The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders are diving into their offseason agenda, and despite them having one of their best seasons in three decades, there's plenty of work to be done in the coming months.
Here are five questions the Burgundy & Gold will need to answer between now and the start of the 2025 season.
What's the next step for Jayden Daniels?
Daniels put together one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history. Aside from taking Washington to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1991 season, he set several team and league records with his 5,416 total yards and 37 total touchdowns. He provided the Commanders with hope for a long-term answer at quarterback -- something the team has wanted for decades.
Daniels' next challenge will be to build upon that performance. He didn't want to reflect on his accomplishments during the season, but now is the time for him to look at what he could improve upon in Year 2. Daniels set a high standard for himself in 2024. He showed a level of poise, accuracy and decision-making that is rarely seen in rookies. His calm demeanor played a pivotal role in the Commanders getting their first winning record since 2016 and taking down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions in the playoffs.
Although being mobile will always be part of his skill set, one area Daniels could look to improve upon is staying in the pocket and trusting his arm more often. Daniels was effective in that area but also had the second most rushing attempts among quarterbacks. The Commanders don't want to take that away completely; after all, they wouldn't have won some of their games last season without Daniels using his legs. But there were also times when, had he stuck with a play for a bit longer, there were more explosive plays to be made with his arm downfield.
What to do with the No. 29 overall pick?
Although no decision in the draft can be classified as "easy," the Commanders had the option to take who they considered to be the best player available at No. 2 overall last season. They wanted a franchise-changing player, and they got one.
This year's first-round pick at No. 29 will present new challenges. Unless they choose to package some picks to move up in the order, they will have to watch as some of the top players on their board get their names called by other teams. They can still find a quality prospect that late in the draft, but it likely won't be one considered at the top of their class.
There are several paths for the Commanders to consider when they do get on the clock. They could surround Daniels with more talent at receiver, as ESPN analyst Field Yates has them doing in his latest mock draft. They could also address the defense and add a pass-rusher, a position that is rich with talent this year. Another option to consider is trading back to acquire more picks on Days 2 and 3. The Commanders have picks in the second and third rounds but none in the fourth. It's a stark difference from last year, when they had six picks in the top 100.
Who do they keep in free agency?
Just like last offseason, the Commanders have several players set to hit free agency and will need to decide which to keep.
The Commanders took low-risk gambles on several veterans last year by signing them to one-year deals. Many of them worked out. Bobby Wagner led the team in tackles; Jeremy Chinn looked rejuvenated in Dan Quinn's system; Marcus Mariota provided veteran leadership for Daniels; Dante Fowler led the team in sacks; and Zach Ertz was a reliable target in the passing game. Those players, and several others, had important roles in the Commanders having as much success as they did last season.
The Commanders and general manager Adam Peters must weigh the value of keeping those players against the potential of finding other options or giving other players on the roster bigger roles. It's reasonable to assume the Commanders will try to retain at least some of the players who were key to the roster in 2024, but others will choose to start new careers with other teams.
As special as Washington's season was, it's clear they need to keep improving the roster to advance further in the playoffs.
What new faces do they bring in?
The Commanders had a strong free agency haul in 2024 by finding several short- and long-term answers at multiple positions. Players like Frankie Luvu and Tyler Biadasz had strong seasons and injected their position groups with ascending talent. They dramatically improved the roster's overall talent level and helped a team that finished 4-13 turn into a conference championship contender.
Washington has the chance to repeat that feat in 2025, as they have the third most projected available cap space. Some of that will go towards re-signing players currently on the roster, but there could be enough to take a few swings at some of the top players on the market. Players like wide receiver Chris Godwin, cornerback Charvarius Ward, edge rusher Khalil Mack and several other veterans who could improve Washington's roster will be available if the staff feels they want to take a chance on them.
There's also the possibility of acquiring players through trades. Adding a top-tier edge rusher or talented wide receiver could be enticing, but there are multiple factors to consider when making those decisions. The Commanders will likely need to package multiple picks, and perhaps a player, to even out the trade. As with all major roster decisions, the Commanders must decide if giving away draft capital is worth the move.
How do they produce consistent success?
The Commanders' success was one of the best stories in the NFL last season. They went from hiring a new head coach and general manager to being one game away from a Super Bowl appearance. It was a dramatic turnaround that put the Burgundy & Gold among the league's best teams.
Now they need to do it again.
There have been several cases of teams having one year's worth of success over the years, but only a few have managed to build on that and remain in the conversation year after year. It helps to have an answer at quarterback, which the Commanders feel like they do, but the top-tier teams know how to fill their roster with talent through the draft and free agency.
It would have been hard to predict that the Commanders would get to the NFC Championship this time last year, but the team has successfully followed the plan they laid out last February. They hired Peters, the top general manager candidate available; paired him with Dan Quinn, who supplied the franchise with a new culture; and drafted Daniels, the eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year. They had a strong draft and free agency period, which gave the team a foundation for the future.
The formula to replicate last season's accomplishments is similar to the one they've followed so far. They'll need to build a draft class they believe in and supplement their roster needs through free agency. Fortunately, the Commanders have proven that they can hit those markers.
