NFL offseason power rankings: No. 29 Washington Commanders could come along fast in a new era

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will have a lot on his shoulders as the No. 2 overall draft pick for a Commanders team trying to turn things around. (Amy Monks)

There’s no such thing as a 10-year plan in the NFL. There’s no five-year plan either.

You can completely rebuild a franchise in two years unless you have given away a ton of draft picks or wrecked your salary cap with dead money (the Denver Broncos have unfortunately checked both of those boxes). In the winter of 2023, the Houston Texans were a laughingstock of the NFL. Less than a year and a half later, after a division title, they’re a fringe Super Bowl contender.

It may seem strange for Washington Commanders fans to think their team could be just a year or two away from relevance, given the more than two decades of futility they have suffered. The Commanders have the longest drought among NFL teams since their last conference championship game appearance, which came back to the 1991 season. They also haven’t had an 11-win season since 1991, a drought that is 16 years longer than any other team.

The Commanders, finally freed of an owner who was actively wrecking the franchise from within, were suddenly an attractive destination this offseason. The Commanders had it all: draft picks, oodles of salary-cap space and an entirely fresh start to offer. Also, they offered a fan base dying for any success.

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The three most important positions in the NFL are quarterback, head coach and general manager, in some order. The Commanders made coveted additions at all three spots. That speaks to how positively the Washington situation was viewed around the league.

Dan Quinn had chances to get a head coaching job the past few offseasons, but always resisted to stay on as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator. He said he wasn’t taking a job unless it was the perfect fit. Washington was it.

“It was the one that was like a flashing light to me that said, ‘This is the moment. This…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-21 12:13:43

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