The Washington Commanders had a busy offseason overhauling a roster that went 4-13 last season. The good news is Washington had plenty of cap space and nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft to flip a roster that former head coach Ron Rivera believed was really good.
The most significant new addition is quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner was selected No. 2 overall and has impressed coaches and teammates with his work ethic since arriving in May.
Six of Washington’s nine selections came in the draft’s first three rounds. Five rookies have a clear path to significant playing time in 2024.
Can the rookie class enjoy immediate success like the Houston Texans one year ago? The biggest similarity between Houston and Washington is under center. C.J. Stroud was the No. 2 overall pick in 2023 and became one of the NFL’s top young passers as a rookie.
ESPN recently ranked every NFL team in terms of under-25 talent. Washington ranked 18th, and the Commanders ranked 15th last season.
Blue-chip players: QB Jayden Daniels
Notable graduated players: RB Brian Robinson Jr., G Samuel Cosmi, LB Jamin Davis
Washington is boosted significantly by this year’s draft, and that starts with the No. 2 overall pick and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Daniels (23) at quarterback. The Commanders also had three second-round picks this year. Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and tight end Ben Sinnott are both 22, while nickelback Mike Sainristil is 23.
As for players who were in Washington last year, wide receiver Jahan Dotson is 24, although his reputation is better than his performance in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics, where he finished near the bottom of the league. Another young player who struggled in advanced metrics is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Last year’s first-round pick was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league, with only 38 tackles and one interception. However, he’s just 23, and many top corners take two or three years to develop.
That’s certainly an encouraging perspective on Forbes.
If the Commanders’ rookie class and some of their second-year players like Forbes and Quan Martin can emerge as starters, Washington will be much higher on this list one year from now.
Were you wondering where the NFC East teams ranked in terms of under-25 talent? We’ve got you covered:
- New York Giants: 13th
- Dallas Cowboys: 21st
- Philadelphia Eagles: 29th
