After concluding with a disastrous 4-13 record in 2023, the Washington Commanders are in full rebuild mode.
New Year, New Coach for the Washington Commanders.
Starting with a change at the top of the team, where rival Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera as head coach and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury replaced long-time Andy Reid Lieutenant Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Washington Commanders are heading in a new direction under new owner Josh Harris.
The primary adjustments, however, will be in player personnel, as the Commanders now have up to ten players eligible for free agency next month, despite having the most cap space in the league with roughly $90 million to work with.
It is fair to say that following the entire team’s, notably the defense’s, extraordinarily dismal season in 2023, major changes are expected across the board, particularly on the defensive line, where Washington has a significant void after trading their top two edge rushers, Montez Sweat and Chase Young, midseason.
Who will be the Washington quarterback? In 2024
The most significant alteration for the Washington Commanders may be at the most vital position: quarterback.
Sam Howell, the Commanders’ fifth-round pick in 2022, has proven to be a more than capable replacement. However, there are valid concerns about Howell’s long-term viability as a franchise quarterback, especially since the Commanders have the second overall pick in the forthcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
So, throughout the offseason, the expectation has been that Washington will select a signal caller with the second overall choice, most likely either LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels or North Carolina highly ranked quarterback prospect Drake Maye.
Could the commanders prefer a veteran presence over a rookie?
According to Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, the Washington Commanders could be in for a reunion with Kirk Cousins, a former quarterback and franchise tag-ee.
Gagnon contends that a rare opportunity to sign, or even re-sign, a bona fide top 15 quarterback, one who many consider a true franchise quarterback, although perhaps a touch untrustworthy in the playoffs, may be too good for Washington to pass up.
And, if general manager Adam Peters decides that Caleb Williams, who is expected to be selected by the Chicago Bears in April, is a bust, Washington could sign Cousins with their large cap space and trade out of the second overall pick to help build future draft stock.
Cousins was playing at a nearly top-10 level before tearing his Achilles in October, and he has maintained a high level of play throughout his career.
Will Cousins’ age be a deterrent for Washington, given that he will enter his 36th season in 2024, or will the Commanders believe their elderly quarterback is too much of an unknown commodity in the postseason to warrant a contract worth up to $45 million?
Ultimately, you would expect Washington to take advantage of resetting the rookie timetable and select one of Maye or Daniels, but a reunion with Kirk Cousins is not impossible, even with a rookie on their hands, if they want to try the Aaron Rodgers/Patrick Mahomes/Jordan Love strategy.
The pieces of the puzzle will begin to come together in mid-March, when free agency opens, and Cousins will decide on what may be his final playing destination.
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