Positivity is high around the Washington Commanders heading into the 2024 season. Adam Peters laid the foundations for the first stage of his roster regeneration. Dan Quinn and his outstanding staff did a tremendous job of implementing their ideas and ensuring everyone got on the same page before training camp.
This is just the start. The Commanders face a daunting journey back to contention. They seem like a long way off a Super Bowl right now, but there’s an opportunity to speed up this significant rebuild if rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels proves his worth as a franchise-caliber presence immediately.
Optimism is increasing, there’s no getting away from that. At the same time, some serious questions remain that could potentially hold them back from legitimate growth in 2024.
It’s a fine line. With this in mind, here are four Commanders players entering precarious situations during the 2024 campaign.
Tress Way – Commanders P
There’s no doubting Tress Way’s credentials. It’s been a glittering career for the Pro Bowl punter. He’s firmly established as a locker room leader and highly respected by his peers. That does not detract from the need to return to the form of old next time around.
Way regressed last season. He wasn’t alone in that regard, but the urgency is high surrounding the popular figure if he wants to prolong his career with the Washington Commanders.
Adam Peters demonstrated a level of ruthlessness in his roster construction that wasn’t evident previously. Way might be one of the Commanders’ longest-serving players, but that won’t count for anything if the production doesn’t meet the required standards.
There’s a lot to like about Way’s chances of bouncing back despite his advancing years. However, there are no guarantees beyond the current campaign given it’s a contract year for a player who placed 41.1 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line during the previous campaign.
Nick Allegretti – Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders had to solidify their offensive line this offseason. Everyone knew a rookie quarterback would be coming into the fold. Improving the protection might provide Jayden Daniels with the clean pockets needed to take the NFL by storm throughout his first year in a professional environment.
Concerns surrounding the offensive tackle positions took the attention away from another potential complication. This centers on whether Nick Allegretti can capitalize on his free-agent switch after flashing on a rotational basis for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.
Allegretti signed a three-year, $16 million deal with the Commanders that included a $5.89 million signing bonus and $9.02 million guaranteed. More importantly, this provides the interior presence with a chance to firmly cement himself as a productive NFL starter.
The former Illinois standout played just 80 offensive snaps during the regular season in 2023. When the Chiefs lost Joe Thuney to an unfortunate injury deep into the postseason, it thrust Allegretti into the limelight. He wasn’t going to waste this significant opportunity to shine on the biggest stages of all.
After catching the eye during the AFC Championship game, Allegretti logged 79 snaps during the Super Bowl with a torn UCL and shone further. This ability to fight through pain in pursuit of helping Kansas City triumph is the exact quality Adam Peters and Dan Quinn are looking to implement across the Commanders.
Allegretti is slotted to start at the left guard position based on consensus projections. Hopes are relatively high that the veteran can provide a sense of stability that was sorely lacking last time around. But he hasn’t been a prominent starting option since 2020.
This is a huge chance for Allegretti to become a long-term part of the Commanders’ plans in a position of critical need. His outstanding pass protection and exceptional work ethic could serve him well, but getting off to a fast start is crucial. Especially considering the concerns surrounding Washington’s blindside options at the left tackle spot.
Benjamin St-Juste – Commanders CB
If there is one criticism of Adam Peters’ roster construction this offseason, it’s that another productive outside cornerback presence wasn’t sought at some stage. Mike Sainristil came into the fold as a second-round selection, but he’s seen more as a nickel option capable of impacting proceedings considerably on blitz packages. It was relatively underwhelming aside from that.
Michael Davis was signed in free agency but needs to recover from a down year with the Los Angeles Chargers. The rest were classed as journeymen and special teamers rather than dependable starters. However, there’s still time for Peters to get another corner depending on what opportunities present themselves before Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This seems like a vote of confidence in Benjamin St-Juste. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. like their cornerbacks to be big and physical in press coverage. The former third-round selection has the tools in that sense, but his wildly inconsistent production last season makes this a gamble of epic proportions.
St-Juste flashed moments of promise last season. He also gave up 63.2 percent of targets thrown in his direction. This led to 769 receiving yards from the opposition at 11.5 yards per completion. If the defensive back wants to prove his worth as a legitimate starting option, improvements are required.
There is plenty of motivation for St-Juste in 2024. He goes into the campaign as Washington’s top outside coverage option as it stands. It’s also a contract year for the player, so a good campaign with improved consistency could see the Minnesota product rewarded with a longer-term commitment.
Quinn and Whitt come with glowing credentials regarding cornerback development. They could get a better tune out of St-Juste if they improve his technical flaws. Should he fail to meet specific targets, a situation might emerge where the Commanders cut their losses entirely.
It’s a high-stakes situation for St-Juste. Hopefully, it’s a challenge he’ll relish en route to better fortunes next season.
Clelin Ferrell – Commanders DE
Finding capable pass-rushers was high on the Washington Commanders’ list of priorities this offseason. Trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat before the 2023 deadline provided financial flexibility and additional draft assets for Adam Peters to utilize. It also completely negated any edge threat over the second half of the previous campaign.
Peters addressed this through free agency with three notable arrivals. Dorance Armstrong Jr. comes with long-term upside after playing the best football of his career under Dan Quinn during their time on the Dallas Cowboys. Dante Fowler Jr. also reunited instantly with Washington’s new head coach, which is an indicator of the high esteem in which he is held around the league.
Another intriguing arrival is Clelin Ferrell. Peters was part of the brain trust that brought him to the San Francisco 49ers after he failed to meet expectations as a first-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders. The new front-office leader seemed suitably impressed by his contribution.
Ferrell’s working hard to shake off the draft bust tag. The former Clemson star might never live up to being the No. 4 overall selection, but that doesn’t mean he cannot carve out a productive career for himself moving forward after showing signs of life during the 2023 season.
This is a big opportunity awaiting the Virginia native. The Commanders aren’t blessed with the greatest edge-rushing depth. It would be surprising if Ferrell didn’t gain key rotational reps or perhaps even start over Fowler with a smooth transition into Quinn’s expansive system.
The signs are encouraging at long last for Ferrell, but his situation remains precarious. Washington gave him a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency. Unless the production takes a surge forward, Peters will have no trouble moving on from the player.
With 13.5 sacks in five seasons, the jury is still out. But if anyone can help Ferrell finally meet his pre-draft expectations, it’s Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
