How did they do? Grading the key 2024 player additions by the Washington Commanders

In a season of major change and re-alignment, there was a lot of good and a little bad from GM Adam Peters

An incredible season

No team in the NFL turned over more of its roster in 2024 than the Washington Commanders.

Current Commanders managing partner Josh Harris and the rest of the ownership group purchased the Washington franchise in July of 2023, just days before the start of training camp — too late to really effect much change on the football operations. The Commanders limped through Ron Rivera’s 4th and final season as the head coach/head of football operations, finishing with a 4-13 record and the second overall pick in the draft.

In January 2024, the re-making of the Commanders began in earnest. Before a single roster move was made, two massively important hires set the stage for what would be the Commanders most successful season in 33 years.

General Manager

The ownership group targeted Adam Peters from the San Francisco 49ers to take over football operations as the team’s General Manager. AP was the hottest candidate in the GM market at the time, and he has spent the subsequent 16 months living up to his reputation.

Head Coach

Job One for Peters was to hire the right head coach to align the vision and set the right direction for the team. While fans were clamoring for a young and talented coordinator (no retreads!) with a history of developing quarterbacks (second pick in the draft), Peters was laser focused on finding the most outstanding leader available. The Commanders cast a wide net, went through a thorough process, and made what appears to have been the best hire of the ‘24 offseaon in Dan Quinn, former head coach of the Falcons and — from ‘21 to ‘23 — the architect of the Dallas Cowboys defense.

In his first year at the helm of the burgundy & gold, Dan Quinn led his cobbled-together roster to a 12-win season and the NFC Championship game.

Let’s take a look at the roster that Adam Peters assembled, and that Dan Quinn led to such success in the first season of this new era of Washington football and grade Peters on the personnel decisions he made as a first-time GM.

Key player acquisitions from the 2024 offseason

This article highlights 20 players, which might seem unreasonable, but is reflective of the complete re-tooling of the Commanders roster that took place a year ago.

Today, only 6 starters remain from the crew that played for Ron Rivera in 2023. Each of the players highlighted below (with one notable exception) was a starter or played significant snaps for the Commanders in 2024.

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels – drafted 2nd overall out of LSU

Grade: A+

No player in the NFL had a bigger impact on his team’s fortunes in 2024 than Jayden Daniels. The Commanders, who had won just 4 games in ‘23, amassed 12 victories in 2024 — many of them in dramatic fashion. Six of the team’s victories were secured on the final play of the game, with the most memorable being the NFL’s ‘play of the year’ — the Hail Mary pass to secure the win over the Chicago Bears in Week 8.

The Commander went on to win a pair of playoff games for the first time since the team’s 1991 Super Bowl championship season.

Daniels, of course, was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was generally considered to have put together the best rookie season for any quarterback in the NFL’s Super Bowl era. Washington fans are looking forward to another dozen years (or more) of elite quarterback play from “that kid” Jayden.

Marcus Mariota – signed in free agency

Grade: A

Marcus Mariota, like Jayden Daniels, was a former Heisman Trophy winner who had been selected second overall in the draft, with Mariota having been selected by the Titans in 2015. He was signed by the Commanders for $6m to act as a mentor to Daniels and provide quality play on the field if needed.

Mariota was needed on the field in two games, both of which ended up in the ‘win’ column for the Commanders.

In Week 7, Jayden Daniels was injured on the first offensive play of the game against the Panthers. While he finished the first drive, he was unable to continue beyond that, and Marcus Mariota came on in relief. He led six scoring drives and the Commanders won the game 40-7.

Mariota was needed again in Week 18 against the Cowboys in Dallas. The Commanders were competing with the Packers for the 6th seed in the NFC playoffs, and wanted to win to secure that seeding. With Daniels and the Washington offense struggling, the Commanders went to the locker room at halftime trailing 6-3. Mariota played the entire second half, leading three touchdown drives and throwing the winning TD pass with 00:03 on the clock to secure a 23-19 win.

This offseason, the Commanders gave Marcus Mariota a raise to $8m to return. For his part, Mariota made it clear that he was “very happy, very blessed to be back” and that he was “excited to make another run with this team.”

Two veteran leaders

TE Zach Ertz and LB Bobby Wagner

Grade: A

Many NFL observers in the 2024 offseason questioned the signing of two 34-year-old players, Zach Ertz and Bobby Wagner, to one-year contracts, saying that each was well past his prime.

Adam Peters and the coaching staff, however, had a clear understanding of the type of team culture they wanted to build, and saw these two veterans as the perfect role models for the rest of the team. Ertz had a strong relationship with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from their time together in Arizona, while Bobby Wagner’s bonds with Dan Quinn and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr reached back to his All-Pro seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2024, Ertz proved to be a reliable target and ‘security blanket’ for his rookie quarterback as well as a model for the young tight ends on the roster. Wagner not only led the defense both on and off the field but also developed a strong and immediate bond with Jayden Daniels. The two talked like brothers, constantly joking and laughing, but also worked together on the skills needed to lead the team to success.

At the end of the ‘24 season, Ertz said to reporters, “I wish I was 22, playing with [Jayden] — had my whole career in front of me with him.” Ertz can’t go back in time, but he was able to extend his time with Daniels. Now in their age 35 seasons, both Ertz and Wagner are returning to Washington to continue the journey with their coaches and teammates towards, hopefully, even greater team success.

Key offensive skill players

RB Austin Ekeler

Grade: B+

Austin Ekeler was another veteran signing that was questioned by outside observers. Ekeler had enjoyed 7 successful seasons with the Chargers, but with two injured ankles in 2023, he looked less explosive, and his production fell from his two peak seasons of 2021-22. Ekeler was well-known to the Commanders running backs coach — the former head coach of the Chargers, Anthony Lynn, who was excited to reunite with Ekeler.

Ekeler’s 2024 season in Washington was a qualified success. His 6.5 yards per offensive touch was his best since 2019, and he excelled as Washington’s returner in the NFL’s newly-introduced ‘dynamic kickoff’.

Unfortunately, a pair of concussions limited him to just 12 regular season games, though he returned to action by the end of the season and played in all three of Washington’s playoff games.

Ekeler signed a two-year contract with Washington a year ago and Commanders fans are expecting him to pick up where he left off, continuing to add an explosive element to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in 2025.

WRs Noah Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus

Grade: B+

Noah Brown was a late addition to the Commanders roster, claimed off of waivers when the Houston Texans released him after the final preseason game. Olamide Zaccheaus was signed as a free agent in March. Both were signed to one-year deals worth $1.2m.

Brown had been with the Cowboys for 6 years and was well-known to Dan Quinn. Zaccheaus had spent 4 seasons with the Falcons, including two seasons under DQ, who drafted him. OZ had also spent the ‘24 season in Philly with Brian Johnson, who had been the Eagles’ OC and is now the Commanders passing game coordinator.

Both players outperformed expectations, but each also saw his season cut short due to injury.

Brown, a big target, played in 11 games and was frequently targeted by Jayden Daniels, contributing 453 yards and a touchdown before a kidney injury in Week 11 sent him to IR for the rest of the season — but not before being on the receiving end of Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary to win the Bears game.

Zaccheaus contributed as both a punt returner and receiver. He accounted for 506 yards and 3 TDs in the Commanders passing game in ‘24.

This offseason, Noah Brown returned to Washington, replacing his 2024 vet minimum contract with a one-year deal that pays him $3.25m.

Zaccheaus moved on in free agency, signing with the Bears.

A pair of Panthers

LB Frankie Luvu and S Jeremy Chinn

Grade: A

Two free agent signings that excited Washington fans last year were Luvu and Chinn. Neither had a history with the Washington coaching staff, but each played with passion and seemed to be great fits for a re-tooled Commanders defense that had been one of the worst in the league on 2023.

Chinn, signed to a one-year deal, played well in 2024, but the Commanders let him leave in free agency, signing a 2-year, $16m contract with the Raiders. Chinn did an effective job in Washington replacing a fan favorite, Kam Curl, who had left in free agency in ‘24. Now, the team will look to Will Harris, formerly with the Lions and Saints, to replace Chinn for the ‘25 season.

Luvu was signed to a 3-year contract in the ‘24 offseason; that deal runs through the end of 2026. Coaches love Frankie Luvu; teammates love Frankie Luvu; fans love Frankie Luvu. The entire NFL got to know his name (if they hadn’t already) in the NFC Championship game.

In many ways, he personifies the heart of the team.

The Frankie Luvu signing was another Adam Peters home run.

Three defensive ends

Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Clelin Ferrell

Grade: B

Adam Peters and Dan Quinn put together a group of free agent pass rushers to replace two big-name players that had been moved at the trade deadline in 2023. The Commanders front office decided to move on from Chase Young and Montez Sweat two months before Adam Peters was hired. The signing of these three part time/rotational defensive ends seemed a bit underwhelming a year ago.

Of the three, Dante Fowler probably had the most surprising year, accumulating 10.5 sacks while playing 52% of the defensive snaps. While Fowler had the the second-highest sack total of his career, he was not strong against the run. Peters & Quinn let him leave in free agency this year, with Fowler returning to Dallas, where he had previously played for two years under Dan Quinn.

Dorance Armstrong, who signed a 3-year, $33m deal that runs through 2026, seems to have played to expectations. After 6 seasons in Dallas, where he generally played less than half the defensive snaps, Armstrong was on the field for 61% of the Commanders defensive snaps in ‘24, making him a core defender. His 39 tackles and 5 sacks for the season were in line with his career number in Dallas. He should fill a similar role on Washington’s defense in 2025.

Clelin Ferrell probably had the worst season of these three players. The former 4th-overall pick of the Raiders (2019) was expected to be a core piece of the run defense, but playing just 41% of the defensive snaps, he accounted for 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Many Commanders fans were surprised that his one-year contract was extended to bring him back in 2025 — albeit on a low-cost deal — but he was affected by a nagging knee injury throughout the ‘24 season. Hopefully, he’ll be fully recovered and prepared to step up to another level in 2025.

Three offensive linemen

C Tyler Biadasz, LG Nick Allegretti, and OT Bandon Coleman

Grade: B+

Both Biadasz and Allegretti were signed to 3-year deals in free agency, though the Biadasz contract was worth twice as much as Allegretti’s deal, reflecting differences in expectations and skill levels.

Brandon Coleman was drafted in the 3rd round of last year’s draft to fill the hole at left tackle left by the departure of Charles Leno at the end of the ‘23 season.

Tyler Biadasz had spent 4 seasons with the Cowboys and was a priority signing for Adam Peters and Dan Quinn in March 2024. In his first year in Washington, “Bad Ass” proved himself to be a solid starting NFL center, and fans, coaches and teammates all seem excited to have him back for the ‘25 season and beyond.

Nick Allegretti had spent 5 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as a backup lineman and sometimes-starter who had experience at both guard and tackle. He could also function as a backup center. Allegretti earned 3 Super Bowl rings as a member of the Chiefs, and started at right guard in the 2023 AFC Championship game and Super Bowl LVIII. He signed with Washington in hopes of becoming a full-time starter. He won the starting LG job in 2024, but some people felt he was the weakest link in a middling unit. With the January injury to RG Sam Cosmi, the March 2025 trade for LT Laremy Tunsil and the April draft selection of 1st-round pick Josh Conerly, the Commanders will be re-tooling the OL this season and Allegretti could find himself relegated to a backup role once again.

Brandon Coleman was drafted in the third round of the ‘24 draft, but with high expectations. A 2024 training camp injury slowed his development, and he began the ‘24 season in a platoon system at left tackle, alternating series with veteran Cornelius Lucas. He took over as the full-time starter before the mid-point of the season. Most observers felt that Coleman had a good rookie season, but the March trade for Tunsil means that Coleman will not be reprising his starting role at left tackle. He could spend the ‘25 season at right tackle, but seems more likely to end up at left guard, potentially bumping Nick Allegretti to a backup role. Coleman appears to be laying the groundwork for a solid career as an NFL starter with positional flexibility.

DT Jer’Zhan (Johnny) Newton

Grade: B

A year ago, Newton was Washington’s 2nd-round draft pick, taken with the 36th overall pick, which was widely praised as one of the “steals of the draft”.

As a rookie, Newton played 51% of the defensive snaps, primarily at NT or 3-tech. He accumulated 44 tackles and 2 sacks. While he didn’t really “wow” anyone in 2024, he seemed to establish a solid base for his career as a reliable defensive lineman. Most fans are looking for Newton, who was slowed by two offseaon foot surgeries a year ago, to raise his game to a higher level in 2025.

Three cornerbacks

Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene, and Marshon Lattimore

Grades: A+, A, incomplete

Marshon Lattimore wasn’t strictly an “offseason acquisition” since Adam Peters got him from the Saints at the trade deadline last season, but he was a new and potentially integral veteran roster addition. Lattimore, who had a reputation as a ‘shut down’ corner in New Orleans, was injured at the time of the trade and managed to play in just 2 regular season games and 3 playoff games for the Commanders in ‘24. He did not play well.

Washington fans are hoping that his poor play and bursts of temper in ‘24 were related to his injury and lack of familiarity with the defense. Lattimore is under contract through 2026, and Adam Peters made it clear that the trade was as much about the next two seasons as it was about enhancing the team’s playoff readiness in 2024. With salary hits of around $18m per year in ‘25 & ‘26 — but no guaranteed money left on the contract — he’ll need to impress to earn his keep as an every-down starting cornerback.

Mikey Sainristil, a captain on the 2023 national champion Michigan Wolverines team, was drafted in the 2nd round of the ‘24 draft as a slot corner. When Washington’s starting CB Emmanuel Forbes struggled and was benched early in the season, Mikey was asked to move out wide — quite a challenging ask for a rookie. Sainristil played very well — well enough, in fact, that he seems capable of starting at any CB position on the field. With the recent signing of free agent corner Jonathan Jones and the drafting of Trey Amos in the 2nd round of this year’s draft, Sainristil will most likely return to his natural position as the nickel corner, but he appears to have laid the foundation for a long and very successful NFL career.

I don’t think many fans expected much from Noah Igbinoghene when he was signed as a free agent a year ago. A first-round pick of the Dolphins in 2020, Igbinoghene had never really lived up to his draft status, but had spent the ‘23 season in Dallas with Dan Quinn and Washington’s new defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt. They brought him to Washington, and it turned out to be a good career move for the DB. When Sainristil replaced Forbes as the starting corner, Igbinoghene replaced Mikey as the primary slot defender. He ended up playing 76% of the defensive snaps. The Commanders brought him back on a low-priced contract for 2025, and he seems to have a good chance to make the roster along with Lattimore, Jones, Amos, and Sainristil.

One bad miss

Grade: D

Adam Peters replaced Washington’s 2023 kicker, Joey Slye, with veteran kicker Brandon McManus. That decision blew up on Peters when allegations of sexual harassment related to the kicker’s time on the Jaguars roster were made public at the end of May last year. Instead of riding out the storm, AP cut McManus loose despite a $1.5m salary guarantee.

McManus was cleared by the NFL at the end of September after the case was resolved. He then quickly signed with the Packers for the final 11 games of the 2024 regular season, hitting 95% of his field goal attempts. He also kicked well in the Packers playoff loss to the Eagles.

The Commanders, meanwhile, struggled with a succession of kickers though training camp and the regular season. A missed extra point by Austin Seibert in the Week 12 loss against Dallas meant that the Commanders failed to tie the game after Terry McLaurin scored on an improbable 86-yard touchdown reception with 21 seconds remaining in the game.

Commanders fans will be hoping that the recent signing of veteran kicker Matt Gay will turn out to be more successful than the zaney kicking carousel that the team experienced last season.

Overall

I don’t know how we can grade Adam Peters’ first Commanders roster as anything but a success.

Peters drafted the best rookie quarterback in modern history and turned over roughly 60% of the roster he inherited from Ron Rivera with a heavy reliance on moderately-priced veteran free agents signed mostly to one-year contracts. He hired a 53-year-old head coach to form a GM-HC partnership that worked beautifully.

Dan Quinn brought together what appeared to be a rag-tag, patched-together roster that relied heavily on rookies and aging veteran players and molded them into a tight-knit group of over-achievers. Against the odds and all expectations, the Commanders won 12 regular season games and advanced to the NFC Championship game by whipping the Lions in Detroit by a score of 45-31.

The Commanders ultimately lost in the conference title game to the eventual Super Bowl champions, but the foundation was laid in 2024 for what appears to be an extended period as one of the NFL’s finest franchises.

Looking back on 2024’s success is fun; looking forward to even greater success in 2025 and beyond is inspiring.