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Washington Commanders’ 2023 season: 4-13, missed playoffs
Overview: Last offseason brought seismic change to the franchise, with team owner Dan Snyder finally forced to sell after decades of scandal and dysfunction. The new ownership group led by Josh Harris purchased the Commanders for a world-record $6.05 billion, underscoring the potential that still remains with one of the NFL’s legacy franchises.
On the field, they’re a long way from reclaiming that stature. Ron Rivera was fired after a 2-0 start spiraled into the worst record of his four-year tenure. Sam Howell didn’t do much to suggest he’s the answer at quarterback, taking a staggering 65 sacks with middling-to-bottom-tier advanced metrics (EPA per play, dropback success rate) casting his 3,946 passing yards in a different light, not to mention the 21 interceptions he threw matching his 21 touchdowns.
So Harris and company cleaned house, ultimately hiring Dan Quinn as head coach amid public bickering with Lions assistant Ben Johnson, while also hiring 49ers executive Adam Peters as general manager and bringing Kliff Kingsbury back to the NFL as offensive coordinator.
With the No. 2 overall pick in a pretty loaded quarterback class, not to mention the most cap space in the NFL, there’s a chance to turn things around quicker than expected in Washington.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
Key free agents
CB Kendall Fuller
WR Curtis Samuel
S Kamren Curl
RB Antonio Gibson
OT Cornelius Lucas
LB Cody Barton
Who’s in/out: A new ownership group and coaching staff means a high likelihood of lots of new faces, and it’s doubtful any of Washington’s impending free agents rise to the level of the “few cornerstone pieces” new GM Adam Peters said are already on the roster. Samuel is perhaps closest, but the Commanders might choose to let him walk in a rich wide receiver draft/free agency class. Curl, meanwhile, has a versatility to his game that might see the Commanders prioritize bringing him back.
New head coach Dan Quinn (left) and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/washington-commanders-2024-nfl-offseason-primer-new-franchise-qb-on-the-way-as-ownership-driven-overhaul-continues-013749800.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-02-23 01:37:49
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