A quick glance at the Washington Commanders’ offensive roster and some names stand out. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, tight end Zach Ertz and running back Austin Ekeler.
But with those questions are some concerns.
Ertz is 33 and coming off a couple of injury-shortened seasons. Ekeler is 29 but is coming off a disappointing season. McLaurin is a star and always reliable. Dotson was expected to be a breakout star last summer, but that didn’t happen for multiple reasons — some within his control, others not so much.
The most significant offensive change for Washington in 2024 is under center. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels brings excitement to the Commanders. How good can Daniels be as a rookie? Does Washington have enough around him?
We know there are concerns about the offensive line. What about at the skill positions? In addition to the aforementioned names, the Commanders have third-year running back Brian Robinson Jr., rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and rookie tight end Ben Sinnott.
How does Washington’s group of skill talent compare to the rest of the NFL?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently ranked every NFL team’s skill players (running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends). Washington ranked 26th.
We’re firmly in the tier of teams that have one commanding wide receiver and a shrug of the shoulders for everything else behind that wideout on the roster. In Washington, the main man is Terry McLaurin, who has spent his entire career in quarterback hell. If he had racked up 91 more receiving yards as a rookie, he would be able to boast of five consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns while catching passes from 10 different quarterbacks. As bad as Commanders passers have been over his career, they’ve posted a 41.1 QBR with their star wideout on the field and a staggeringly bad 30.4 mark without him.
I’m willing to believe McLaurin is a top-15 wide receiver in a vacuum, but there isn’t much around him. Jahan Dotson, a first-rounder in 2022, failed to build upon his rookie campaign and had just 158 receiving yards in eight games during the second half of the season. Curtis Samuel departed and was replaced by rookie Luke McCaffrey. Logan Thomas has been swapped out for 33-year-old tight end Zach Ertz, who was a catch-and-fall guy last season. No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels will need McCaffrey or rookie tight end Ben Sinnott to grow into a second option behind McLaurin.
Barnwell was optimistic about Washington’s running backs, specifically Robinson. He also likes Ekeler’s pass-catching skills, even if he has lost a step.
Is Barnwell too high or low on Washington’s skill talent?
For now, it’s fair to rank the Commanders in the 20s. There is talent in the building, but also question marks. If Dotson lives up to his first-round billing, Robinson’s career takes off, and the rookies (Sinnott and McCaffrey) are immediate contributors, this list will look much different after the season.
