No team was as active as the Washington Commanders this spring. In the first offseason for owner Josh Harris, coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, the franchise overhauled a roster that finished 4-13 in 2023.
The Commanders added their quarterback of the future and several prospective starters in the draft, but they’re still a step behind perennial playoff contenders in the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington entered the offseason primed for a remodel with the most salary cap space in the league and valuable draft capital.
Instead of overspending on a flashy free agent, the front office built the team through less glamorous positions. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz, center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. aren’t household names, but they bring valuable experience to a rebuilding team.
According to OverTheCap, the Commanders have the highest roster turnover in the league. Only 57% of the players from Washington’s 2023 squad are still on the team.
The rebuild is a work in progress — Washington ranks near the bottom of the league in most power rankings and holds long odds to make the playoffs. But the Commanders made their biggest splash in the draft when they added quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick.
The 2024 season, and Peters’ tenure as general manager, will likely be defined by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. If Daniels blossoms into a superstar, this year’s draft will be a highlight reel moment for Peters and Quinn.
Washington has a blueprint to follow as the Houston Texans went from worst to first in their division last season, led by 2023 No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud.
The Commanders’ draft didn’t end after the No. 2 pick. Washington made nine total selections, including players who could make an immediate impact like defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and cornerback Mike Sainristil.
Washington’s draft earned an “A” grade from most evaluators. Experts praised Peters for selecting the best player available, rather than allowing positional need to dictate picks.
The Commanders also raised some eyebrows when they traded back in the second round with an unlikely partner in their division rival Eagles.
Philadelphia used the pick, No. 40, to select Iowa All-American cornerback Cooper DeJean. The Eagles targeted their secondary this offseason after allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL last season.
Eagles Executive Vice President Howie Roseman selected cornerback Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo with their first-round selection before trading up for DeJean. The Eagles had already re-signed defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Avonte Maddox in free agency.
Philadelphia started hot in 2023 after a Super Bowl appearance the previous year. Their winning ways faltered at the end of the season, culminating in a disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Philadelphia grabbed headlines this spring by adding former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley in free agency. The two-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal, even as most franchises shift large contracts away from running backs and toward premium positions like quarterbacks, wide receivers and pass rushers.
“From our perspective, you get to a situation where you kind of try to find, is something being undervalued?” Roseman told Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “Is there a way to zig when everyone’s zagging? Or I don’t know if it’s the opposite, and you’re freakin’ zagging when zigging.”
The Giants lost Barkley to the Eagles but added a big name in linebacker Brian Burns. The former Carolina Panther signed a $141 million deal after joining the Giants in a trade.
After a surprise playoff run in 2022, the Giants fell back to Earth in 2023, finishing with a 6-11 record. A fresh $160 million contract brought high expectations for quarterback Daniel Jones. He didn’t meet them.
Draft analysts believed New York was in the market for a new quarterback in the draft, but they selected wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick. The LSU product could be a vital piece for an offense that has struggled with Jones under center.
While the Giants and Eagles dished out hefty contracts, the defending division champion Dallas Cowboys had a quiet spring. Owner Jerry Jones doesn’t shy away from media attention, but his team was passive throughout the offseason.
They lost Dan Quinn and defensive assistant Joe Whitt Jr. to the Commanders. Halfback Tony Pollard left in free agency to join the Tennesse Titans. Dallas’ biggest additions, linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Ezekiel Elliott, won’t inspire much confidence for a hungry fanbase.
Dallas’ draft picks also lacked the “wow” factor the league expects from the Cowboys. They added offensive tackle Tyler Gutyon and defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, but none of their new additions leap off the page.
Without fresh weapons, Dallas will rely on stars like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver Ceedee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons.
During their uneventful offseason, the Cowboys could have negotiated new deals for the trio — they are all eligible for extensions. They didn’t. The clock is ticking for Dallas to decide what their future looks like.
“They’re going to be on this team next year, and that’s a great thing,” Stephen Jones, the Cowboys executive vice president, said of his three superstars in February. “But once guys usually get to this window and they have a chance to be free, usually it’s hard to get something done … because they want to see what situation is out there.”
With another division title, the Cowboys could try to keep their foundation intact for a Super Bowl run. Another playoff disappointment could lead to large-scale changes in Dallas.
The NFC East is one of the most dynamic divisions in the NFL — there hasn’t been a repeat champion in the division in over 20 years. The Eagles and Cowboys are tied for the best odds to win the division at most sportsbooks. The two NFC powers are primed for playoff runs in 2024.
The Giants and Commanders are long shots to win the division. For Washington and New York, any progress could be considered a success, even if the playoffs remain elusive.
With an overhauled roster, Washington’s front office said they want to build a culture after years of unrest. The Commanders might not be ready to compete with the juggernauts of the NFL, but a shrewd offseason is a step in the right direction.a
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.