Category: 2024 NFL offseason

Commanders re-sign Jeremy Reaves to 2-year deal

Jeremy Reaves is the first Commander that Adam Peters has re-signed this offseason.

The first two days of the 2024 NFL free agency cycle saw no current Commanders re-sign with Washington. But news broke Wednesday that safety Jeremy Reaves is the first of the Commanders’ current free agents to return.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, it’s a two-year deal for Reaves, who’s coming off of a torn ACL in Week 5 last season.

Reaves wasn’t drafted, and he has been released numerous times. But he keeps battling and will again be part of the Commanders in 2024.

Reaves was excited to be the first of the current Commanders to return, and gladly broke the news (twice) on Twitter, Wednesday afternoon.

In 2022, Reaves was a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro selection on special teams. However, nothing has come easy for Reaves in the NFL. He is an illustration of hard work and perseverance.

Having played his college ball at South Alabama, Reaves went undrafted in 2018, and was signed by the Eagles in May. He was released by the Eagles in September.

Washington signed Reaves 10 days later, placing him on the practice squad but released him six days later. In October, they again brought him back to the practice squad and again released him in December.

The 2019 season saw Washington release Reaves during cutdowns in August, bring him back to the practice squad, and then activate Reaves to the active roster, where he went on to play nine games.

Reaves was released twice in 2020 before finally breaking through, seeing action on 262 defensive snaps and 147 special teams snaps.

Injuries limited Reaves to five games in 2021 before he excelled on special teams in the 2022 season, playing in all 17 games and being named All-Pro Special Teams performer by The Associated Press, Pro Football Focus, NFL Players Association, and Pro Football Writers Association.

Commanders to sign All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner

The Commanders are signing All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal.

The Washington Commanders are signing former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It’s a one-year deal worth a max value of $8.5 million for Wagner, including $6 million in guarantees.

Wagner, a former second-round pick by the Seahawks in 2012, is a six-time First-Team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion during his 11-year tenure with Seattle.

Wagner is reunited with new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, as the pair previously worked together in Seattle a decade ago.

Could Dan Quinn bring any free-agent Cowboys’ defenders to the Commanders?

Which Cowboys could Dan Quinn target in free agency?

Lots of cap space, a new head coach and a new general manager. Might this lead Dan Quinn to try to bring some Dallas Cowboys to the Commanders?

According to Spotrac.com, the Cowboys will have 14 free agents this offseason. It is not out of the realm of possibility to think there might be a couple of defensive players who, because they enjoyed playing for Quinn in Dallas, might like a change of scenery to again play under Quinn and, of course, obtain a pay increase.

Of those 14 Cowboy free agents, eight were on Quinn’s defense: CB Stephon Gilmore, DE Dorance Armstrong, SS Jayron Kearse, CB Jourdan Lewis, DE Dante Fowler, Jr, CB Noah Igbinoghene, DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Neville Gallimore.

The first name in the list that jumps out at me as a possibility is Fowler. His average annual value was only around $3M, he is age 29, and still displays an explosion on the edge to rush the passer. Fowler and Quinn were also together briefly at the University of Florida. In a rotational role (no starts) in 2023, Fowler contributed 4.0 sacks, 5 TFL and 7 QB hits.

Gilmore, who makes $10M and is now 33, may not be what GM Adam Peters has in mind when it comes to rebuilding the Commanders’ roster.

The other name that sparks interest to me is Armstrong. He is another DE who is younger (age 26), and he would also cost more money. His AAV was $6M, and at 6-4, 255, he is lean and can run down a quarterback. In 2023, Armstrong only made one start, yet he did contribute 7.5 sacks, 7 TFL, and 12 QB hits.

Remember Quinn’s introductory press conference last week? He pointed out that the Commanders are strong at defensive tackle. He certainly realizes they are going to need to probably sign an edge rusher and draft one as well.

The Commanders moved on from defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young during the 2023 regular season, trading them to the Bears and 49ers respectively.

What is Commanders HC Dan Quinn doing to start his offseason?

What is Dan Quinn’s first order of business after he completes his coaching staff?

Now that several members of his coaching staff are already hired, how does Dan Quinn approach this 2024 offseason?

Quinn was a guest on the Chris Russell Show (The Team 980) Thursday.   Here is part one of his dialog, discussing leadership.

Now for part two.

When Russell asked Quinn what he thought went wrong with last season’s team, Quinn avoided (perhaps wisely) talking about last year’s team. He simply responded that he has begun working for this year’s team.

“It starts now for me,” Quinn responded. We made individual cut-ups of every player on the team, including the practice squad, to make sure if they didn’t have game reps, we could see what unique skills that person has and how we fit those into our system.”

“Getting to learn about the players, that is how the 2024 season begins. We look at our roster and then how do we put them in the right spots to say these are the things you do exceptionally well. Yes, you have to work on their weaknesses, but I would much rather feature a player on the things they do well.”

“Can this person change positions? Can we put him in this technique? That is what it is all about, finding the unique traits these players have. Then we are going to work our a—s off to make sure we develop them…”

“We will be adding guys that push one another, that push the standard. We want to make it the most competitive environment we can, the most competitive environment they’ve been in.”

“They will be uncomfortable at times, but it will be a lot of fun. Those are the moments that I think you grow. Then it becomes a new standard of how you get it on.”

“I wasn’t here (last season), so I am not going to have any bias about anything. I want to make sure we are all starting this off-season program together. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be tough. But it’s going to be exactly the things you need to do to play excellent (football), but we are also going to have a hell of a time doing it.”

“It’s not a job where you do the same things for the next two years. There are always things you keep developing, keep pushing…keep digging, keep finding that little edge. Sometimes, the margins to go from one spot to another are very small. But you have to nail those if you are going to be really good.”

Chris Simms ‘a little shocked’ Commanders gave Dan Quinn a second chance so quickly

Former NFL quarterback criticizes Dan Quinn hire.

Chris Simms is not a big fan of the Commanders hiring Dan Quinn as head coach.

The Pro Football Talk host and former Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback provided J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington a couple of minutes to discuss the Commanders’ two major offseason moves.

Simms told Finlay: “I am a big fan of Adam Peters, obviously. I mean, he learned a little football in New England, goes to San Francisco, a part of some great regimes there. Not only did he have some of those things in place, but he got to see Kyle (Shanahan) and John Lynch do it at a team that’s kind of been at the pinnacle of football here, or at least close to it the last four or five years.”

“I’d be lying to you if I tell you I’m super-excited about the Dan Quinn hire. The first thing is I am not a big fan of hiring people within the division. ‘Oh, we’re going to hire a guy that just worked with one of our archrivals.’

“That, to me, is an ‘advantage Cowboys’ in that department. You know, Dan has done a really good job on the defensive side of the ball with the Dallas Cowboys. But you know, all in all, I am a little shocked that he has gotten a second chance this quickly.”

“I mean, barely above .500 with the Falcons. I thought the best thing they did with that football team was having Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. It kind of fell apart after that, right?”

“He’s a defensive coach, they had a 28-3 lead. Shanahan gets blamed for some reason. Dan Quinn, who coached the defense, was supposed to stop that.”

“From the things I know and the people out there it feels certainly that Ben Johnson was choice one. It feels like Mike Macdonald was choice number two, and then it got to Dan Quinn, right?”

“But listen, I know this isn’t personal; it’s a tough thing about my job. I’m trying to be honest and give you that. Yeah, it doesn’t mean it won’t work. It  doesn’t mean maybe I am wrong about what I am sayin’, right?”

“Dan Quinn has shown me he evolved a little bit defensively from Atlanta to Dallas. Now maybe he will show me he has evolved a little bit as a head coach.”

 

Did the Commanders offer Raheem Morris the head coaching job?

The Commanders loved Quinn all along, but did have serious interest in others, too.

There is more discussion claiming the Commanders settled for Dan Quinn.

On Tuesday, Dan Patrick and his guest, Albert Breer, a senior NFL reporter for Monday Morning Quarterback, joined the list.

Patrick inquired as to what transpired with the Commanders being the last vacancy filled for this 2024 cycle.

The Commanders want a strong, durable general manager for the next decade, and the Harris group firmly believes Adam Peters is that guy. Consequently, Breer began explaining to Patrick this is why Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel did not fit into the structure the Commanders currently desire. (How Mike Florio had been so insistent the Commanders wanted Bill Belichick remains unknown.)

Breer continued, “They wanted to be wide open about their process, so they had Zoom interviews with I believe, eight candidates. They brought seven of them back for in-person interviews, and they wanted to be open-minded about it.”

Then Breer divulged, “Raheem Morris almost got the job two weeks ago. The Falcons gave him an offer that made the Commanders really think.”

Breer expressed the Commanders then determined, “No, we really want to finish our process. We want to meet with everybody.”

“They were obviously interested in meeting with Ben Johnson. Um, that didn’t go so well (as Breer chuckled) on Monday as they got the news (from Johnson).”

“Then the final two were Mike Macdonald and Dan Quinn, and Seattle swooping in and grabbing Macdonald sort of clarified, simplified things.”

Patrick inquired further, “Did they want Dan Quinn? Did they settle for Dan?” Breer responded, “They love Dan Quinn, they do.” Patrick, unsatisfied again, asked, “But did they settle for Dan Quinn?”

Breer responded pointing to the common connections in San Francisco with Adam Peters there with Kyle Shanahan and other coaches having worked for Quinn in Atlanta. “So with Quinn, the references were great. He knocked the interview out of the park.”

“Is it as exciting a hire as Raheem Morris, Ben Johnson, or Mike Macdonald would have been? You know, maybe not. But Dan Quinn is somebody in high demand the last couple of years.”

“So I think ‘settled’ is the wrong word. I think they were just kind of committed to riding the entire process out, and because of that, they lost a couple of guys along the way.”

On Feb. 1, Chris Russell (The Team 980) stated Morris and Macdonald had both been offered the job and chose to go elsewhere. Russell has more than once also stated he was told by one in the Cowboys organization (during the season finale) that Quinn wanted this job.

Dan Quinn: Commanders will not be a rebuild

Dan Quinn had another word instead of rebuild. Also, two positions from Washington’s roster stood out to Quinn.

Dan Quinn had a lot to say on Monday, and he was clear he is not looking to rebuild.

Quinn, in his introductory press conference, did point out two position groups that he felt were strong for the Commanders. It also may have been his way of being positive, not to mention how Ron Rivera left gaping holes in this roster with non-productive drafts.

“This is a recalibrate, finding our north again. You will not hear me say the word rebuild at all… There is no timeline, but we will push it hard to see how good we can get and how fast we can get there.”

Quinn has been a head coach previously in Atlanta. He won in Atlanta, and he lost in Atlanta. He was hired, and he was fired. He knows in the NFL, if you don’t get it done, they will find someone else to get it done instead of you.

The most recent Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator knows this will not be easy, but he also provided a glimpse into how he will be approaching this challenge of having a winning season. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than doing hard s_ _ _ with good people.”

Indeed it will be a challenge. Washington has not recorded a winning record since Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1).

Quinn did name two positions that he felt the Commanders have some depth, alluding to the defensive tackles and wide receivers groups. “Man was I impressed by the inside of the defense, with the defensive tackles. That’s the spot that jumped out at me. Then the skill at wide receivers.”

Daron Payne (13 tackles for a loss, 11 QB hits) and Jonathan Allen (10 tackles for a loss and 19 QB hits) led inside of the defense. Terry McLaurin had a fourth season of 1000+ receiving yards, while Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson collected 62 and 49 receptions, respectively. Dyami Brown has all the speed needed but, once again, only contributed 12 receptions in 2023.

Former Commanders HC Ron Rivera interviewed with L.A. Rams

Could Ron Rivera team up with Sean McVay in 2024?

Ron Rivera said last week he had contact with a few teams about coaching jobs.

News broke Monday that Washington’s most recent head coach is indeed in pursuit of the defensive coordinator role for the Los Angeles Rams.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Monday morning that Rivera had interviewed over the weekend for the position.

The Rams recently lost Raheem Morris when he was named Falcons head coach. Looking to fill the defensive coordinator position, the Rams have thus far interviewed Rivera, Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson, Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde and former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.

Rivera was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears (1984-1992), including the 1985 Super Bowl championship team.

Five years after retiring as a player, Rivera launched his coaching career with the Bears, becoming the defensive quality control coach (1997-98) on Dave Wannstedt’s staff.

Next, it was on to Philadelphia, as Andy Reid became the Eagles head coach, hiring Rivera to his staff as the linebackers coach (1999-2003).

Lovie Smith became the Bears’ head coach in 2004 and hired Rivera as defensive coordinator (2004-06). Led by LB Brian Urlacher, the 2006 Bears won the NFC before losing to the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Norv Turner took over as Chargers head coach in 2007, and Rivera was hired to coach the linebackers before moving up to the defensive coordinator (2008-2010).

At age 49 in 2011, Rivera began a nine-year run as Carolina Panthers head coach. He had three winning seasons, including going 15-1 on the way to Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. But with only three winning seasons total, Rivera was fired during the 2019 season by then-new owner David Tepper.

Four losing seasons followed with Washington as head coach and head of player personnel.

Rivera has 13 years as head coach under his belt. Though only three were winning seasons, Rams HC Sean McVay may be considering that Rivera’s overall breadth of experience could be of value to the Rams staff.

Former NFL GM not yet impressed with QB Drake Maye

This GM also spent a second-round pick on John Beck.

Former NFL GM Randy Mueller did not like what he saw in his film study of UNC quarterback Drake Maye.

Mueller, who was VP of Football Operations with the Seahawks (1995-98), General Manager of the Saints (2000-01), and the Dolphins (2005-07), sat down with John Keim and discussed the Commanders’ 2024 season.

First, Mueller thinks the hiring of GM Adam Peters instantly raised the bar and expectations of head-coaching candidates. That is to say, Mueller firmly believes that Peters makes the job more desirable for HC candidates.

The coaches being interviewed certainly know Peters is going to have the final say in personnel matters, so the candidates are going to be asking their questions as well. “They want to know they are going to be heard,” declared Mueller.

The conversation then moved to the biggest position the Commanders needed to fill. Mueller did not go as far as to say the Commanders must remain at No. 2 and pick a quarterback. He did, however, state the Commanders don’t know when they will be back up at No.2 again. Consequently, they have to get it correct and get the quarterback that will help this team move forward.

Mueller agrees Caleb Williams is special, the Bears will select him, and they will also trade Justin Fields.

Then Mueller dropped his bomb, “I am not a Drake Maye guy. I haven’t seen anything that wows me. I have seen a lot of film, and I’m still waiting to be impressed.”

Wow, and many in the DMV fan base are insisting the Commanders select a quarterback with the overall second selection.

Interestingly, Mueller then added, “I do like Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy as well.” Daniels won the Heisman Trophy this past season at LSU, while McCarthy quarterbacked Michigan to the College Football Playoff national title.

“The size is what everybody sees 6-4 220. But I don’t see an elite arm, anticipation, or processing like Herbert. I don’t think that is a good comparison. I see him as a bigger Mac Jones. Mueller referred to Maye’s arm strength as ordinary and referenced what he saw on film was “inconsistent accuracy” and “inconsistent timing.”

However, Mueller was higher on Daniels. He can make all the throws, and he’s athletic enough to extend plays. I see a rougher-around-the-edges C.J. Stroud.” Notice he was favoring Stroud.

Did Mueller draft quarterbacks when he was the GM in New Orleans and Miami? Yes, in 2000, he used a 6th-round pick on Marc Bulger, who passed for 22,814 yards in the NFL. In 2007, he chose John Beck, a name many Washington fans will recall, with a 2nd-round (40) selection.

 

Former Washington QB Kirk Cousins to pursue free agency?

Kirk Cousins is a free agent this March and will have multiple teams interesting in signing him if he doesn’t remain in Minnesota.

Former Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins may be shopping again this offseason. Cousins is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in March.

Cousins, who was drafted by Washington in the 2012 NFL draft, played behind Robert Griffin his first two seasons but then developed and was clearly the better quarterback by the 2015 season.

Cousins then led Washington to winning records in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1). Many Washington fans refused to accept that Robert Griffin was not a victim and never accepted Cousins and were glad to see him gone following the 2017 season.

Cousins left Washington because Bruce Allen and the former owner were determined to make no deals that might help Kyle Shanahan and his new team.

Washington fans have referred to Cousins as nothing more than a stat builder, yet they fail to accept the reality that not a single one of Washington’s many quarterbacks has been able to bring Washington similar success that Cousins in two consecutive seasons (2015 and 2016).

But if Cousins chooses to not sign a contract with the Vikings, he will not be coming to Washington. At age 35. why would Cousins sign with a team that only won four games and is going to be in rebuild mode?

One can, therefore, understand that Cousins could be the quarterback in Atlanta next season. Perhaps Cousins might even be sought after by winning teams like the 49ers or the Dolphins.

Might Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh reach out for Cousins to help bring some offense to the Steelers?

Who knows? What we do know is that if he does not re-sign with the Vikings, Cousins will be sought after in this free agency cycle.