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Jayden Daniels poses after being selected by the Washington Commanders as the No. 2 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Three burning questions for the 2024 Commanders

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 5/23/24

With a new coaching staff for 2024, the Commanders hope to avoid another last-place finish in the NFC East. There are many reasons to be optimistic, but questions remain offensively and defensively.

1. Do they have enough weapons?

Washington gained the ninth-fewest yards (312.8) and eighth-fewest points (19.4) per game last season but chose defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton in the second round over talented wide receivers like Adonai Mitchell and Ja’Lynn Polk, as well as running back Jonathan Brooks.

The Commanders averaged 93.6 yards per game on the ground last year, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Former Charger Austin Ekeler could help, but the 29-year-old running back posted a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in 2023

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin may be coming off his fourth-straight 1,000-yard season, but his four touchdowns and 12.7 yards per catch were career lows. Barring a third-year breakout from Jahan Dotson or third-round pick Luke McCaffrey, Washington could struggle to throw the ball in 2024.

2. Do they have the right cornerbacks?

The Commanders seemed in good shape after drafting Emmanuel Forbes 16th overall in 2023. With players like Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste on the roster, cornerback should have been the least of Washington’s worries.

But Forbes struggled with an elbow injury before being benched against the Falcons in Week 6. St-Juste also struggled in his third year with the team and Fuller signed with Miami in the offseason.

The team added depth with free agent Michael Davis and second-round pick Mike Sainristil, but Sainristil projects more as a nickel corner. Both will help, but without improved play from Forbes and St-Juste, the Commanders could finish with the NFL’s worst secondary once again.

3. Do they have a franchise quarterback?

The Commanders have used 13 starting quarterbacks since drafting Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Names like Kirk Cousins and Sam Howell have come and gone while the team struggled to gain ground in the NFC East.

This year, the team took Heisman winner Jayden Daniels second overall, hoping he’d do better than Howell, who actually finished 2023 as the league’s twelfth-leading passer. Daniels had a breakout season for LSU, throwing for four touchdowns and 3,812 yards, but 1,569 of those yards went to the Giants’ Malik Nabers and 17 touchdowns went to Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr.

If Daniels doesn’t find similar success throwing to McLaurin and Dotson, Washington could be looking for their 14th starting quarterback since RGIII.

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