Commanders Fire Rivera, Hire NBA Exec To Launch Coach Search; 5 Questions for Offseason
Mercifully, the regular season and the Ron Rivera era have come to a close after the Washington Commanders lost to the Dallas Cowboys 38-10 on Sunday at FedEx Field in the final game of the regular season.
With the loss, Washington ended the season on an eight-game losing streak and sealed the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Heading into this offseason with just over $78 million in cap space, which is the most in the NFL and five picks in the top 100, this is the most important offseason in recent memory for the Commanders.
How will Josh Harris handle his first full offseason as owner? Here are five burning questions that will shape Washington for the future.
Who Will Be Leading The Organization?
Coach Rivera as of Monday morning is fired. General manager Martin Mayhew, it seems, is staying on in some capacity.
Now, Harris will be tasked with finding a general manager and head coach who can not just turn over one of the worst rosters in football, but work in lockstep for as long as they're together.
First step: Harris is assembling a sort of "hiring committee" that will included long-time NBA exec Bob Myers, a four-time champion with the Golden State Warriors. Also involved: Former NFL exec Rick Spielman. And of course minority owner Magic Johnson will have a voice.
Harris is reportedly enamored with the Baltimore Ravens' organization. Few organizations are better to pull from than the Ravens (13-4), who were the best team in the regular season. If reports of Harris' adoration of Baltimore are true, that'd likely point toward their defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, and Director of Player Personnel, Joe Hortiz.
The Ravens aren't the only top organization Washington could pull from. San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters could also be a candidate and may bring defensive coordinator Steve Wilks or Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who came from San Francisco, with him.
Detroit Lions' assistant general manager Ray Agnew could also be a strong candidate, and he may have an inside track to bring the crown jewel of this coaching cycle, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, with him.
There's no telling what Harris will look for, but regardless, finding two people who are familiar with each other and can work together long-term will be imperative for his first major hires in Washington.
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) talks with Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Will Josh Harris Go With A Retread Or First-Year Head Coach?
There isn't much to go off of with what Harris will look for in his next head coach.
Does he prefer an offensive or defensive-minded coach? Will he prefer an analytically based head coach? Will Harris hire a head coach before a general manager or vice versa? Or will he hire both separately? Will he swing for the fences or go with a safe hire?
There's no telling what Harris will prefer, but with the Commanders' draft ammunition and cap space, he won't be short of suitors.
If Harris wants to go with a hotshot coordinator, Macdonald and Johnson should be atop his list. Macdonald has anchored one of the best defenses in football, while Johnson led one of the best offenses in the league.
But if Harris wants to go safer and hire someone with experience, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel if he becomes available, and Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh could all pique the Commanders' owner's interest.
Belichick is reportedly not as attractive to Harris as the media seems to think, for what it's worth.
Regardless, getting the hire right at head coach could expedite Washington's rebuild. It worked for the Texans with DeMeco Ryans, who led them to an AFC South title in his first season, and Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has his team one game away from winning the division.
With Commanders' cap space and draft picks, hiring the right coach, whether it's a retread or first-year coach, they could have Washington competing for a playoff spot sooner than people think.
What Do The Commanders Do At Quarterback?
Sam Howell's collapse at the end of his first season as the Commanders' quarterback likely spells the end of his time leading the offense with the people who drafted him on their way out the door.
With the No. 2 overall pick, the Commanders are as well-positioned as any team to take a quarterback. One of USC's Caleb Williams or UNC's Drake Maye will be there. Many assume Washington will take a quarterback, though it's tough to project until Harris hires his new GM and coach.
Maybe the new GM and coach opt to sign or trade for a veteran quarterback and focus on building out the rest of the roster with their draft picks. If Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is on the trade block, that may be an option for Washington.
There's no telling what Washington will do, but the idea that it'll take a quarterback at No. 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft shouldn't be viewed as a formality until Harris decides who will make those decisions for the future.
Who Do You Build Around On Defense?
Heading into the 2023 season, Washington's defense was expected to be one of the best in football after being a top-10 unit in 2022.
The wheels didn't just fall off, every tire blew out, the engine overheated, and everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. The Commanders were dead last in points allowed per game (30.5).
With defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young long gone, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen potentially on his way out, Washington's defense needs a complete revamp. Safety Quan Martin flashed with an interception against the Cowboys, but he still has more to prove after his rookie season.
With Washington projected to have the most cap space this offseason, it can certainly attack the defense in free agency, though trying to fix a unit exclusively that way often backfires. Maybe the Commanders sign a pass rusher like New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff and then go through the draft to build a new core on defense.
While the Commanders' approach to fixing the worst defense in the NFL remains to be seen, the players they need to turn that unit around likely aren't on the roster and may not be in the NFL.
How Will Washington Approach Free Agency?
The Commanders have just over $78 million in cap space according to Over The Cap, and can make more room if they cut or trade some veterans who don't factor into the team's future.
Washington will have a choice in either choosing to spend most of that money to add talent, or it could take a more patient approach and save money for the future when its younger players develop and their contracts are up.
If young proven players like Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson or Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antonie Winfield Jr. become available, the Commanders would be wise to be aggressive in signing them to retool its defense.
If young players who can be a part of Washington's future are there to be had, it should target them to kick-start a long overdue rebuild. If not, going through the draft and not chewing up all of their cap space would be the right choice for the Commanders.
But first, of course, before those decisions are made? Josh Harris needs to hire his new decision-makers.
