The Washington Commanders are struggling. This is not a secret.
The team has only reached the playoffs once in the last eight years and has not won a playoff game since 2005.
Coupled with a string of unsuccessful draft picks, the team is in dire need of a new identity.
The Athletic’s Austin Mock ranked all 32 NFL rosters for the 2024 NFL draft, placing the Commanders at No. 32 — the lowest rank among all NFL teams.
Mock used his NFL Projection model which takes various metrics into account to assess the value each player brings to their team during a typical NFL game.
According to Mock, “The Commanders will likely be drafting their QB of the future, and with the rest of their picks, they’ll simply be looking to acquire talent. A couple of bright spots: My model is a big fan of Frankie Luvu, so I think the linebackers should be solid and so should the interior OL.” Frankie Luvu was a notable signing for the Commanders in 2024, agreeing to a
3-year, $31 million
contract on March 14. Luvu, a 6-foot-3, 236-pound linebacker, joined the New York Jets
as an undrafted free agent from Washington State in 2018 and started only four games in his first three seasons. He then signed a 1-year, $1.1 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2020, followed by a 2-year, $9.9 million contract with the Panthers in 2022. Luvu became a full-time starter in 2022 and totaled 236 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception return for a touchdown over the last two seasons
“Aside from him hitting me all the time, I’ve gotten to know him a little bit over the course of the last six or seven years,” Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota said.
. “Man, if you ever just turn on tape and watch that guy run around and make plays, it’s really, really impressive.” What Commanders Can Do to Improve in 2024In the past year, the Commanders have essentially replaced all their old pieces with new ones — a new owner (Josh Harris), new general manager (Adam Peters), and new head coach (Dan Quinn).
The Commanders can establish a strong foundation for the future in the 2024 NFL draft, as they have six picks in the first three rounds — the most in the NFL — and a total of nine picks.
The most crucial of these picks will be at No. 2 overall, where they are likely to pick a quarterback in the first round for the first time since they selected Ohio State’s
Dwayne Haskins
at No. 15 overall in 2019. “Signings in free agency were mainly one-year, low-risk additions meant to enhance the overall leadership and team depth,” stated The Athletic’s Ben Standig
. “The real boost in talent will come from the draft, where the Commanders have nine selections — six in the top 100, with the No. 2 pick expected to result in a quarterback. The Washington Commanders roster was ranked last out of all 32 NFL teams before the 2024 NFL draft, according to The Athletic’s Austin Mock.. “The real talent bump comes in the draft, where the Commanders have nine selections — six in the top 100, headlined by the No. 2 pick that is expected to turn into a quarterback.
