As Rosh Hashanah approaches in the coming weeks, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris prepares to turn the page early, priming the 2024-2025 NFL season as the beginning of a brand new vision.
The Commanders took punch after punch last season, which was topped off by an ownership change with drama befitting a TV soap. Their putrid 4-13 record ranked 31st among the NFL’s 32 teams.
Harris stuffed the past year with personnel changes. He hired a new general manager, a fresh coaching staff led by new head coach Dan Quinn and found a potential face of the franchise in rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was drafted second overall out of Louisiana State University this year.
Harris has called himself a Reform Jew in past interviews. Judging by his bold shakeups this offseason, the DC native’s penchant for reform guides more than just his Jewish identity.
Even before the season’s outset, the newly-minted owner’s far-reaching changes invigorated a fanbase previously exhausted from endless scandal, poor play and disappointment.
In a recent survey of NFL fan bases conducted by the Athletic this past week, the Commanders placed 17th. While that number may sound uninspiring, the Commanders ranked 29th entering the 2023 season.
As Harris seeks to rescue the Commanders from the NFC East’s basement in his first full year as owner, here are vital storylines to watch out for this season:
New faces
Harris entered the 2024 offseason with a precise plan to transform the Commanders’ organization. He detailed his vision to the Commanders’ beat writers after the end of the 2023 season:
“From my point of view, we are coming out of this poised for a great future,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of draft capital, a lot of cap space, and I’m lucky enough to be supported by an amazing ownership group. This is probably one of the most important jobs I have as a managing partner. It’s important that I do this personally and we get this right and we bring in the right leadership.”
To build the best, Harris had to hire the best, starting with the general manager position.
Advised by a diverse pool of voices ranging from former head coach Ron Rivera to former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Harris chose Adam Peters, the former assistant general manager to NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
Peters immediately began hunting for a new coaching staff, essential for the 2024 draft and building a new culture for the players. After two weeks on the job, Peters landed on Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who had a top-five standing in defense yards allowed last season.
A former head coach with a Super Bowl appearance on his resume, Quinn could handle pressure on the most valuable sports franchise and understands firsthand the requirements to be a Super Bowl contender.
With brand new perspectives in the Commanders’ organization, the franchise rose like a phoenix on draft night, but a gaping hole at quarterback loomed over any other move the Commanders could make in the offseason. The Commanders knew a rookie quarterback would need investment across the roster, especially after leading the NFL in quarterback sacks allowed last season.
In the offseason, Peters focused on rebuilding his offensive line with three new linemen. With the second overall pick, the bright side of a grueling 2023 season, the Commanders had a consensus decision between LSU’s reigning Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s starting quarterback, Drake Maye.
Daniels stuck out as the better pick, ranking number one in quarterback rating and points above average. His contributions on the run placed him first among all college quarterbacks, and finished second in plays related to his passing game. His raw talent, SEC pedigree and well-rounded profile in all aspects of being a quarterback should elevate the Commanders’ roster.
Last season, the electrifying play of Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, returned his team to the postseason for the first time in four years. Coincidentally, the Commanders last made the playoffs four years ago.
A promising roster
As a virtue of the pains of emerging from a rebuild, the Commanders are well-prepared to open their competitive window. Harris has initiated the first payroll increase under his watch, greenlighting a $17 million payroll increase while maintaining a top ten spot in salary cap space.
Harris and his newly hired general manager positioned their young roster to succeed, tied for third in average player age. The mix of rookies and veterans resembles the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers, the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns, all of which tied or won their divisions.
Regarding payroll, of all the teams in the NFC East, the Commanders have the fewest number of players earning ten million dollars or more against the salary cap.
Florida flop primes a crucial homecoming
On Sunday at 4:25 p.m., the Commanders opened their season on the road, facing the reigning NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Commanders started their season with a 37-20 loss, quickly stumbling to a 0-1 record.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels flashed his abundant potential against the Buccaneers, scoring two rushing touchdowns and 17-24 on passes without a single interception. Defensively, the Commanders and head coach Dan Quinn had no answer for Tampa Bay’s offense. Quarterback Baker Mayfield finished with an outstanding line, recording an 80 completion percentage, four passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Commanders will look to right the ship next Sunday, receiving a prime opportunity against the New York Giants, the NFC’s weakest team so far. New York could only muster a meager six points against the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener. No other NFL team scored fewer than ten points in their first game of the season. The Commanders will look to regain their momentum on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. as they return to Washington for an NFC East showdown.
