Hogs Haven
Pro Football Focus
Biggest Strength: Offensive Skill Players
Armed with an elite young quarterback, multiple rushing threats and a potentially dynamic receiving corps, the Commanders should possess a high-flying offense once again in 2024. Jayden Daniels finished his rookie season ranked fifth among qualified quarterbacks in PFF overall grade. He and the team’s running back unit combined to rank sixth in the league in PFF rushing grade. Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel bring unique and dynamic skill sets at wide receiver. Expect the Commanders to score plenty of points again this season.
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line
Washington’s defense has some catching up to do relative to the team’s offense. The greatest concern is a defensive line that finished 31st in the NFL in PFF grade last season. Few major additions were made in the offseason. The hope is that a young player like defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton can step up in year two while veteran acquisitions Javon Kinlaw and Von Miller add some pass-rush production.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders let strong safety Jeremy Chinn go to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, and they replaced him with Will Harris. Not a lot of people were familiar with Harris’ game, and questioned if the move was smart by Adam Peters. Chinn really set the tone on defense, but lacked some of the pass coverage that the Commanders needed.
Harris should provide a boost to the coverage side of the secondary, and he can still lay the hammer in the open field. Harris playing well will calm a lot of nerves and answer a lot of remaining unknowns.
Behind Martin and Harris, there are more questions and unknowns, but there’s one thing we can expect, and that’s more Jeremy Reaves on defense. Reaves hasn’t been much of a factor on defense, but he has been an All-Pro special teams player. The Commanders extended Reaves this offseason for another year, and Quinn has alluded many times that Reaves has earned more playing time on defense. He had a massive tackle in open space against the New England Patriots in the preseason that showed that he’s ready for a bigger role.
Bleacher Report
Offensive Tackle – Runner-up: Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders (three years, $75 million with $60 million guaranteed)
This is a little complicated because Tunsil can at times be dominant and has a strong resume that includes five Pro Bowls. And because the Houston Texans are still picking up much of the tab on a contract they handed to him in 2023, his deal isn’t too unfriendly to Washington.
Still, he’ll cost $21.35 million in 2025 and the same if they want to keep him around in 2026 (or more over time if they feel obligated to extend him). But at 31 he may have lost...
