football national championship in 2023. The Commanders struck with conviction to land the defensive back at No. 50 overall and he'll immediately become their starting nickel option providing his transition throughout the summer goes smoothly.
While he's a little undersized, that isn't reflected in his production. Sainristil is sensational in coverage, is a willing presence against the run, and has the explosiveness to be deployed on blitz packages when the situation dictates. He's also got the experience needed to hit the ground running, which will be essential if the Commanders want to improve defensively in 2024.
7. Commanders hired Lance Newmark
Enhancing the structure behind the scenes was another important task for the Commanders this offseason. While Adam Peters has gained the majority of headlines - most of which are positive - his decision to lure Lance Newmark from the Detroit Lions to become assistant general manager also seems like a masterstroke looking at how things have unfolded in recent months.
Newmark played a leading role in Detroit's emergence from one of the league's basement dwellers into a legitimate postseason contender. He's a man of few words, but his actions have been a tremendous help to Peters as their relationship blossomed quickly.
If the same trend continues throughout the offseason and into the future, it would be a surprise if a general manager position wasn't awaiting Newmark at some stage. For now, the Commanders can reap the rewards of his contacts around the league and the front-office figure's exceptional input when it comes to player evaluation.
6. Commanders drafted Johnny Newton
The Washington Commanders probably weren't anticipating Johnny Newton being around at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. They had the defensive lineman pretty high on their board according to Adam Peters despite some injury issues. When he fell out of the first round and into their laps, those in power weren't going to pass up such an opportunity.
Newton is a game-wrecker capable of becoming a highly productive starter in the NFL. He's got another foot fracture to deal with this offseason, but the Commanders can bring him along gradually thanks to the presence of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne as their starting defensive tackle tandem.
Providing Newton's rehabilitation goes well and this is the last of his health worries, the long-term upside surrounding this selection is enormous. Getting the chance to learn from Allen and Payne is going to be an incredible tool, so there might be 31 other teams kicking themselves at turning down the former Illinois star when it's all said and done.
5. Commanders signed Bobby Wagner
Bobby Wagner's stay in Washington might only last for one season, but the impact he can make is substantial. The perennial All-Pro linebacker's arrival represented a significant statement of intent from the Commanders. It was also a move that got everyone around the league looking at their fortunes differently.
Wagner is a little long in the tooth these days, but his 183 tackles last season were a career-high and a sign that there is a lot of good football left. He'll raise standards, help the offense and defense with their preparations, in addition to aiding the likes of Frankie Luvu and Jamin Davis in pursuit of taking their games up another notch.
Linking back up with Dan Quinn and Ken Norton Jr. was the big tipping point for Wagner. However, he won't want to end his first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame career on a sour note, so the veteran must believe the Commanders can make strides immediately.
4. Commanders hired Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn wasn't everyone's choice to become Commanders head coach. However, he was always high on the shortlist of Josh Harris and Adam Peters. When Ben Johnson spurned the chance for a second interview whilst Washington's contingent was traveling to Detroit, they went with the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator instead.
Quinn is one of the most respected coaches anywhere in the league. He led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl and helped Dallas' defense become one of the NFL's best under his leadership. It's been an impressive start from the coach, using his contacts to form a prolific staff and helping get the right characters into the building throughout a frantic period of free agency.
This is the second head coaching opportunity Quinn's been waiting for. His enthusiasm and purpose have been evident throughout the opening stages of his transition, but he must get everyone on the same page this offseason to hit the ground running.
It's a big challenge, but one Quinn seems to be relishing on his potential road to redemption.
3. Commanders signed Frankie Luvu
Of all the additions made by the Washington Commanders in free agency, none comes with more intrigue than Frankie Luvu. The ferocious linebacker opted to turn down an extension offer from the Carolina Panthers to join Dan Quinn in the nation's capital. He believes the coach's dynamic scheme can help him enter the elite category, so expectations couldn't be higher heading into his debut season with the franchise.
Luvu's emergence into one of the league's most explosive off-ball linebackers over the last two seasons has been remarkable to watch. He's passionate, instinctive, and always seems to be in a position to make things happen. The athletic traits are absolutely off the charts, so it's not hard to see why the Commanders identified the former Washington State star as a high-priority signing when the legal tampering period began.
If Luvu imposes himself immediately and takes on advice from teammate Bobby Wagner, this is going to be a significant piece of business for the Commanders. Something they desperately required at the defensive second level after the unit became an ongoing afterthought in Ron Rivera's strategy.
2. Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels
After much deliberation and thorough assessments, the Commanders found their franchise quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Jayden Daniels has the expectancy of an entire franchise on his young shoulders, but he's more than capable of meeting short and long-term targets upon further examination of his credentials.
Daniels improved with every passing year in college. His final campaign at LSU was nothing short of remarkable and resulted in winning the Heisman Trophy. Now, he gets the chance to take one of the league's most historic franchises out of the proverbial abyss and back to the NFL's top table.
The signal-caller received rave reviews up to now for a seamless early transition. There's a lot of hard work ahead and it won't be all smooth sailing for Daniels, but the Commanders believe they finally have a quarterback capable of leading them to the promised land once again.
It's a lot to ask. Thankfully, Daniels has the talent, poise, and natural aura to achieve some incredibly lofty objectives throughout his NFL career.
1. Commanders hired Adam Peters
Adam Peters and the Commanders were a match made in heaven from the outset. Josh Harris' ownership group keyed in on the respected front office figure for the vacant general manager role immediately. After lengthy discussions, this was the opportunity he'd been waiting for.
To say Peters has established himself right out of the gate would be an understatement. He's re-established a strong working culture and professionalism that were sorely lacking previously. No leaks are coming from the Commanders anymore, replaced by a cohesive way of thinking and decisions that have the team's best interests at heart.
Peters gutted the roster and made a plethora of additions without jeopardizing future financial flexibility. He's also begun to shake up the front office, finding progressive thinkers who are fully on board with his plans long-term.
If things continue on a similar path in the coming years, Peters might end up being one of the finest additions in franchise history. There's a long to go before that, but the general manager is off to the best possible start.