This season was expected to be a transitional one for the Washington Commanders. It turned out to be anything but.
Most people anticipated some progress after a complete franchise reset across the football operation. The front office got a major shake-up thanks to the arrival of general manager Adam Peters. Washington's playing personnel looked unrecognizable with two-thirds of the roster changing. The coaching staff also got upgrades aside from a couple of holdovers.
Peters also picked nine players from the college ranks to kickstart his ambitious project. This was arguably the most important draft in recent memory for the Commanders. If the respected personnel evaluator could hit the jackpot, his team would be in a much more profitable position.
That's exactly what happened. The Commanders found a franchise quarterback. They got a star cornerback. They secured potential long-term starters at defensive tackle, offensive tackle, and kick returner. There were even some diamonds in the rough later down the pecking order and when the undrafted free agent frenzy commenced.
The results spoke for themselves. Washington came within one win of the Super Bowl. They couldn't get over the line in the NFC Championship game, but this project is way ahead of schedule entering Peters' second recruitment period at the helm.
A fascinating few months await. Before then, we re-graded the Commanders 2024 NFL Draft class after one season in the pros.
Re-grading the Commanders 2024 NFL Draft class after one season
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 222
Seventh-round picks are the lottery stage of the draft. Some cannot meet expectations and are cut loose with little fanfare attached. In some rare cases, they end up being prolific starters.
Javontae Jean-Baptise became the Washington Commanders' final selection at No. 222 overall. The edge rusher was a little undersized for an NFL-caliber defensive lineman, but his position versatility and high-end work ethic intrigued the decision-makers enough to bring him on board.
That didn't guarantee anything. Jean-Baptiste and every other seventh-round pick across the league started from the bottom. He had to earn everything, so making the 53-man roster was a fantastic achievement.
After getting time to refine his craft, Jean-Baptiste earned enough trust to accumulate reps on the defensive rotation. The former Notre Dame standout played 25 percent of snaps on defense throughout the campaign despite a frustrating injury denting his progress. He managed one sack, five pressures, and eight stops against the run.
Not exactly world-beating, but it's something to build upon.
Grade: A
For the Commanders to get this much output from a seventh-round pick is a testament to Adam Peters' shrewd talent evaluation. Washington will strengthen its edge rushing options this offseason, but they might have a long-term rotational option in Jean-Baptiste with a little extra polish.
Dominique Hampton - Commanders LB/S
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 161
The Washington Commanders made some slight alterations to their safety room this offseason. Those in power let Kamren Curl walk without offering him a new deal. They signed Jeremy Chinn in free agency and also moved Quan Martin to the backend following his rookie campaign at nickel corner.
They also spent a fifth-round selection on Dominique Hampton. The hard-hitting defensive back out of Washington came with some intriguing athletic traits. After some additional assessments, the coaching staff decided to make a switch.
Hampton is now listed as a linebacker. He's got the physical profile to potentially carve out a role for himself, but he remains an unknown quantity. The Commanders kept him on the active roster, although he was a healthy scratch for 16 of the 17 regular-season games and throughout the postseason.
Having a full season of practice to develop and learn a new position will be highly beneficial for Hampton. Big changes to the playing personnel are anticipated once again this spring, so he'll have to show the right attitude and do enough to secure his roster spot once again.
Grade: Incomplete
It's hard to know what the Commanders have in Hampton right now. Things should become clearer throughout the summer, but it could legitimately go either way.
Jordan Magee - Commanders LB
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 139
Jordan Magee looked like a player tailor-made for Dan Quinn's defense. He was an imposing presence during his college career at Temple, playing with ruthless aggression and explosiveness that was hard not to love.
It was no surprise that the Commanders took an interest in Magee despite the presence of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu at the defensive second level. The fifth-round pick looked fantastic during his early integration. Unfortunately for the linebacker, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery.
This landed Magee on injured reserve and saw his momentum come to an abrupt halt. He didn't return until Week 7 against the Chicago Bears and was used primarily on special teams throughout the campaign, making a big impression thanks to his unique blend of size, speed, and physicality.
It was a stuttering rookie campaign from Magee's perspective. However, the untapped potential remains if he gets a better run of luck on the health front throughout the 2025 preparation period.
Grade: B
The Commanders should keep Wagner around this offseason, although there's just no telling for sure. Luvu is a core foundational piece, but that's about it. This gives Magee a tremendous opportunity to establish himself if the necessary growth arrives in the coming months.
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 100
Luke McCaffrey comes from a family deeply rooted in NFL folklore. His father Ed was a Pro Bowl wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos. His brother Christian is a two-time All-Pro and remains among the league's most prolific dual-threat running backs.
Those are lofty bars for which to aim, but McCaffrey was eager to carve out his path. The Washington Commanders gave him that opportunity by taking the wide receiver at No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
McCaffrey was inexperienced as a wide receiver having made the position switch from quarterback. The Commanders didn't task him with too much in Year 1, but there was a lot to like about his ability to create separation and take advantage of opportunities when they arose.
The former Rice standout eventually finished the regular season with 18 receptions from 24 targets for 168 receiving yards. McCaffrey's impact as a kick returner also caught the eye — a productive presence the Commanders had sorely lacked previously.
Grade: B+
McCaffrey did everything asked of him, displaying composure and professionalism in equal measure. Some fans were anticipating more, but placing too much on his shoulders before confidence increased wasn't going to do him or the franchise any good.
Brandon Coleman - Commanders OT
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 72
There was another obvious need for the Commanders aside from picking their next franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Adam Peters and his staff had to find a starting left tackle.
Washington reportedly tried to trade back into the first round to no avail. Peters didn't panic. He bided his time and waited until the third round to select Brandon Coleman.
Coleman was an interesting case study during the assessment process. He stacked several accomplished performances as an edge protector at TCU. However, some analysts believed his lack of NFL-standard length indicated an interior role could be more beneficial in the long term.
Peters had other ideas. He gave Coleman the chance to learn on the blindside. The Commanders were happy enough with his progress, although the coaching staff opted to split reps between the rookie and veteran Cornelius Lucas over the opening exchanges.
This was an unusual approach, but one that paid off handsomely. Coleman gradually came into his own. When the time came for increased responsibilities, he stepped up. It wasn't perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination, but there was far more good than bad to take from his first year as an NFL pro.
Grade: A
Coleman's disappointing effort versus the Eagles left a sour taste in the mouth. However, whether on the edge or the interior, the Commanders could have a productive long-term starter with additional development.
Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 53
The Washington Commanders released veteran tight end Logan Thomas pretty early into the offseason. Despite signing Pro Bowler Zach Ertz to a one-year deal, most fans expected them to acquire someone with a higher long-term upside at some stage during the 2024 NFL Draft.
That came at No. 53 overall with Ben Sinnott. The promising prospect was a little rough around the edges, but his athletic potential was there for all to see. He also had the elite-level mentality that the Commanders were looking to implement across the roster.
Washington took its time with Sinnott. The fact Ertz galvanized his career took the pressure off and allowed the player to develop at his own pace. Despite being used sparingly in the passing game, the rookie demonstrated capabilities as a blocker and even lent his support to special teams for good measure.
Fans were probably expecting a little more from Sinnott. But the Commanders weren't going to put too much on his plate and Ertz's career renaissance was a driving force behind Washington's ultra-efficient offense with coordinator Kliff Kingsbury leading the charge.
Grade: B
The Commanders will likely use Sinnott more next season whether Ertz is retained or not. That should provide a broader perception of what he could potentially bring to the franchise long-term.
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 50
Mike Sainristil might be relatively small in stature compared to most NFL players. However, the cornerback proved this season that he's got a profitable career ahead of him.
Sainristil was another who received the Commanders' seal of approval during the pre-draft process. They were enamored by his competitiveness, leadership, and ability to contribute in all phases. Their jubilation when the Cincinnati Bengals picked his Michigan teammate Kris Jenkins Jr. instead was a testament to how highly they regarded the defensive back.
The Commanders were planning to start Sainristil at the nickel. Poor performances from those on the boundary forced the coaching staff into a change of pace. The rookie was switched to the outside in a feast-or-famine gamble that could have gone either way.
Fortunately for the Commanders, Sainristil took on the challenge and thrived. He relished the prospect of going up against the league's best wideouts and more than held his own. The first-year-pro quickly established himself as a core foundational piece for the future.
Grade: A+
Once Marshon Lattimore gets fully healthy with an offseason to immerse himself into Washington's defensive schematics, the Commanders could have a potentially prolific cornerback partnership on their hands. Simply put, Adam Peters struck gold with Sainristil.
Johnny Newton - Commanders DT
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 36
The Washington Commanders thought they'd struck gold when defensive lineman Johnny Newton fell out of the first round and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was projected by many to be a top-15 pick before injury problems surfaced. Luck was shining on general manager Adam Peters in no uncertain terms.
Newton had a difficult offseason. He missed most of the team's preparation program following foot surgeries. The Commanders were planning to bring him along gradually. That all changed when Jonathan Allen went down with a torn bicep in Week 6.
Washington needed more from Newton. The former Illinois standout stepped up with decent production alongside veteran lineman Daron Payne.
It wasn't perfect from Newton, but nobody expected it to be. The rookie displayed inconsistencies against the run and the tackling technique needs work. However, his explosiveness and ability to generate pressure from the interior were as advertised.
Grade: A
This season represents a solid foundation from which to build. Newton plans on spending plenty of time working out with Allen this offseason to hone his craft. He's avoiding complacency, which bodes well for his chances of making strides when team activities begin once again in 2025.
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 2
The Commanders believed in Jayden Daniels. They considered Drake Maye and others during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments, but the primary decision-makers quickly identified the Heisman Trophy winner as someone capable of spearheading this organization's renaissance.
Most thought Daniels would do well. Few expected him to reach the lofty heights accomplished during one of the finest seasons for any quarterback in NFL history.
Daniels was a revelation. His exceptional work ethic, fierce determination, and flawless demeanor quickly got everyone onside. No moment was too big for the signal-caller. The higher the stakes, the more he excelled.
Everyone believed the Commanders could win any game with Daniels leading the charge. His poise, precision, and electrifying dual-threat capabilities were astonishing. When Washington needed him to take over contests, he duly obliged.
The improvements were immediate. Washington went from a bottom feeder to a legitimate Super Bowl challenger in the blink of an eye. For all the other positives that helped them along the way, none were more important than having a franchise quarterback to depend upon.
Grade: A++
Taking Daniels was the best move general manager Adam Peters would ever make. He's provided the catalyst behind a seismic shift across the organization. And losing the NFC Championship game is only going to motivate him further moving forward.