Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are expected to be aggressive this offseason to improve the team's defense and take advantage of quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract window, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

"Expect the Commanders to be aggressive this offseason in pursuing roster upgrades on defense," Graziano began.

"Much like the Texans last year after C.J. Stroud's dazzling rookie season, Washington believes it has something special in quarterback Jayden Daniels and wants to maximize his rookie-contract window. Getting to the NFC Championship Game in Daniels' first year only makes Washington more likely to get aggressive for someone like Garrett if and when Cleveland decides to move him.

"Washington needs a lot of work on defense, and don't be surprised to see the team stretch for an impact player or two in the coming months. The Commanders were 19th in defensive EPA this season."

The Commanders tripled their win total from four to 12 this season, reaching the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. So it makes sense for general manager Adam Peters to go for it with the team coming just one win away from reaching a Super Bowl.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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Jayden Daniels' incredible Hail Mary to cap off the Washington Commanders' 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 8 was selected as the 2024-25 NFL Play of the Year on Thursday.

On the final play of the contest, Daniels tossed the ball towards the end zone that was tipped up in the air and eventually caught by wide receiver Noah Brown.

The signal-caller received some additional hardware earlier in the night, as he previously earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

According to Next Gen Stats, Daniels covered just over 40 yards as he scrambled around in the backfield before launching the ball.

The Hail Mary against the Bears helped the Commanders improve to 6-2, becoming one of the key moments in a season that culminated in a surprising NFC Championship Game appearance.

For Chicago, the defeat kicked off a 10-game losing streak before the team ended the year with a 5-12 record.

"I was juiced up, for sure," Daniels said after the Hail Mary, via Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. "Excited because that's kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not too many people get to experience stuff like that. That was my first time."

It was an incredible play from the rookie signal-caller, especially since he was listed as questionable heading into the game due to a rib injury.

Daniels finished his inaugural season in the NFL by completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. He also set a new rookie rushing record among quarterbacks by picking up 891 yards on the ground.

Washington's 2024 campaign continued several memorable moments, including the 2024-25 Play of the Year.

Jayden Daniels was recognized for his stellar inaugural season, receiving the 2024-25 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award on Thursday.

Expectations were already high for the Washington Commanders quarterback after he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but he managed to blow past them anyway.

Daniels started all 17 regular-season games, completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to just nine interceptions. He also made plays with his legs on a weekly basis, rushing for 891 yards and six more scores while averaging 6.0 yards per attempt.

The 24-year-old's success on the ground was historic, as he officially set a new single-season rushing record among rookie quarterbacks with one game left in the regular season.

He also earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Daniels' individual production coincided with improved play from Washington, as the Commanders made the playoffs by finishing with a 12-5 record. They previously sat at 4-13 in the year before drafting the former LSU standout.

He thrived down the stretch of the season, throwing for 917 yards and 13 touchdowns while getting picked off a mere four times throughout four starts prior to Washington clinching a playoff berth in Week 17.

In the postseason, Daniels continued to produce. He helped lead the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, as Washington secured its first postseason win since the 2005 season.

During three playoff starts, Daniels threw for 822 yards and five touchdowns compared to one interception. He also picked up 135 yards as a runner.

The first-year passer received Offensive Rookie of the Year honors over fellow contenders including New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.

Nabers, Daniels' former teammate at LSU, made his presence felt in New York despite starting in just 13 games as a rookie. He caught a franchise-record 109 passes, racking up 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bowers was a bright spot on the Raiders in 2024, immediately establishing himself as one of the best at his position. His 112 receptions marked a new rookie record, while his 1,194 receiving yards set a new single-season record among first-year tight ends. The 22-year-old also found the end zone five times.

Thomas, another former college teammate of Daniels, led all rookie receivers with 1,282 yards, scoring 10 touchdowns. He ended his 2024 season on a high note, surpassing 100 yards in three of his final four appearances of the year.

Nix was an efficient option for the Broncos under center, completing 66.3 percent of his throws for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading Denver to a playoff appearance. He was also picked off just 12 times.

The 2024 rookie class contained several breakout players on the offensive side of the ball, but Daniels received the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for his incredible first season with the Commanders.

Jayden Daniels is still frustrated about the Washington Commanders' 55-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

The quarterback confirmed that the Commanders' playoff exit continues to bother him during a Thursday appearance on Pro Football Talk.

"I'm still trying to get over pissed off mode," Daniels said (1:40 mark).

"I think we just gave a really good team a lot of opportunities," Daniels later explained. "We made a lot of mistakes that game. Obviously, turnovers are going to be the big thing that people talk about."

"That's probably going to haunt me for awhile," he added.

While the final score was lopsided, Daniels and the Commanders stayed within striking distance of Philadelphia for most of the contest. The Eagles only held a 34-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but they scored 21 points over the final 15 minutes of action to ultimately seal the win.

Ball security was an issue for Washington throughout the contest. While the Commanders recorded 350 total yards, they turned the ball over four times while the Eagles didn't commit a single turnover.

Daniels finished 29-of-48 for 255 yards and a touchdown to go along with an interception. He also rushed for a team-high 48 yards and picked up a second score on the ground.

Despite the loss in the conference title game, the Commanders' 2024 campaign was a massive success. They finished with a 12-5 record, winning their first playoff game since the 2005 season and making their first NFC Championship Game appearance since the 1991 season.

Daniels was incredible throughout his rookie year, throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. He also rushed for 891 yards, setting a new record for rookie quarterbacks.

While the LSU product is still upset over the Commanders' postseason loss, the future is extremely bright in Washington.

Myles Garrett could see himself potentially fitting in with a team that has a bright future.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Garrett said the Washington Commanders are one team he thinks could use him.

"I've thought about the squads that could use a guy like me. I think the Commanders are amongst them," he said (3:19 mark) "I think they need a pass rusher; I think that's something they dearly missed in the playoffs and some of their big games. I feel like I could fill that role."

Garrett requested a trade on Monday, citing his desire to compete for a championship as one of the reasons why he wants a change of scenery. On Wednesday, he clarified that a conversation he had with management revealed he and the team were not on the same page in terms of the future.

"I just don't think the trajectory of the team for having success in the near future, I don't think we're aligned in that currently," he said. "That kind of led to my opinions and my feelings in this moment. I feel like, at this point in my career, I want to have more postseason success, I want the opportunity to at least go out there and compete and contend. I don't think that's possible where we are now."

If a championship is what he wants, joining the Commanders might be a good move for Garrett. Washington is coming off its best season since 1991, going 12-5 in the regular season before advancing all the way to the NFC Championship.

Behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders completely exceeded expectations and proved they're on the right trajectory. If that's what Washington can do in Year 1 of the Dan Quinn era, a championship could be well within reach with the addition of Garrett.

Garrett also indicated to ESPN's Mina Kimes that he would like to join a team that has an established quarterback.

"Absolutely. Any playoff team or any championship team, they're going to have a quarterback—a good quarterback," he said. "You've seen some game managers go out there with a great defense and win it all, but if you want to consistently be at the top, you got to have a really good quarterback."

Garrett added that he would "absolutely" like to play with a quarterback like Daniels.

While the Browns struggled in 2024, Garrett was his usual outstanding self, recording 47 tackles, 14 sacks and three forced fumbles. He'll look to use his talents to aid a team in a potential championship run next season.

NFL fans will soon find out who this season's Offensive Rookie of the Year is, but legendary quarterback Tom Brady revealed his pick for the prestigious award on Wednesday.

Brady's pick isn't that surprising. He took Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who had one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in recent memory.

"If you lead your team to the NFC Championship, it's hard to make a case for anyone else," Brady said. "Jayden Daniels is my Offensive Rookie of the Year... Jayden has a rare confidence and poise under pressure at such a young age. Jayden's going to have a great offseason and I'm excited to see what he comes up with in Year 2."

Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of LSU, threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions this year. He added 891 rushing yards—the most ever by a rookie quarterback—and six touchdowns on the ground.

What's just as impressive is that Daniels' stats led to wins.

The Commanders finished the regular season 12-5, recording their most wins since 1991. In the playoffs, Daniels led Washington past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round before upsetting the Detroit Lions in the divisional round. While the Commanders ultimately came up short of reaching the Super Bowl, they far exceeded expectations after last year's 4-13 finish.

The NFL Honors take place on Thursday, but it's fair to assume Daniels will be named Offensive Rookie of the Year given his historically good season.

The Washington Commanders nickname is here to stay.

Owner Josh Harris said Monday that he has no plans to change the team's name and added that it's "being embraced" by those around the organization.

"Yes. And I think it's now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff," he said when asked if Washington would keep its name, per the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. "So, we're going with that."

Washington retired the name it had held since 1933 in July 2020 and pivoted to being called the "Washington Football Team" in 2020 and 2021. The franchise rebranded to the Commanders ahead of the 2022 season.

Harris told reporters that the franchise's original name won't be returning "for obvious reasons" despite some fans wanting the team to return to its former name.

Last April, a poll by the Washington Post revealed that 58 percent of local Commanders fans did not like the new name (h/t ESPN's John Keim). Since then, the team has found success for the first time under its new name, going 12-5 behind standout rookie Jayden Daniels.

The Commanders won their first playoff game since 2005 when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. Washington then reached the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991 by upsetting the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.

According to The Athletic's Mike Jones, Washington head coach Dan Quinn gathered a group of the team's veterans during the offseason and had them work with a group of Navy SEALs to devise a document they called "The Commander Standard."

Per Jones, that document was a "list of standards by which they believed successful teams operate." That "Commander Standard" fueled the team's best season in decades.

Perhaps Washington's newfound success under the name Commanders can sway fans into being more accepting of the new name.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post on Thursday, thanking fans for a successful 2024 season.

Harris concluded the ad by writing: "We're building this for you, and we won't stop until we have a championship. Thank you for being on this journey with us."

The Commanders far exceeded expectations this season, making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game where they fell 55-23 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Entering this season, the Commanders had gone three consecutive campaigns without a playoff appearance, and they hadn't posted a winning record since 2016.

After going 4-13 last season, they secured the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which turned out to be the best possible thing for the organization.

The Commanders used that pick on Heisman Trophy-winning LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, and his arrival immediately changed the fortunes of the franchise.

Daniels went 12-5 during his rookie season and completed 69.0 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also rushing for 891 yards and six scores.

The Pro Bowler and likely NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year then led the Commanders to road playoff wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, and he put up impressive numbers over three playoff games overall, completing 65.8 percent of his passing attempts for 822 yards, five touchdowns and one pick, along with 135 yards and one score on the ground.

Prior to Daniels' arrival, the Commanders had not won a playoff game since the 2005 season, and they hadn't reached the NFC Championship Game since 1991, which was when they last won the Super Bowl.

Harris, who also owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's New Jersey Devils, purchased the Commanders from Dan Snyder in 2023.

He has helped orchestrate a quick turnaround in Washington to the point that a Super Bowl now feels like a realistic possibility, which wasn't the case for many years previously.

If the Commanders can continue to surround Daniels with quality pieces this offseason, they figure to enter the 2025 season as one of the top contenders to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will reportedly return to the team next season and eschew interest from the New Orleans Saints, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

The Saints had interest in interviewing Kingsbury for their head coaching position, but the Washington offensive coordinator turned down all interviews while Washington remained in the playoff hunt, and now has reportedly decided against leaving the organization altogether.

Kingsbury's return to Washington doesn't come as a huge surprise.

For one, New Orleans was arguably the least desirable head-coaching opening this winter. The Saints have a roster that just went 5-12 and a brutal cap situation. For now, the Saints are $50.2 million over the cap for the 2025 season, per Spotrac, meaning some tough roster decisions are forthcoming.

Now, the Saints will have the No. 9 overall pick in the upcoming draft, its own second-round selection and a pair of picks in both the third and fourth rounds, so the team will have a number of avenues to improve. But they'll need to nail the draft, given their lack of flexibility in free agency.

Kingsbury, meanwhile, is returning a Washington team that just made a run to the NFC Championship Game, has a brilliant young quarterback in Jayden Daniels and had one of the best offenses in football this past season. If the Commanders continue to ascend next season, Kingsbury may have his pick of the openings in the 2026 coaching cycle.

And as PFT's Mike Florio noted, "Kingsbury is being selective. He can afford to be. As previously explained, his Cardinals buyout extends into 2026. He'll be making head-coaching money regardless of whether he stays where he is."

He'll bring a comprehensive résumé to the table once he does decide he's ready to return to the ranks of head coach. He's held the position for both Texas Tech (2013-18) and the Arizona Cardinals (2019-22), alongside serving as the offensive coordinator for Houston (2010-11), Texas A&M (2012) and the Commanders. In his many stops, he's worked with quarterbacks like Daniels, Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel, among others.

While his Cardinals tenure resulted in just one playoff berth and a 28-37-1 record overall, the team improved in each of its first three seasons under Kingsbury before regressing to a 4-13 mark in 2022. But he rebuilt Washington's offense in 2024 around the strengths of Daniels, and the results speak for themselves. Barring a major regression from the team in 2025, he'll be a hot candidate next offseason.