When Josh Harris announced on Jan. 8 that he had fired Washington head coach Ron Rivera, he also announced an advisory committee that consisted of Harris, some of his minority owners, and two outside executives: Former NBA two-time executive of the year Bob Myers and longtime Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman.
The purpose of the advisory committee was to help Harris find his next general manager and head coach. Within one week, the Commanders found their GM, Adam Peters.
After interviewing eight candidates, Washington landed on Dan Quinn as its new head coach. Since then, Quinn has hired an impressive coaching staff.
Now, Washington’s front office and coaching staff are examining the roster ahead of free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.
With the coaching search over, what is Spielman’s role? He isn’t involved in the day-to-day operations of the Commanders. Peters is over personnel. But we do know the former GM loves projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Spielman called Williams a “franchise-changing quarterback” in an October interview before he took on the advisory role in Washington.
The Commanders have the No. 2 overall pick, and if, as expected, the Bears take Williams as No. 1 overall, they’ll be deciding between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.
Who does Spielman think is the next-best QB behind Williams?
“I like Drake Maye a lot,” Spielman said on the PFF NFL podcast recently. “I had the ability to watch him play live down in Miami last year. And his size, I think he is very athletic, I think he has arm talent. I think he’s another one; he didn’t have the same talent around him this year. He made some poor decisions turning the ball over or forcing the ball over where he probably could have kept it.”
What does he think of Daniels?
“Jayden Daniels is an incredible story,” Spielman said. “Coming from where he started at, at ASU, Arizona State, where he was still developing. You could say, “God, this guy will never be a first-round pick.’ But when he transferred to LSU and the strides he made from last year to this year. And how much better he has improved. I think all three of these are going to very successful quarterbacks in the league. I think there is a drop-off into the next tier.”
While Spielman will not be making decisions on which quarterback the Commanders will take in April, he’s likely had a conversation or two with Peters about each of the top passers in the 2024 draft.