Hogs Haven
The Washington Commanders finished their first season under the Josh Harris-Adam Peters-Dan Quinn-Jayden Daniels era with a 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship game. That wasn’t good enough, and they’re now building on that early success to push for a Super Bowl appearance, and victory. Their season ended with a loss against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and they’ve been making moves to prevent that from happening again.
Adam Peters has made protecting and benefiting Jayden Daniels a priority this offseason after the No. 2 overall pick won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He traded for Laremy Tunsil and drafted Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round, disregarding trade offers for the No. 29 overall pick. They’ve also been adding to the defense through free agency, trades, and the draft. The team continues to purge the majority of Ron Rivera’s roster, as they continue to transform back into a respectable NFL franchise.
The Washington Commanders’ Super Bowl odds are tied for 8th-best with the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams. They trail the Eagles, Lions, Packers, and 49ers in the NFC, and are expected to make another playoff run this year. Almost every analyst has them as a Top 10 team heading into Year 2, where will that lead them when the real games start?
High: 4
Low: 11
Average: 7.5
Postdraft ranking: 6
Who’s under the most pressure: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Washington traded multiple picks for him at the deadline last season, and a hamstring injury limited Lattimore to two regular-season games (and three in the postseason). He has played in only 26 games the past three seasons combined. Lattimore has looked better this offseason but needs to be durable and productive to earn a contract extension. — John Keim
Jayden Daniels proved to be the revelation of the 2024 campaign.
The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year helped lead the Commanders to heights the franchise hadn’t experienced in over 30 years by reaching the NFC Championship Game. Now, it’s time to build on that success.
The Commanders’ plan of attack centered on the big trade acquisitions of wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil—both of whom should have a significant impact on Daniels’ continued development. Terry McLaurin’s recent contract extension won’t hurt, either.
The defense is where the some concerns still lie. Yes, Washington should benefit from having a healthy Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Trey Amos in its secondary. However, the unit doesn’t have anyone to generate much pressure on a consistent basis. Right now, the team is leaning on a 36-year-old Von Miller,...
