Commanders Rising in New Offseason Power Rankings

But in the glory of nearly reaching the summit there is conversely the challenge of reaching that point yet again. The Commanders witnessed that firsthand after bouncing the Lions from the postseason a year after they reached the final four. 

However, Washington has not merely accepted that difficulty at face value. Instead, they have made moves that further solidify their championship aspirations. 

Trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel present immediate upgrades to an already impressive offensive arsenal. The team has also kept their veteran leadership in tact by bringing back Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz. 

Still waiting on the next wave of free agency and the NFL Draft in April, the Commanders have already positioned themselves well for next season. That's why Pro Football Focus has the them ranked sixth at this point in the offseason. 

The Commanders’ trajectory changed dramatically after just one season with Jayden Daniels at the helm, and they approached their offseason acquisitions with the same urgency to match their new contender status," Mason Cameron writes.

"While the defense remains a concern after finishing 29th in EPA allowed per play, this year’s draft class is full of potential defensive cornerstones. If the Commanders can address those deficiencies, they could be gearing up for a defining run in 2025."

Besides resigning Wagner, Washington has not made any major moves on that side. Perhaps that transaction already came when they acquired Marshon Lattimore last season. 

Regardless, the defensive side will be the focal point as the team progresses through the remainder of the offseason. But with Quinn in charge, it is expected that this group will not experience the same growing pains moving forward. 

Once the Commanders get both their offense and defense working together in unison, they may then be undeniable as an elite NFL team.