The Washington Commanders Path Forward

[Chris]

This topic is being currently addressed in many threads and condensing overall thoughts into one place would be helpful. There are a couple of threads, like the draft and the free agent ones, that are specific and useful.

 

[Chris]

I will start it by putting this post that I placed in the JD Tracker thread here as a beginning-

So, if I’ve got this right, all that Adam Peters needs to accomplish before the start of next season is:

Upgrade the WR position
Upgrade the TE position
Upgrade the RB position
Upgrade the DE postion
Upgrade the LB position
Upgrade the DB position
Improve depth across the roster
And sign a talented & reliable K with a strong leg

Dan Quinn needs to:

Improve the scheme and play-calling on offense
Improve the scheme and play-calling on defense
Restore the QBs confidence and comfort while teaching him to protect himself
Turn his hat around
Leave Larry Izzo alone

Is that it?

 

[DazedSkinsFan]

We should have plenty of money to take care of that needs list in FA and upgrade the roster......I sure hope AP is ready to open the check book. I hate losing games, but I sure would love to see us in position to grab Bain. He would upgrade the defense immediately

 

[Neophyte]

Having a fat bank account and a lot of checks is great but there has to be someone out there who is a difference maker to make the check out to, and those guys just don't hit the open market anymore.

Anyone I'd be willing to pay for, and I mean seriously pay for, won't hit FA. They will be resigned or they will be traded.

 

[Chris]

Having a fat bank account and a lot of checks is great but there has to be someone out there who is a difference maker to make the check out to, and those guys just don't hit the open market anymore.

Anyone I'd be willing to pay for, and I mean seriously pay for, won't hit FA. They will be resigned or they will be traded.

And therein lies a/the problem. I don’t have any interest in trading the few valuable draft picks that are remaining and any of the premium FA targets that may, at least, test the market are going to have to be won in bidding wars. (ie- very expensive)

 

[Boone]

Having a fat bank account and a lot of checks is great but there has to be someone out there who is a difference maker to make the check out to, and those guys just don't hit the open market anymore.

Anyone I'd be willing to pay for, and I mean seriously pay for, won't hit FA. They will be resigned or they will be traded.

I’m not sure that’s quite right. In recent years we’ve seen teams pay UP to keep core guys/top talent on the roster much more often than in the earlier days of the free agent era.

If we want to bring in true starting caliber free agents, we will by default have to overpay. I think this goes against AP’s philosophy and inclinations. But you can acquire top tier free agents. You just have to accept it’s going to require you to overpay - and sometimes by a lot.

 

[Gooseneck]

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cutting lattimore next year gives us 75-80 million dollars

 

[Gooseneck]

 

[Riggotoni]

$28m cap hit for Deebo??? Is that accurate?

 

[Gooseneck]

$28m cap hit for Deebo??? Is that accurate?

that is what I offered-it accepted-just trying to get a general idea of where we are

 

[Bulldog]

This team needs to cut older vets and get younger.

We also have to challenge younger guys like Sinnott and Coleman to get some fire in the belly and start contributing or risk being left behind.

My concern here is this has quickly become a permissive culture where draft picks and signees are not receiving appropriate challenges from coaches and front office.

We saw this for 4 years under Rivera and I want to see us get more like Baltimore and KC that get rid of guys that continue to make the same mistakes or can’t prove they belong on an NFL field, regardless of draft position.

The GM has to make the right moves but setting the right culture is paramount.

The players here now seem to be very comfortable, no one seems worried about losing their jobs despite being a consistent non-factor week to week.

 

[Boone]

This team needs to cut older vets and get younger.

We also have to challenge younger guys like Sinnott and Coleman to get some fire in the belly and start contributing or risk being left behind.

My concern here is this has quickly become a permissive culture where draft picks and signees are not receiving appropriate challenges from coaches and front office.

We saw this for 4 years under Rivera and I want to see us get more like Baltimore and KC that get rid of guys that continue to make the same mistakes or can’t prove they belong on an NFL field, regardless of draft position.

The GM has to make the right moves but setting the right culture is paramount.

The players here now seem to be very comfortable, no one seems worried about losing their jobs despite being a consistent non-factor week to week.

So Bulldog - I have no way of knowing what is going on behind the scenes and unless you are a member of the organization in some capacity, you probably don't either. What is the basis of your 'this has quickly become a permissive culture where draft picks and signees are not receiving appropriate challenges from coaches or front office'?

That's a big tuna fish sandwich to throw out there without any kind of supporting data at all. Are Quinn and the other coaches (or Adam Peters) supposed to publicly threaten players? Are they supposed to cut 2nd year players who we spent day 2 picks on? Is that really a reasonable expectation? I think Dan Quinn is one of the nicest guys in the NFL which maybe contributes to this idea/assumption. Doesn't mean they aren't being aggressive behind the scenes. I'm just curious how you would know what players are and aren't 'worried about'?

 

[Chris 44]

The reality is we won't get better overnight, magic in a bottle last year was an exception and so many things had to fall our way yet ultimately we were exposed in many areas. No blue chip players on our roster is really a horrendous gulf compared to other teams. The one we do have severely limited due to other position injuries and his own. Do we have the patience to take the incremental steps necessary?

 

[Chris]

Do we have the patience to take the incremental steps necessary?

We as in the organization or we as in the fanbase?

As far as the organization goes…god I hope so. The fanbase? Not a snowballs chance in hell. 😉

 

[Neophyte]

This team needs to cut older vets and get younger.

We also have to challenge younger guys like Sinnott and Coleman to get some fire in the belly and start contributing or risk being left behind.

My concern here is this has quickly become a permissive culture where draft picks and signees are not receiving appropriate challenges from coaches and front office.

We saw this for 4 years under Rivera and I want to see us get more like Baltimore and KC that get rid of guys that continue to make the same mistakes or can’t prove they belong on an NFL field, regardless of draft position.

The GM has to make the right moves but setting the right culture is paramount.

The players here now seem to be very comfortable, no one seems worried about losing their jobs despite being a consistent non-factor week to week.

1. I think it's a little early to be thinking this.

2. Coleman got dropped down the depth chart when the staff wasn't happy with him. Sinnott appears to have been made to earn his time catching a ball by learning to slug it out in the trenches. I'm not sure how that is permissive in any way or how this is NOT challenging the player.

 

[Chris]

2026 Commanders Opponents

 

[Chris]

At this point (3rd place in NFCE)-

NFCN- Green Bay Packers

NFCS- Atlanta Falcons

AFCN- Cincinnati Bengals