Daily Slop – 28 Aug 24 – Dan Quinn: “Once I took the job, they’re my guys too”

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Commanders.com

Commanders announce initial 53-man roster for 2024 season

The Washington Commanders have released their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season. Here’s a positional breakdown of who made the cut.

Note: The Commanders also have the second waiver claim spot, meaning that the initial roster is subject to change over the next 24 hours. The deadline for the Commanders to claim players off the waiver wire is 12 p.m.

OFFENSE (25 players)

Quarterback

• Jayden Daniels
• Marcus Mariota
• Jeff Driskel

It wasn’t a question of if but how Jayden Daniels would be named the Commanders’ starting quarterback. Rather than name the No. 2 overall pick the starter outright, which was certainly their goal, the team decided to let him earn the job and take snaps behind Marcus Mariota to start OTAs and training camp.

The results were more than what the Commanders originally hoped for. Daniels attacked each challenge placed in front of him with a rare level of determination and work ethic. He showed up early, stayed late and studied hard to make sure he was prepared for practice each day. As with any rookie, there were some growing pains, but Daniels corrected his mistakes quickly and learned from them.

In the preseason games, Daniels showed off flashes of the arm talent and poise that convinced Washington to draft him. After seeing him complete 10-of-12 passes for 78 yards against the Dolphins, head coach Dan Quinn was confident enough to officially make Daniels the starter — something that had been trending in the right direction for weeks.

“We knew we would get here, but we were just excited to see how we would,” Quinn said. So, seeing him hit all the spots, this is a rare competitor, and those are the things that I knew about him. But seeing it in your own building, on your own team, around new teammates, that was cool to see.”

Marcus Mariota, who enters his 10th season, will operate as the team’s backup. Both Quinn and Daniels have been quick to commend Mariota for his presence and mentorship in the quarterback room. As someone who was also a No. 2 overall pick, his leadership and guidance should prove vital to Daniels as he navigates his rookie season.

Jeff Driskel proved himself to be a strong presence in the locker room and dependable third option in the preseason. If Daniels and Mariota were to miss time, Driskel has shown that he can effectively run the offense.

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Washington Post (paywall)

Commanders have their 53-man roster, but it’s ‘fluid and it’s not final’

The team released 34 players, including 2023 draft picks K.J. Henry and Andre Jones. It figures to add players through waivers.

The team set its initial 53-man roster by releasing 34 players, a handful of whom were drafted by the previous regime and were still on their rookie deals. Gone is 2023 third-round center Ricky Stromberg, who was waived with an injury designation. Gone is fellow lineman Braeden Daniels, who was taken in the fourth round that year. Gone are defensive ends and fellow 2023 picks K.J. Henry (fifth round) and Andre Jones (seventh). Gone is running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., a sixth-rounder last year. And gone is tight end Cole Turner, a fifth-round pick just two years ago whom, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, the team tried to trade.

Any of them could still be added to the practice squad, which can start to be formed Wednesday and have up to 17 players, including one from the International Pathway Program.

This 53-man roster will change multiple times before the Commanders open their season at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 8, and even thereafter; the team is No. 2 in the claiming order for waived players (inverse of the 2023 standings), which gives it good odds of finding outside help from the hundreds of players who were released by other teams (the claiming period ends at noon Wednesday).

That’s even more bad news for some former Washington picks who made this round of cuts but may not be around for long.

“Once I took the job, they’re my guys too,” said Coach Dan Quinn, who pushed back on the notion the team is targeting picks of the previous staff. “We’re always going to make what we think is the best decision for the team. That’s our obligation. There are no ‘ours’ or ‘theirs’ or any of that kind of stuff.”

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The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders 53-man roster following cutdown day: Which recent draft picks were retained?

New general manager Adam Peters really, really did not like the roster he inherited from the previous regime led by former coach Ron Rivera. Washington retained a handful of the team’s free agents this offseason, primarily backups or players on the roster fringe. Some holdovers were released this summer, but the purge intensified on Tuesday.

2020 — Zero of eight picks remain

That’s right, all eight picks are gone, though that reality occurred in free agency. Washington traded first-round defensive end Chase Young before last season’s deadline after having already declined his fifth-year option. Running back Antonio Gibson and safety Kamren Curl, the two most prominent players from the class, signed elsewhere this year. Another pair, offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles and wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden, have retired.

2021 — Six of 10 remain

This is the best of the classes, even though first-round pick Jamin Davis is in the midst of a position switch from linebacker to edge rusher. Sam Cosmi also changed positions, but the right guard is now a Pro Bowl contender after a smooth adjustment. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, tight end John Bates and wide receiver Dyami Brown are expected to have significant roles.

2022 — Four of eight remain

The new staff traded 2022 first-round receiver Jahan Dotson this month after dealing quarterback Sam Howell to Seattle in March. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. is the remaining headliner.

Whether talking about active, injured or practice squad players, only 23 from last year’s team endure. From that group, eight (including specialists) who remain starters are back: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Terry McLaurin, Robinson, St-Juste, Tress Way, Cosmi and Andrew Wylie.

Practice squad

The Commanders can sign 16 players after Wednesday’s waiver run, but they will have 17 since offensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi is exempt as a member of the league’s International Pathway program. Hartman, Wiley, Bryant, Tremayne, Julian Good-Jones, Henry, Anusiem and Castro-Fields are among the logical names for Washington to bring back, with Henry arguably the best to get claimed.

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ESPN

Martavis Bryant cut by Commanders, stalling comeback bid

Martavis Bryant finished the preseason with a strong fourth quarter — but it wasn’t enough to force his way onto the Washington Commanders’ roster.

Washington released Bryant on Tuesday. It’s possible Washington tries to sign Bryant on its practice squad if he clears waivers.

The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Bryant, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds before the 2014 draft and had retained that speed, caught three passes for 20 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 20-10 preseason finale vs. New England. He also drew two pass interference penalties totaling another 64 yards.

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Riggo’s Rag

Commanders could regret letting K.J. Henry depart

Despite putting together a decent offseason under Dan Quinn’s coaching staff, it wasn’t enough to go through onto the initial 53-man squad.

Henry will no doubt feel a little aggrieved by his eventual fate. The former Clemson standout didn’t do much wrong and can walk away with his head held high. This is more a numbers game rather than anything from a talent deficiency perspective. However, it’ll still be a bitter pill to swallow.

This is a blow, but it’s not the end of Henry’s journey by any stretch of the imagination. The chances of Washington bringing him back onto the practice squad are high. His quality production throughout the summer suggests some interest could also arrive from elsewhere.

Teams are always looking for additional pass-rushing depth. The Commanders face an anxious wait to get Henry onto the practice squad. That’s probably what Peters wants, especially given his familiarity with the scheme in the event he’s elevated during the regular season. But don’t be surprised if he gets another roster shot quickly.

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Sports Illustrated

Washington Commanders Lose Two Defenders for 2024 NFL Season Due to Injuries

The two Washington Commanders defenders will be on injured reserve for the entire season.

Commanders defensive end Norell Pollard and defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth were not only added to the injured reserve list but they’re not designated to return and will miss the 2024 NFL season, according to Sam Fortier.

Pollard is an undrafted defensive tackle out of Virginia Tech, where he posted 118 career total tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. The 6-foot, 281-pound defensive end now has his sights set on a return to the gridiron in 2025 with hopes of making his regular season debut.

Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee was also placed on the injured reserve list, though he is designated return, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. The Temple product began to garner quite a bit of hype throughout training camp.

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Washington Post (paywall)

Commanders to play at ‘Northwest Stadium’ after signing naming rights deal

An eight-year deal with Northwest Federal Credit Union runs through 2031, potentially giving the Landover facility its final name before the team moves.

The team announced it signed a multiyear stadium naming rights agreement with Northwest Federal Credit Union, potentially giving the Landover facility its final name while the team develops a plan for a new stadium.

The team did not disclose the terms of the deal, but two people with knowledge of the agreement said it’s for eight years, through the 2031 season, and is worth significantly more than average annual value of its previous deal with the shipping giant FedEx, which was roughly $7.5 million a year.

There is no timeline yet on when structural signage will go up outside Northwest Stadium, but signage inside the stadium will be placed before the team’s home opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 15.

The person familiar with the deal with Northwest said it doesn’t preclude the team from opening a new stadium before the expiration of the agreement, nor does it give Northwest the first option to purchase naming rights for the next stadium.

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Commanders Wire

9 takeaways from Commanders’ initial 53-man roster

Commanders kept John Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis

It was a surprise to see Washington keep five defensive tackles. It was reported that the Commanders were shopping Ridgeway but ended up keeping him. With Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Johnny Newton guaranteed three spots, it was always a battle between the third-year defensive tackles for the final spot. Both made it, but Washington may not be done here. Head coach Dan Quinn has praised Ridgeway and Mathis at different points this summer and clearly feels comfortable with both players.

They aren’t done at cornerback

We’ve said it about other positions, but the Commanders definitely aren’t done at cornerback. Teams released some quality cornerbacks who could provide depth for Washington. If Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste were sure things, this wouldn’t be as big of a question mark. Rookie Mike Sainristil looks like a future star and veteran Michael Davis is a quality depth piece who can start, too.

Commanders kept six safeties

It’s rare to see teams keep six safeties. That would indicate that Washington may be looking to deal one. Darrick Forrest was on the bubble throughout the summer, and an injury didn’t help him. But he proved two years ago he could play. Health is a concern, but the Commanders wisely kept him, but he shouldn’t get too comfortable yet. There was no way Washington was not putting rookie Tyler Owens on the 53. He earned it after a terrific summer. The final spot likely came down to Forrest and Jeremy Reaves, with Washington keeping both.

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Commanders Wire

7 recently cut players the Commanders should consider adding

CB Caleb Farley

When you’re not expected to be very good, you can take chances. Caleb Farley is exactly the type of player that general manager Adam Peters should target. A 2021 first-round pick, health has been an issue for the super-athletic Farley. He’s healthy now, but a new regime in Tennessee moved on from him. A perfect buy-low candidate for Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The Commanders lose nothing if Farley doesn’t work out. If he does, they get a steal.

CB Keenan Isaac

Isaac is a 6-foot-3 cornerback who starred at Alabama State before signing with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He played in two games as a rookie and had an outstanding training camp. Quinn and Whitt like long-armed cornerbacks who can press. They have succeeded in developing unheralded cornerbacks, and Isaac has plenty to work with. He had an outstanding training camp but fell victim to the numbers game in Tampa Bay.

Edge Kyron Johnson

Kyron Johnson lacks the size teams covet in an edge rusher but offers the explosiveness that teams like. After spending his first two years with the Eagles, Johnson had an excellent training camp with the Steelers. Johnson could be a perfect rotational edge rusher for the Commanders. Quinn has had plenty of success with these types of players throughout his career.

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Washington Commanders Initial 53-Man Roster Casts Bigger Shadow on Pre-Dan Quinn Era

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Front Office Sports

Private Equity Enters NFL Ownership: League Approves Historic Investment

The NFL on Tuesday approved the introduction of private equity into team ownership, at last bringing a lucrative source of capital into the largest and most dominant U.S. pro sports league.

The highly anticipated league vote, taken in a special meeting held here, will allow private equity investors up to 10% of an individual team’s equity—below other comparable leagues that allow up to 30%. An approved firm can hold stakes in up to six teams. The vote to approve was 31–1, with the Bengals standing as the lone dissent.

The approval, however, is by no means a free-for-all. There are only eight approved firms that can participate, at least at the outset, and there is a provision in which the league can force a sale of an equity stake held by private equity if a firm violates league terms, including conduct clauses. Additionally no governance rights in teams will be included in any of the deals. The involved firms will also be required to hold their team stakes for a minimum of six years. There is also a requirement in which the NFL will take a percentage of private equity stake sales, known as “carry.” The level of that fee will vary, but in concept, the practice differs from private equity policies adopted by other major U.S. leagues.

The private equity funds will be used for a variety of purposes, including recapitalization of clubs, generating additional liquidity, and stadium projects. Fast-rising franchise values, increasingly out of reach for even the uber-wealthy, also added to the push to finally get this done after the league’s long deliberation.

“By having four investment groups, each of which bring several billion dollars to the table, there is enough capital to address anybody who wants to avail themselves of this opportunity in the next 18 months,” said Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. “That was one of our goals, to have enough capital and enough firms to create a bit of competition.”

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Pro Football Talk

Kickoff rule gets short discussion, no changes at ownership meeting

Owners met on Tuesday. The agenda included a discussion/update on the new “dynamic” kickoff.

And that’s all that happened.

Per multiple sources, the meeting included a brief presentation about the performance of the new kickoff formation during the preseason. Returns are up, injuries are down. And that was that.

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