Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media at the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday afternoon. Here are five takeaways from his press conference.
1. He knows "the definition of a Commander."
Quinn didn't know what he didn't know when he was at the combine this time last year. He had been on the job for about a month, but he was still getting to know the roster with just a few weeks before free agency.
Now, he has a much better grasp of what he has on the Commanders' roster and what kind of player he wants to have on the roster.
"That makes this week even more purposeful in a lot of ways," Quinn said. "Because [general manager] Adam [Peters] and I aren't just picturing it. We've actually seen it."
Last year's draft class had several players who had what Quinn and Peters called the "Commanders tag." It was a term they used for players who had the qualities they valued for the roster's foundation going forward. The team hasn't revealed everything that earns a "Commanders tag," but it's clear that it has something to do with a high level of competitive drive and selflessness.
Those are the qualities Quinn will be looking for as he and his staff interview prospects and watch them during their workouts.
"Man, are we looking for the competitive spirit in a player," Quinn said. "And guys who just absolutely love ball. They're willing to show that connection to their teammates."
2. He could sense the team getting better at winning close games.
Quinn doesn't necessarily use the term "buy-in" when determining how a culture is resonating with players. He prefers to see how they act and whether the messages he's conveying to them are being applied on a daily basis.
Throughout the season, Quinn kept an eye on whether the players competed and communicated with one another. It took some time, but Quinn saw both aspects improve throughout the year. Hope turned into belief, Quinn said, and that started to show up in the second halves of games.
"I knew if we were going to be a good team, we would play a lot better at the end than we would at the start," Quinn said.
That ability to finish games played a massive role in the Commanders getting a playoff spot for the first time in four seasons. They won their last four games by an average of 3.5 points, including the overtime win over the Falcons that locked them into the postseason.
3. Expectations for Jayden Daniels in Year 2.
The Commanders had high expectations for Daniels last season, but he raised the standard even more by putting up some of the best numbers for a rookie in NFL history. But Daniels must improve heading into his second season, and that's something Quinn is excited to see unfold.
"One of the things that I love about him...constant improvement and going for it and getting better," Quinn said.
The good news is that Daniels has already shown that he is always looking for ways to improve his skill set to help his team win games. Quinn knows that's what it will take for Daniels to go from being a good player to one of the best in the league; he's seen that quality in linebacker Bobby Wagner, adding during his press conference that "Bobby Wagner is somewhere getting better."
That's the attitude Quinn wants Daniels to have this offseason. He didn't give specifics, but Quinn did mention there are certain expectations that he'll have for Daniels as he goes through the 2025 season. He doesn't sound concerned about whether Daniels can live up to them.
"Knowing him, that's exactly what's going to happen," Quinn said.
4. He values the interactions at the combine.
There's plenty for NFL teams to learn about draft prospects at the combine, from seeing their on-field workouts to testing their knowledge of the sport. Both are important to Quinn, but what he values the most is simpler than that. Interacting with the players and hearing their stories are at the top of his list.
"This is my first time to hear their story and a little bit of their 'why,'" Quinn said. "It speaks a lot of time to resilience."
Quinn gravitates toward players who are team-first and willing to compete at high levels to win. His process to figure out which players have those qualities starts with the interviews, and Quinn said it doesn't take long to figure out what motivates prospects.
It's so important to Quinn that it takes up about half of his and the team's time with players. The other half is still dedicated to watching film, but it's just as important to Quinn that they get a firm grasp of their backgrounds.
"It's a great first step in that part of the communication," Quinn said.
5. He likes the creativity in this year's defensive linemen.
Quinn wasn't asked much about what he likes in this year's draft class, but he did start by addressing a question on this year's defensive linemen -- a position for the Commanders that could use more depth.
He seemed excited about the versatility that the group has to offer.
"The creativity part; I think that's what I see most in this group," Quinn said. "Here's the big ends that can move down. Here's the outside guys that can go inside. Those are the things you want in a league of matchups ... That adds a lot of value."
The Commanders do have talent on their defensive front with the likes of Daron Payne, Johnny Newton and Dorance Armstrong. That group was solid at times, but they still need more young talent that can both put pressure on quarterbacks and set an edge in the run game.
Fortunately for the Commanders, this year's class is rich in talent at defensive line. We'll have to wait and see who stands out during the on-field workouts later this week, though.
