The Washington Commanders will likely begin the 2024 NFL season with three new starters on the offensive line. That’s good news, right? When you think of Washington’s offensive line last season, you immediately have this image of quarterback Sam Howell going down.
When you assess Howell’s 2023 season, you’d quickly realize that all those sacks he took weren’t on the offensive line. Some were on Howell, some on the offensive line, and some on former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offensive scheme.
Howell, Bieniemy, and his scheme are gone. Kliff Kingsbury is the new offensive coordinator, and rookie Jayden Daniels is the new quarterback.
The only returning offensive line starters are right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie. There’s a good chance Wylie would’ve been replaced if general manager Adam Peters hadn’t needed to replace so many other positions. However, the Commanders believe a different voice, a different offense, can help Wylie. Remember, Washington led the NFL in passing attempts last season, often choosing not to run even in close games.
The Commanders’ three new offensive line starters are center Tyler Biadasz, left guard Nick Allegretti and left tackle Cornelius Lucas. Lucas is battling third-round rookie Brandon Coleman for the starting left tackle spot.
Analytics guru Warren Sharp recently released his 2024 NFL preview, and it’s clear that he doesn’t rate Washington’s offensive line highly, ranking them 27th in the NFL.
ranking the NFL’s best offensive lines:
1. Lions
2. Falcons
3. Browns
4. Eagles
5. Chiefs
6. Jets
7. Packers
8. Colts
9. Bengals
10. Vikings
11. Broncos
12. Bears
13. Rams
14. Texans
15. Chargers
16. Ravens
17. 49ers
18. Raiders
19. Bucs
20. Steelers
21. Panthers
22. Bills
23.…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 13, 2024
The good news? The Commanders are ranked ahead of the Cowboys after stealing away Biadasz — a four-year starter in Dallas.
Not only is Washington ranked ahead of Dallas, but another NFC East rival, the New York Giants, is ranked dead last. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are ranked fourth.
The Commanders offensive line could keep them from making a dramatic offensive improvement in 2024. There is a lot of hype around Daniels, but Washington must keep him upright. Opinions are mixed on Coleman. While most everyone liked him as a prospect, many saw him more at guard. Peters and the Commanders see Coleman as a tackle, and he split time with Lucas in the offseason program at left tackle.
Washington hopes Coleman is the answer. If he’s not, it could be another long season for the Commanders. As far as the interior offensive line goes, Washington is in good hands. Cosmi is a future All-Pro, while Biadasz is solid and reliable, exactly what you need when you’re starting a rookie quarterback.