A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general
Commanders links
Articles
CBS Sports
Most intriguing rookies who survived 2024 roster cuts after being overlooked in draft
Tyler Owens WAS • DB • #40
Byron Jones’ 147-inch broad jump — which equates to 12 feet and 3 inches — felt like an untouchable combine record that no one could even approach. That was the case since Jones jumped that astronomically far in 2015 … until Owens went 146 inches in April.
The former Texas Tech is a monster of a safety from a size perspective too, at nearly 6-3 and 216 pounds. Oh, and he had a 41-inch vertical as well. Owens is already one of the most imposing and genuinely explosive safeties in the NFL, which makes sense, because he was the No. 3 safety recruit in the country in the high school class of 2019 per 247 Sports. The only two safeties ahead of him that year? Daxton Hill and Kyle Hamilton.
Owens spent five years in college, three at Texas and two at Texas Tech. In Austin, he barely saw the field. With the Red Raiders in 2023, he made 37 tackles and knocked away two passes.
In the preseason with the Commanders, Owens mostly ranged from free safety and made seven tackles while only allowing one reception for four yards in his coverage area on a pair of targets. No, he didn’t set the world on fire in his exhibition showings, but Owens is simply too freaky of a specimen to not include here.
Commanders Wire
2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at wide receiver?
All the DMV wants to be optimistic, yet the reality is Washington must replace its second and third receivers from 2023. Curtis Samuel was on the receiving end of 62 passes for 613 yards, four touchdowns, and 26 first downs, averaging 9.9 yards a reception. Samuel departed as a free agent and signed with the Bills.
Jahan Dotson, selected 16th overall by Washington in the 2022 draft, collected 49 receptions for 518 yards, four touchdowns, and 27 first downs, averaging 10.6 yards per reception. Dotson and the offensive coaches were not on the same page in training camp, and he was subsequently traded to the Eagles.
So, where will production come from this receiver group? Dyami Brown has been largely unproductive in his first three NFL seasons. He has flashed, but only a few plays each season. He has also struggled to catch some balls that were certainly catchable.
However, coaches have continued to insist that Brown has worked hard and produced throughout the offseason and training camp. Brown has been publicly praised more than once by Dan Quinn, and apparently, the Commanders believed enough in Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey that they traded Dotson.
Sports Illustrated
What’s Commanders Biggest Strength Going Into Season?
The Washington Commanders have a lot to like going into the regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Commanders won just two of their final 15 games last season, setting themselves up to be the second-worst team in the NFL. That’s why the Commanders cleaned house, getting a new general manager, head coach and rookie quarterback — and that enough should be Washington’s biggest strength.
“Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ potential — paired with a turned-over roster and new coaching staff under Dan Quinn that has created renewed energy. Daniels’ electric ability and accurate passing provide hope. Washington’s more creative defensive pressures, and a less complex coverage scheme, should elevate a defense that ranked last in points and yards allowed in 2023. Also, the Commanders will use the run game more than last season when it ranked last in attempts,” ESPN insider John Keim writes.
Washington Post (paywall)
Five preposterously positive predictions for the Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels wins offensive rookie of the year? Fellow rookie Ben Sinnott rewrites the franchise’s record book? Hey, it could happen.
With a new regime in charge, the preseason vibes coming out of Ashburn are as good as they have been in quite some time, suggesting this could be the year one of these predictions actually comes true. (For the record, despite a few close calls since launching this silly exercise in 2016, I’m 0 for 40, which is only slightly worse than the accuracy rate of the Commanders’ kickers during the first few weeks of training camp.)
As a reminder, these are a degree more ridiculous than your typical bold predictions, and though rooted in facts and analysis, they’re supposed to be more fun than serious. In the spirit of tradition, here are five things that the Commanders probably won’t (but maybe will!) accomplish this season:
1. Jayden Daniels will win offensive rookie of the year.
Why it’s preposterous: Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams opens the season as the overwhelming favorite to win the award and appears to be in a better situation to succeed in his first season, owing in part to Chicago’s stronger offensive line and receiving corps. Williams has played well in the preseason, showcasing the ability that made the D.C. native the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft. Robert Griffin III was the last Washington player to be named offensive rookie of the year, after his magical 2012 season. Running back Mike Thomas, who rushed for 919 yards as a rookie in 1975, is the only other player to win the award in franchise history.
Why it could happen: Daniels looked excellent in training camp and the preseason, and his ability to make things happen with his legs could mask the Commanders’ deficiencies along the offensive line. Like Griffin in 2012, he was drafted No. 2 overall, one pick after a fellow quarterback. Just last year, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the season with much longer odds to win the award than No. 1 pick Bryce Young but ended up the near-unanimous choice after a dazzling rookie campaign. The No. 1 and No. 2 picks have each won the award three times since 2010, despite three more offensive skill position players being selected first than second during that span. The NFL may have nixed Daniels’s $10,000 bet with former LSU teammate and Giants rookie wideout Malik Nabers on who would win the award, but Washington’s new signal caller won’t be lacking for motivation.
Riggo’s Rag
Best and worst-case predictions for every Commanders offensive player in 2024
Things are hanging in the balance.
Best, worst, and realistic cases for Commanders offensive players in 2024
Nick Allegretti – Commanders OL
- Best-Case: Starts all 17 games at left guard with a Pro Football Focus rating of 75, which is around what Brandon Scherff posted the last time the Commanders had a good left guard.
- Worst Case: The second coming of Nick Gates. Benched six games into the season for a practice squad call-up.
- Realistic-Case: Closer to the former. Starts 14 games with a PFF rating in the high 60s.
John Bates – Commanders TE
- Best-Case: Kliff Kingsbury learns his name. 35 targets, 26 catches, two touchdowns, and ESPN temporarily revives the long-departed Jacked Up! to show him blowing up an unnamed linebacker on a division rival who may or may not wear No. 11.
- Worst-Case: Kingsbury takes Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott out for beers, and Bates’ invitation accidentally winds up in the hands of Colson Yankoff, who moves ahead of him on the depth chart.
- Realistic Case: Bates catches 18 passes but is on the field for more than 500 snaps.
Tyler Biadasz – Commanders C
- Best-Case: Pro Bowl alternate. Makes Washington fans finally forget Chase Roullier.
- Worst-Case: Nick Gates … oh, wait, I already used that one. Playing with a completely new left side, Biadasz starts slowly. Goal-line and short-yardage offenses are inefficient. Fans start longing for Ricky Stromberg.
- Realistic Case: Basically the best case. Maybe he doesn’t make the Pro Bowl, but Biadasz should solidify a position that has been in flux for the last three seasons.
Dyami Brown – Commanders WR
- Best-Case: Starts opposite Terry McLaurin and posts better than 15 yards per catch on at least 50 receptions. Nine touchdowns, and a big new contract.
- Worst-Case: 12 catches, 148 yards, one tantalizing touchdown not to be repeated. That is his stat line from 2023, and it would be a huge disappointment this season.
- Realistic-Case: I am cautiously optimistic, but I don’t believe Brown will have a breakthrough at this point. Somewhere around 30 catches for 500 receiving yards and three touchdowns. These are his career totals over his three years in the league.
Podcasts & videos
On video with Logan Paulsen. Game week is here. Facing a Todd Bowles’ D. How the OL can be helped by other factors. Jayden Daniels. What Logan has learned watching them. More. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/x2ZBTqFMd9
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 2, 2024
The MEGA Season Preview | The Booth Review with Bram and Big Fletch | Washington Commanders | NFL
Episode 900 – Guest: @TheHowardGutman. Superb insight on the #Commanders. Great stuff on Josh Harris, Adam Peters & Dan Quinn. Could team go back to the Redskins logo? Doesn’t say no…Also, what Harris is looking for in next team president & much more.https://t.co/0MG3eU75Sn
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) September 2, 2024
The Athletic: Do the Washington Commanders Have ANY Blue Chip Players?
NFC East links
The Athletic (paywall)
Intel on all 32 NFL teams
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: With so much focus on quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract situation, rival coaches and executives think there’s a more pressing issue as it relates to the Cowboys’ success in 2024. There’s a big change in scheme and personality as they’ve transitioned from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer, and that group may take a step back — at least to start the season — as it adjusts. With head coach Mike McCarthy’s expiring contract, the Bill Belichick speculation, Prescott’s situation and the loss of Quinn, there are plenty of reasons why the Cowboys are among the favorites to take a step back this season, according to a poll of league coaches and executives The Athletic will release this week.
New York Giants: They’ve got some impressive young receivers with Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson as high draft picks in recent years, but rival executives are skeptical quarterback Daniel Jones will get the best out of them. After general manager Joe Schoen tried to trade into the top three of the draft, it’s pretty clear the clock is ticking on Jones, who has two years but no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after this season. It’s hardly an obtrusive contract in 2025-26, especially in the current QB landscape, but Jones probably has to play well enough to keep it on the books after this season.
Philadelphia Eagles: Coach Nick Sirianni may be on the hot seat, but general manager Howie Roseman’s approval rating is still extremely high by his peers. Roseman continues to construct one of the better rosters in the league with smart contracts, and there’s a reason why assistant GM Alec Halaby has gotten interview requests from other teams. Expect fellow assistant general manager Jon Ferrari to also eventually draw interest.
Washington Commanders: There’s a lot of work to do in Washington, but the Commanders have well-respected leaders in place to try to get it done. Head coach Dan Quinn is revered by his peers, particularly among those who have worked with him, and general manager Adam Peters has an esteemed eye for talent. It’s been a long wait, but it seems as though the Commanders are finally heading in a positive direction.
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
The NFL Let the Private Equity ‘Barbarians’ Through the Gate
[D]espite it being a meaningful shift in position by the league, it really won’t mean much for the typical sports fan.
Private equity investors in NFL clubs won’t have any voting power, influence, or say in the team’s operations. They won’t be the faces of the teams and won’t have governance rights. Each team will be limited to selling no more than a 10% stake to private equity; for comparison, the NBA and MLB allow 30%. Additionally, no individual or group can own more than 7.5% of any league-approved fund (the NFL approved only eight), which means no individual from this new PE cadre will own more than 0.75% of a team. A team’s most devoted fans will probably never even catch a glimpse of the silent-partner suits who’ve bought in behind the curtain.
We know what’s in it for the teams: A low-pressure capital injection. “All it is,” commissioner Roger Goodell said after the vote, “is a silent position that would allow access to capital for those teams that wish to offer 10% of their team.”
What’s in it for private equity?