In ESPN’s 2024 power rankings, the Washington Commanders did not have a good ranking.
Even though the 2023 NFL season is almost over, a lot of websites and networks are already anticipating the following one.
The Washington Commanders were ranked No. 31 in ESPN’s 2024 NFL Power Rankings, which put them toward the bottom of the pack. The Carolina Panthers were the only team trailing Washington.
Along with calling the Commanders’ summer “a new beginning,” they also mentioned the seismic shifts of the past year and the fact that head coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters, and owner Josh Harris are starting their first season together in Washington.
“Washington has a new owner (Josh Harris), general manager (Adam Peters) and head coach (Dan Quinn) hoping to revive a franchise whose fan base has endured one tough season after another; the team has won three playoff games since winning a Super Bowl after the 1991 season,” according to ESPN. “The Commanders can help themselves more by spending wisely in free agency (they’re projected to have the most cap room in the NFL this offseason) and by drafting well (they have the No. 2 pick, which they can use to find a quarterback of the future, and own five picks in the top 100).”With six picks in the first 102 of the 2024 NFL Draft and over $80 million in cap space anticipated by Spotrac, Peters and Quinn will have a good opportunity to start molding the team in their own image this offseason. The Commanders’ rebuild will revolve around what they do with the No. 2 overall pick. They could choose to trade back and select one of the best offensive tackles to bolster an offensive line that gave up the second-most sacks the previous season, or they could take a quarterback.
A team can expedite a rebuild by selecting and signing the best players in the draft. In Brian Daboll’s first season as head coach, the New York Giants went from 4-13 in 2021 to 9-7-1 and won a playoff game last year. After selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who won Rookie of the Year, and signing head coach DeMeco Ryans, who almost won Coach of the Year in his first season, the Houston Texans experienced a similar turnaround, moving from 3-13-1 in 2022 to 10-7 and winning the AFC South and a playoff game last season.
Although no two rebuilds are alike, Washington can quickly turn things around because it has the cap room and draft weapons. The Commanders will have an opportunity to move up the power rankings and possibly into the playoff picture as the 2024 season goes on if Peters and Quinn are successful with their draft selections and free agent signings.