An optimist's guide to the 2024 Washington Commanders
Following another last-place finish in the NFC East, Commanders fans should get a well-deserved break this upcoming season.
Here’s why the team could be much better in 2024.
New coach
In 2015, Dan Quinn took over a 6-10 Atlanta Falcons team and guided it to an 8-8 record. One year later, he had them representing the NFC in Super Bowl LI, an overtime loss to Tom Brady’s Patriots.
His Falcon teams managed just one winning season after that, but Quinn bounced back as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. Last year, Quinn’s defense allowed the fifth-fewest yards (299.7) and points (18.5) per game.
This year, he’s bringing defensive end Dorance Armstrong with him from Dallas. Armstrong thrived in Quinn’s system with 21 sacks over the past three years after posting 2.5 sacks in his previous three seasons.
Simply put, Quinn knows defense, and he’ll need to after the Commanders allowed a league-worst 30.5 points per game last year.
New quarterback
With 3,946 yards, Sam Howell finished last season as the NFL’s 12th-leading passer, but new quarterback Jayden Daniels has a better resume than the former fifth-round pick.
The Commanders took last season's Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His 3,812 yards were fifth-most in the FBS last season, but his 40 touchdowns were second only to Oregon’s Bo Nix, who had 45.
While Nix had more scores, no quarterback had more rushing yards than Daniels, who tallied 1,314 yards and 10 scores on the ground. Daniels is a weapon the team desperately needs, given that Washington’s 19.4 points per game were eighth-fewest in the NFL last year.
Returning guard
Washington’s offensive line allowed the second-most sacks (65) last season, but only one came by way of Sam Cosmi, whom NFL.com listed as an unsung hero in 2023.
"The third-year pro had a career year, showing the ability to open holes in the run game and improving as a pass blocker,” Kevin Patra wrote. “After two seasons at right tackle, Cosmi moved to right guard in 2023 and shined. He allowed 31 pressures but gave up just one sack and four QB hits in 17 starts on 736 pass-blocking snaps, third-most among guards, per PFF.”
Although his snap count nearly doubled from 2022, Cosmi committed just three penalties all year and should do well next to new center Tyler Biadasz, with both opening lanes for running back Austin Ekeler.
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