The Washington Commanders' rebuild under new owner Josh Harris, general manager Adam Peters, and Dan Quinn has been quick, with Year 1 being a superb success.
Going from a four-win team in 2023 to a 12-5 team under Quinn and Jayden Daniels, plus an NFC Championship appearance, has this fast-tracked rebuild trending upward.
But that doesn't just happen, and the Commanders needed to establish the right culture and have the right players to lead it.
And per The Athletic's Ben Standig, Washington's early draft picks, over the last few seasons, whilst serviceable, weren't the leaders the franchise needed them to be, and that was duly corrected under Quinn.
"Of Washington's 33 draft selections from 2020 to 2023, eight remain with the organization, and five are starters/rotation pieces," Standig writes. "Not only were there scant extension-worthy players, but a leadership void existed. Enter 30-somethings Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz and Marcus Mariota, and experienced veteran Austin Ekeler. More of that this offseason with ex-New England Patriots Jonathan Jones and Wise. Eventually, the core and culture will be standard. While being established, been there, done that players can help get Washington where it wants to go."
Some have seen the re-signings of Ertz, Wagner, and Mariota as the most important business decisions this offseason. Why? They have helped drive the standards and set the culture. Everyone follows them.
Related: Commanders Get Upsetting Jayden Daniels Prediction
Of course, others in Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil show that the franchise has good pulling power, but that leadership void that existed doesn't anymore with Peters and Quinn getting the right guys in the right positions to help lead this franchise-altering turnaround.
And while it has only been 12 months, the Commanders appear to have gotten this thing off to a superb start, with the veterans key in keeping it on the straight and narrow.
Related: Commanders Analysis Grades Jayden Daniels' Rookie Season
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 6:26 AM.