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Commanders | Jayden Daniels looks poised to start Sun Jun 16, 09:22 AM
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels appears to be 'entrenched' as the team's starting quarterback, in the opinion of Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports. He received the bulk of the snaps with the offensive starters during mandatory minicamp and it is unlikely this situation will change once training camp begins.
Footballguys view: That doesn't mean Daniels is a finished product. But expect the Commanders to let him sort that out on the field. And when they do? Daniels threw 40 TD passes and four interceptions at LSU in his 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning season. He also rushed for 1,184 yards and 10 TDs. That rushing ability sets him apart, and it's why Daniels heads into training camp as QB11 on the Footballguys Draft Rankings. |
Washington Commanders TE Ben Sinnott (Kansas State) signed a four-year contract on Friday, June 14. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: Sinnott may not have an immediate fantasy impact if Zach Ertz is ready to be a starting tight end again, but the last two understudies to Ertz - Dallas Goedert and Trey McBride - appears to have benefited from playing with him. Sinnott could arrive as a top 10 fantasy tight end by the end of next season even though Kliff Kingsbury's offenses aren't known for featuring tight ends in the passing game. |
Washington Commanders first-round draft choice QB Jayden Daniels (Louisiana State) signed a four-year contract worth $37.7 million - including a $24.3 million signing bonus - on Friday, June 14. The deal includes a fifth-year team option.
Footballguys view: Daniels should start from day one and could be severely underrated in redraft leagues with all of the indications that new offensive coordinator is going to up the tempo and keep defenses on their toes. Daniels is going outside of the top 10 quarterbacks in early drafts but could easily finish in the top five if he stays healthy. |
Washington commanders third-round draft choice OT Brandon Coleman (Texas Christian) signed a four-year contract on Friday, June 14. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyWashington Commanders QBs Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota each saw significant snaps with the first team during the spring and nothing has been determined yet in regards to which one will start the season, according to head coach Dan Quinn on Thursday, June 13.
Footballguys view: Quinn may not be ready, but that's just coach speak. It's likely to be no.2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. He's a dazzling player who can make an instant impact in this league. Mariota is a nice veteran backup, but he lacks the upside that Daniels provides from day one. |
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels worked with the first-team offense during team drills at practice Tuesday, June 12, according to ESPN.com's John Keim.
Link to storyWashington Commanders LB Frankie Luvu (undisclosed) did not participate in practice Wednesday, June 12, because of a minor injury.
Link to storyWashington Commanders second-round draft choice DT Jer'Zhan Newton signed a four-year contract with the Commanders Wednesday, June 12, worth $9.757 million.
Link to storyFree-agent PK Lucas Havrisik (Browns) is participating in the Washington Commanders minicamp this week on a tryout basis.
Footballguys view: Havrisik was adequate at best making 15-of-20 field goal attempts for the Rams last year in nine games, but the Commanders want to bring in competition for Ramiz Ahmed after signing him last week. Ahmed is the only kicker on the roster following Brandon McManus release in the wake of sexual assault allegations. |
Washington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) is on schedule with his recovery from foot surgery, but his availability for the start of training camp is uncertain at this time, according to head coach Dan Quinn.
Link to storyFree-agent PK Matthew McCrane (Eagles) worked out for the Washington Commanders Tuesday, June 11, according to NFL Network's Bridget Condon.
Link to storyWashington Commanders second-round draft choice CB Mike Sainristil (Michigan) signed a four-year contract on Tuesday, June 11. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyFree-agent PKs Jake Bates (UFL) and Andre Szmyt (UFL) were among a group of free-agent kickers who tried out for the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, June 11.
Link to storyWashington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler was spotted returning kicks at minicamp Tuesday, June 11.
Footballguys view: It's one minicamp practice session, so let's not read too much into the return role. While the recent rule change elevating the importance of kickoff returns could lead to more prominent players handling that role, Ekeler is slated to operate in tandem at running back with Brian Robinson Jr. to help ease the offensive workload on rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Robinson (RB33) is going slightly ahead of Ekeler (RB38) in current Underdog drafts, so it's worth noting that Ekeler (RB19) is well ahead of Robinson (RB37) on the Footballguys Draft Rankings. Don't be surprised if both sets of numbers change as we gain clarity on the backfield roles in the coming weeks. |
Washington Commanders PK Ramiz Ahmed was signed to a one-year deal with a base salary of $795,000.
Link to storyFree-agent PK Ramiz Ahmed (UFL) signed an undisclosed contract with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, June 4.
Footballguys view: The Commanders needed a kicker after cutting Brandon McManus on Sunday. Ahmed spent part of the 2024 spring season with the Birmingham Stallions after Chris Blewitt was injured. Ahmed went 10-for-13, including 4-for-7 from beyond 40 yards. He holds the record for the longest field goal in USFL history with a 61-yarder after playing for both the Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals. He has never attempted an NFL field goal or PAT but did handle kickoffs in one game for the Packers. |
Washington Commanders PK Brandon McManus was released on Sunday, June 2. The move comes in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the kicker.
Footballguys view: Washington had signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million deal this offseason, opting not to re-sign Joey Slye, who joined the Patriots. The Commanders will be in the market for a new kicker. |
Two women are suing kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alleging that McManus sexually assaulted them during the team's overseas flight to London last year, according to court documents obtained by ESPN. They're seeking in excess of $1 million and are demanding a jury trial.
Footballguys view: McManus signed with the Jaguars last May after he was released by the Denver Broncos. Jacksonville gave him a one-year contract worth $2 million, and he made 30 of 37 field goal attempts and all 35 of his extra-point attempts last season. The team did not re-sign him this offseason; he signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Commanders on March 14. The Commander issued the following statement: "Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon's representation, and will reserve further comment at this time." Stay tuned. This incident could lead to league discipline. |
Washington Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. is the No. 3 running back in Washington and the 'clear early-down backup' to RB Brian Robinson Jr., according to Ben Standig of The Athletic.
Footballguys view: That makes a lot of sense. Rodriguez is a powerful player who can live between the tackles. The Commanders have Robinson to punish defenses, and Austin Ekeler can serve as a three-down starter. We'll see how these backfield touches are split when training camp and the preseason get here. |
Washington Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. said the team plans to run more no-huddle plays in the offense in 2024.
Footballguys view: Jayden Daniels will have a lot of his plate as a rookie starter. This will add more, but perhaps creating the advantage of tiring out the defense as it has to play 11-on-11 football and guard against the deep ball. We'll be listening for more about this development in training camp. |
The Washington Commanders hired Baltimore Ravens director of college scouting David Blackburn to be their new director of player personnel on Wednesday, May 22.
Footballguys view: The Ravens have now had eight members of their coaching staff and front office hired away after making it to the AFC Championship last year. Baltimore Director of Player Personnel Joe Horitz was hired away by Jim Harbaugh to be his general manager with the Chargers, and it was thought that Blackburn could move up in the organization. In fact, he sat in Hortiz's old seat next to Ravens GM Eric DeCosta during the draft. Instead, he'll have Horitz's old job title with Washington under new GM Adam Peters. |
Free-agent WR Damiere Byrd (Texans) officially signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders on Thursday, May 16. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyFree-agent WR Damiere Byrd (Falcons) agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders Wednesday, May 15, according to a source. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Footballguys view: Byrd was with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in 2019 when Kingsbury was the head coach of the Cardinals. He'll compete with Jamison Crowder, Dax Milne, and Olamide Zaccheaus for a spot at the bottom of the Washington wide receiver depth chart. |
Free-agent WR Damiere Byrd (Falcons) is working out for the Washington Commanders on Wednesday, May 15, per sources.
Footballguys view: Byrd was signed to the Texans' practice squad earlier this year, but he was not offered a futures contract. Undrafted out of South Carolina in 2015, Byrd is a seasoned veteran who can still fly down the field. The Commanders are likely to have an explosive offense with rookie QB Jayden Daniels leading the way. If added, Byrd would compete for a reserve role and special teams duty. |
Free-agent WR Martavis Bryant (Cowboys) is scheduled to work out for the Washington Commanders Wednesday, May 15, according to a source.
Footballguys view: Bryant is trying to make a comeback in the NFL after not playing a regular season snap since 2018. The Commanders are looking at other veteran receivers (Damiere Byrd) who can stretch the field. We'll see if they make a move at the position before minicamp and OTAs or training camp. |
Washington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) underwent surgery Monday, May 13, to repair a Jones fracture in his foot, according to sources.
Link to storyWashington Commanders QB Jake Fromm was released on Tuesday, May 14.
Footballguys view: As Profootballtalk.com suggested, the move comes as no surprise. The Commanders already had veteran backup quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel on the roster. They also drafted Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick, then gave undrafted rookie quarterback Sam Hartman a $245,000 guarantee giving him a great shot at making the final roster. Fromm was fifth on the depth chart, and few teams carry five quarterbacks, even on a 90-player roster. |
Updating a previous report, Washington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) will undergo surgery during the upcoming week to repair a partial Jones fracture in his left foot. It is the same type of injury that he sustained in college at Illinois, although the previous issue was with his right foot.
Link to storyWashington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) needs surgery to repair a foot injury, according to sources Saturday, May 11. A timeline for return was not provided.
Link to storyUpdating a previous report, Washington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton's (foot) foot injury is not in the one that was surgically repaired, but he may need a procedure to correct it, head coach Dan Quinn said on Saturday, May 11.
Footballguys view: Newton was a borderline first round pick and the Commanders took him with the fourth pick of the second round. This sounds like an issue that could affect him into training camp, which could derail his chances of making a big impact in year one. The good news for Washington is that they already have the best defensive tackle combination in the league, so Newton isn't essential in their 2024 plans. |
Washington Commanders third-round draft choice WR Luke McCaffrey, fifth-round draft choice LB Jordan Magee, fifth-round draft choice S Dominique Hampton, and seventh-round draft choice DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste signed four-year contracts with the Commanders Friday, May 10. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Footballguys view: McCaffrey is Christian's little brother and Ed's son. Those bloodlines matter in the NFL, but so does his outstanding all-around athletic profile from the combine. He originally came to college as a quarterback, so the Commanders must believe that there's extra upside in McCaffrey's outlook. Don't expect a big splash this year, but if 2022 first round pick Jahan Dotson doesn't click with a new regime, McCaffrey could be an important target for #2 overall pick Jayden Daniels in a year or two. |
Washington Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) did not participate in practice Friday, May 10, and was wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
Link to storyWashington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels said he has not been told if he will start right away, but the team said he will be the starter when he is ready.
Footballguys view: Daniels enters the league with huge upside, and he should be able to start right away. Commanders' OC Kliff Kingsbury should craft a system that gets the explosive plays from Daniels that were commonplace during his time at LSU. That means downfield passing and using his legs to attack defenses as a runner. |
Washington Commanders LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, DB D'Angelo Mandell and DT Joshua Pryor were waived on Tuesday, May 7.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent LB Bo Bauer (Notre Dame) signed with the Washington Commanders Monday, May 6. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Link to storyJohn Keim, from ESPN.com, reports the Washington Commanders "want to rely on a strong defense and run game to reduce the burden" on rookie first-round QB Jayden Daniels.
Footballguys view: That sounds about right. Daniels has MVP-like upside if he can stay healthy and play up to his potential in the future. However, as a rookie, there will be growing pains with Daniels. That's why the Commanders should lean on guys like Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson to do the heavy lifting on offense in 2024. |
Undrafted free-agent CB Chigozie Anusiem (Colorado State), S Ben Nikkel (Iowa State), OT David Nwaogwugwu (Toledo), S Tyler Owens (Texas Tech), DT Norell Pollard (Virginia Tech), A.J. Woods (Pittsburgh) and TE Colson Yankoff (UCLA) agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders Monday, April 29. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent RB Michael Wiley (Arizona) agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on Sunday, April 28, according to a source.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (Georgia) agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on Saturday, April 27, according to a source. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent RB Austin Jones (USC) agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on Saturday, April 27, per source.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent QB Sam Hartman is signing with the Washington Commanders, per source on Saturday, April 27.
Link to storyRice WR Luke McCaffrey was selected by the Washington Commanders with the 100th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyKansas State TE Ben Sinnott was selected by the Washington Commanders with the 53rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyMichigan CB Mike Sainristil was selected by the Washington Commanders with the 50th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyIllinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton was selected by the Washington Commanders with the 36th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyLouisiana State QB Jayden Daniels has been selected by the Washington Commanders with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyWashington Commanders LB Jamin Davis' fifth-year option will be declined.
Link to storyNotre Dame OT Blake Fisher had an official visit with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyIllinois OG Isaiah Adams had an official visit with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyTexas Christian OT Brandon Coleman had an official visit with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 NFL Draft.
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