Josh Harris has urged patience and cautioned that it will need time to restore the Washington Commanders.
However, Harris may find his patience put to the test as he must make some franchise-altering decisions to expedite the process just five months into his ownership. As its sixth straight losing season draws to a close, Washington may benefit from a new head coach and a thorough front office makeover.
The Commanders have gone 26-36-1 (a.421 winning %) with Ron Rivera as head coach and head of football operations, adding to the franchise’s passable (if not worse) past. In the last eight years, Washington has just once advanced past the first round of the playoffs. The Commanders’ defence, which is ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL in most key statistical categories, has led to the team’s 4-9 season.
However, this might be the first time in decades when executives and head coaches truly want to work with the club.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a representative representing many NFL coaches stated, “From an outside perspective, Washington is the best job now that Dan Snyder doesn’t own it.” This agency was discussing possible hiring decisions.
The fact that Harris is not Snyder in and of itself has drawn many to the Commanders. However, Washington is expected to have a sizable amount of salary cap room in addition to being stacked with draft picks—five of them in the first three rounds in 2024 alone. Moreover, it may have a quarterback.
Harris declared last month that “we want to have elite teams that consistently compete for championships.” “To often win championships, you need a little bit of luck. But you need the greatest individuals to get there. I believe such kind of strategy enables us to hire the top candidates.
The change of ownership for the Commanders had an instant effect. Fans had shown up in small numbers for training camp a year before, but thousands rushed there six days after Harris closed on his acquisition of the team. After finishing bottom in terms of average home attendance the previous season, Washington has sold out all six of its home games this season. The team has also negotiated 13 new sponsorship agreements, one of which is with Anheuser-Busch, the beer giant that broke its relationship with the team in 2022.
Given Harris’s history of rebuilding teams—including the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers—it is conceivable that the Commanders will look to appoint a new general manager to supervise their football operations and a new head coach before turning their attention to business operations.
The general manager should ideally be hired first, and the new executive should be in sync with the team’s philosophy and be able to influence the selection of a coach. However, Harris has also made hiring decisions in the other order. For example, in 2020, he hired Coach Doc Rivers for the 76ers almost one month ahead of team president Daryl Morey.
Harris has already searched for methods to enhance Washington’s outlook and competitive advantage. In the offseason, he invested close to $40 million in upgrades for FedEx Field, and while Harris searches for a new stadium, more may be added the following season. In order to handle all analytics and software development for football operations, he appointed Eugene Shen as the Commanders’ senior vice president of football strategy. As he did with his previous teams, he is likely to increase his investment in sports science.
Harris asserted, “You can’t outspend people [in the NFL].” “.. You’re up against some really intelligent folks. Everyone else also wants to win. Thus, you need to sharpen each of these edges. Sports science and analytics, coaching staff, front office, player attraction, location, and a new stadium are all important factors. Furthermore, in my opinion, all of it develops into a successful franchise and winning culture.
A team’s culture is frequently determined by its on-field performance, and in the NFL, quarterback play is frequently the deciding factor. In the last 20 years, Washington has gone through 21 starting quarterbacks. However, there is still optimism that Sam Howell, a fifth-round selection in 2022, may become the long-term starter the Commanders have been searching for.
Howell’s rookie year has demonstrated both his youth and his promise. He possesses the arm, agility, and stature that most desire at the position, but he also has a propensity for costly errors and bad choices. Howell’s potential will need to be separated from the players and situation surrounding him by Washington’s next decision-maker. If that person isn’t Howell, the team will have plenty opportunity to get assistance in the draft.
The Commanders have nine selections in the April draft after trading for pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young. The second-round pick they acquired from the Chicago Bears may wind up being a premium pick. Currently ranked No. 4, Washington has its own first-round selection.
The Commanders’ effective cap space, which takes into consideration the team’s draft class and top 51 contracts, will be around $64 million, according to Over the Cap’s projected salary cap of $242 million for 2024. It is anticipated that only the Tennessee Titans will have more.
Even though it might seem like enough right now, Washington still needs a lot of players on the roster, including a backup quarterback, assistance at linebacker and in the secondary, a rearranged offensive line, maybe one or more tight ends, and additional running backs and wide receivers.
The Commanders have a lot of work ahead of them, but if they decide to fire Rivera and revamp the front office, the next coach will have the means and the ownership to turn the club around.
“Our goal is to establish a culture in Washington where NFL players declare, ‘This is our preferred location for play,'” stated Harris. “.. The finest and smartest executives in Washington, including those in business, coaching, front office, and marketing, should be inspired to declare, “We want to be at this place.”
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