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Daily Slop – 22 Jun 25 – Josh Harris spent half a million dollars to buy Jayden Daniels rookie card

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A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

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Commanders Wire

Commanders’ defense led the NFL in one important stat in 2025

Last year, 135 two-point conversions were attempted, and contrary to what you might think, the quarterback rolling out for a run/pass option is not the most common strategy for these conversions. In fact, 73% of two-point attempts in 2024 were passing plays, and over the last 10 years, it’s about the same at 72.5%. Even on third or fourth and two, 61% of plays were passing plays.

Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s defense had more two-point stops than any other team last season, stopping eight of the nine attempts against them.

“Most people aren’t willing to run the ball in that situation,” Whitt said via Greg Auman of Fox Sports. “So, where are most people going to attack? They’re going to try to attack your flats. Are they a flat left or flat right team? Are they going to try to move the pocket? Are they a crosser team? Once you realize that, there’s only so many things they’re going to do down there, so you rep it. … Now, if they run the ball, that’s what makes it a whole lot more difficult, but not a lot of people are going to do that.”

He said that part of the reason they are successful against two-point conversions is that they practice them every week. They install two two-point conversion plays each week. The first is their initial go-to formation, while the second simply offers a different look to their opponent should they attempt a second two-point conversion.

“Those are game-winning plays,” Whitt said. “DQ [Dan Quinn] does a great job of talking to the team about winning moments when it comes down to it. We rep it as part of our red zone defense when we get into the low red, and we talk about it once it’s closer to the game: ‘This is what we’re going to go with.’”

NFL.com

Five teams that won the NFL offseason

Washington Commanders

Commanders’ offseason additions | Washington’s 2025 draft class

It’s hard to improve from good to great in the NFL, but the Commanders might join the league’s elites with an improved roster that features more blue-chip players around 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. The trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel place a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber players in marquee positions (left tackle and WR2) that should help the offense unlock another gear in 2025. If the team can resolve Terry McLaurin’s contract situation, the Commanders will have a chance to open the season with an electric offense that will put plenty of stress on defensive coordinators crafting plans to stop the juggernaut.

Defensively, the additions of Deatrich Wise and Jonathan Jones fortify a unit that is coming into its own under the direction of head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. If the Commanders continue to receive key contributions from their young defensive backs (Mike Sainristil, Quan Martin and Trey Amos), the reigning NFC runner-up could take the next step in 2025.

My expectation for 2025: The Commanders are built to run through the NFC with a superstar quarterback surrounded by a stellar supporting cast. If Washington can secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed, we could see a championship parade in the nation’s capital come February.

Chicago Bears

My expectation for 2025: The table is set for the Bears to make a playoff run this season. They have upgraded their play-caller, playmakers and pass protectors to ensure Williams sparks a turnaround as a sophomore.

New England Patriots

My expectation for 2025: The Patriots should quickly close ground on their division rivals as a .500 squad that makes a push for a playoff berth over the final month of the season.

Las Vegas Raiders

My expectation for 2025: The Raiders could emerge as a dark-horse playoff contender thanks to Carroll’s experience and expertise. The 73-year-old coach knows how to put together winning game plans, and his roster features enough talent to chalk up nine-plus wins.

Newsweek

Cowboys Star Utters Bold Statement on Commanders’ Jayden Daniels

Earlier this week, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs linked up with viral streamer N3on. During his appearance, he was posed with the question of naming his top five quarterbacks in the NFL right now.

Diggs started off by being a loyal teammate and giving Dak Prescott a shoutout. He then went on to put the Commanders’ rising star in the same breath as talents like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

“I’m a go Dak,” Diggs said. “Aaron Rodgers, Jayden Daniels, no order. Mahomes, Lamar.”

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders’ offensive line dynamic could make or break their 2025 hopes

Washington recognized the need to improve the protection in front of star quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. Peters traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafted Oregon standout Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall. This could be a dynamic bookend tackle partnership, which involved some maneuvering for others.

This brings Brandon Coleman under the microscope. Head coach Dan Quinn is switching the former third-round pick inside after he spent last season occupying Daniels’ blindside. He was solid if not spectacular, but all signs suggest that his physical attributes are better suited to the interior.

Coleman has slotted into the left guard spot, with Nick Allegretti potentially switching to the right-hand side until Sam Cosmi fully recovers from his torn ACL. It’s a risky proposition that could make or break the team’s hopes of going deep into the postseason once again. But it could also bring substantial rewards if everything comes together as expected.

Washington’s new offensive line dynamic and Coleman’s transition will be tested heavily when training camp rolls around. That’s when things become more physical and intense. The Commanders’ protection must become a cohesive unit quickly. Anything less comes with problematic ramifications attached.

Camp will hopefully iron out any issues. Joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots will provide a sound measuring stick regarding their 2025 outlook. The pressure is on, and Coleman’s position change could be the difference between success and failure.

Podcasts & videos

End of minicamp player interviews

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Bleeding Green Nation

14 I don’t knows from the Eagles’ spring practices

LB NAKOBE DEAN

Fangio said Dean “won’t be back for a while.” It seems like he might begin the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list (PUP) after suffering a torn patellar tendon on January 12. If that’s the case, Dean will automatically miss the Eagles’ first four games. It’s possible he’ll be out even longer.

This is a really big year for Dean since he’s set to be a free agent after the 2025 season. And his injury recovery isn’t the only obstacle to him getting back on the field. What if Campbell is shining in his absence? A good problem for the Eagles to have, for sure, but not so ideal for Dean’s personal outlook.

WR JAHAN DOTSON

The good news is that Jalen Hurts showed a willingness to throw to Dotson. It’s important for them to build chemistry this offseason. Of course, Hurts often didn’t have A.J. Brown (resting) or DeVonta Smith (absent until minicamp) to throw to.

I don’t know if Dotson looked so good that I feel confident that he’ll be significantly better in 2025. It’s really not a high bar to clear since he finished 112th out of 112 wide receivers in yards per route run last season. He also doesn’t need to — and likely won’t — post big numbers since he’s behind Brown, Smith, and Dallas Goedert in the target pecking order. But it would be nice if he’s mixed in a little bit more than he was in 2024.

Blogging the Boys

How the DeMarvion Overshown situation could present some challenges for the Cowboys front office

Last year was a tough season for the Dallas Cowboys. They were losing games, injuries were piling up, and it became very evident early in the season that this team wasn’t going anywhere. That’s not a common thing for this organization. The team experienced a similar ordeal in 2020, but outside of that, lost seasons have not really been a thing for the Cowboys.

With all the bad things that went wrong last year, there might not have been a worse event than the DeMarvion Overshown injury. Yes, many players got hurt, and yes, one of them was a season-ending hamstring injury to the team’s franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott. But for many of the hurt players, we knew they would heal up and be ready to go next year. That’s not the case for Overshown.

A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown has been a player the team has loved from the beginning. A celebrating war room on draft day served as a testament to what they felt they got. Sadly, his rookie season was taken away from him after he suffered a torn ACL in a preseason game.

Last season, he returned, healthy as an ox, but fast as a gazelle. Overshown gave us a dose of his athleticism as he was all over the field. His length and great closing speed made him one of the defense’s top players. His playmaking ability made him worth the wait, but sadly, an injury struck again. In Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Overshown injured his knee again, but this time it was much worse. He tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL, bringing a dark cloud over the career of the team’s young defensive superstar.

According to reports, Overshown’s rehab is progressing nicely, and there is some optimism that a mid-season return could happen. When he returns and what he’s able to do this soon are big mysteries, and it’s reasonable to lower our expectations for the upcoming season. When you look at the range of outcomes, the likelihood of him either missing the entire year or coming back late and having a limited impact seems rather large. Only time will tell.

With little information likely to work with from the upcoming season, the team will have a big decision to make. They can extend him next offseason before he enters the final year of his rookie contract, or they can wait and see and take their chances in free agency. This is a decision that is a lot tougher than it sounds.

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Pro Football Focus

2025 NFL receiving corps rankings: Eagles kick things off at No. 1

1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles earned a team 79.1 PFF receiving grade last season and boast the No. 1 (A.J. Brown) and No. 17 (DeVonta Smith) receivers in PFF’s top 32 wide receiver rankings, as well as the No. 2 running back (Saquon Barkley) and No. 8 tight end (Dallas Goedert). Throw in Jahan Dotson as an ideal No. 3 receiver, and you’ve got a group that has a strong case for being the best in the league.

13. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Terry McLaurin leads the league with 89 contested catches since 2020, and his 1.31 PFF WAR over the past three seasons ranks seventh among wide receivers.

The Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel, who is poised for a bounce-back season with a change of scenery. Noah Brown, Zach Ertz and Austin Ekeler all recorded receiving grades above 70.0 last season and are back for 2025.

15. DALLAS COWBOYS

CeeDee Lamb carries the Cowboys’ ranking here. His 79.9 PFF receiving grade in 2024 was low for his standards, but he recorded a 91.2 mark the year prior when Dak Prescott was fully healthy. Dallas traded for George Pickens, who is coming off a career-high 78.6 PFF overall grade, but they need more from Jake Ferguson, Jalen Tolbert and someone — anyone — out of the backfield.

24. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants’ passing attack isn’t just Malik Nabers, but he represents the biggest piece of the pie. Nabers earned an 87.1 PFF receiving grade as a rookie despite a terrible quarterback situation. He was the only Giants receiver to earn a single-season receiving grade higher than 65.0 in 2024.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., Theo Johnson, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt make up the same group from 2024, which posted a 29th-ranked 67.1 PFF receiving grade.

ESPN

NFL luxury players in 2025 season: Best slot CB, backup QB, more

Fourth wide receiver

Olamide Zaccheaus, WR, Chicago Bears

There are certainly bigger names who might fall fourth on a depth chart at wide receiver, such as Diontae Johnson (Browns) or Demarcus Robinson (49ers), but this is a spot where receivers are expected to do more than catch passes. Teams need their fourth and fifth wideouts to block in the run and screen games and still make an impact as a pass catcher when their number is called or when the top guys aren’t on the field.

While Zaccheaus might have been something closer to the second or third wide receiver for the Commanders last season, he is expected to slot in behind DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and rookie second-round pick Luther Burden III in Chicago. Don’t be surprised if Zaccheaus is on the field more often than you would expect — coaches love him.

Zaccheaus is undersized at 5-foot-8, 193 pounds, but he has still carved out a role in the NFL by being an aggressive, willing blocker. He was effective as both a blocker and receiver on the tunnel and bubble screens the Commanders ran last season; he was also capable of finding holes in coverage out of the slot. He averaged a respectable 1.9 yards per route run last season, just ahead of DK Metcalf (Seahawks) and Jordan Addison (Vikings). And while Zaccheaus is never going to command their sort of target share, the 27-year-old is one of the league’s most effective wideouts without the ball in his hands. He even ran through tackles in the Eagles’ secondary for a critical score in the fourth quarter of a December win over the eventual Super Bowl champs.

The only blemish on Zaccheaus’ 2024 record is his three fumbles, all of which came on punt return duties. The Bears signed Devin Duvernay to take over the return work in Chicago, and Zaccheaus had only one fumble in his career before last season, so I’m willing to write that off as a bit of a fluke. Zaccheaus won’t be the Bears’ wideout who sells the most jerseys this offseason, but he should be on the field plenty.

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