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NFC Front Office Updates: White, 49ers, Seahawks

June 30th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders recently announced all the updates to their personnel and football support staff that the team has made this offseason. We’ve already covered nearly all of the updates as they occurred throughout the past few months, but we finally got confirmation of a rumor we’d seen back in May. We saw the writing on the wall before, but Chris White has officially been announced as a member of the Commanders scouting staff, according to the team announcement.

White comes from Chicago, where he recently served as assistant director of pro scouting before being removed from the team’s website a month ago. He had served in the role for two years, getting promoted after five seasons as a pro scout for the Bears.

As predicted, White will be serving in Washington as director of pro scouting. He’s essentially filling the role left vacant by former director of pro personnel Chris Polian, who made his way to Cleveland to work as an advisor under Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

Here are a couple other updates from around the NFC:

  • The 49ers are bringing on Jordan Fox to work as a player personnel analyst in 2024, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Fox debuted in the NFL as a seasonal personnel operations intern for the Jets in 2022. After two years with New York, Fox earns his first full-time NFL position in San Francisco.
  • Up the coast, the division-rival Seahawks are granting a first full-time NFL position, as well. Per Stratton, the team’s player personnel intern, Azzaam Kapadia, has officially been promoted to the full-time player personnel assistant role. Kapadia interned with the Colts at one point in time and worked part-time as a film analyst for the Browns during the 2022 season.

Commanders, Steelers Were Contenders For WR Brandon Aiyuk

June 29th, 2024 at 10:35pm CST by Ely Allen

The month of June has been full of news pertaining to the strained contract negotiations between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers. As things currently stand, it appears that a trade is no longer expected separate the two parties, but negotiations seem to be at a standstill as both sides refuse to cede ground on price. While most all signs are still pointing to Aiyuk playing for San Francisco in 2024, he did mention two other teams whose uniforms he could see himself in should negotiations fall through over the summer.

In his appearance on The Pivot Podcast (video link), Aiyuk was asked what uniform he sees himself playing in next season. “If I were to take a guess, probably a Niner uniform,” he answered. “Probably a Niner uniform. If not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably a Steelers uniform.”

Aiyuk would be a phenomenal addition to either squad. In D.C., the second-team All-Pro wideout would join Terry McLaurin atop the depth chart as Jahan Dotson would return to a WR3 role. Aiyuk would be a massive upgrade over last year’s WR2, Curtis Samuel. Currently, without Aiyuk, Washington has Dotson bumping up to WR2 in his third season as Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheus, and Jamison Crowder attempt to hold off third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey for the WR3 job.

Aiyuk would also be an interesting addition to the Commanders due to his history with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. The rookie out of LSU transferred to Baton Rouge after three years at Arizona State. Daniels’ freshman season in Tempe aligned with Aiyuk’s senior year with the Sun Devils. Working together on offense, Aiyuk led the team with 65 catches for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. Reuniting the two could be a huge safety blanket for Daniels as he makes the jump to professional play.

It’s been no secret that the Steelers are looking for veteran wide receiver help after sending Diontae Johnson to Carolina. The team currently rosters budding star George Pickens and Van Jefferson, who impressed in 2021 with an 800-yard, six-touchdown season but has faltered in the two seasons since. Pittsburgh also selected Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson in the third round of this year’s draft and are holding out hope that third-year wideout Calvin Austin will blossom soon.

Still adding Aiyuk to the roster in Pittsburgh would be huge for new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers showed early interest in acquiring Aiyuk’s teammate, Deebo Samuel, back around the time of the draft, but should Aiyuk come up in an offer, it’s hard to imagine they would turn him away.

When all is said and done, it’s still widely expected that Aiyuk will remain in the Bay Area for at least next season. The two sides continue to work towards a common goal, but the 49ers seem to be employing similar tactics as they did when extending Samuel two years ago. If that road continues, a new Aiyuk deal could be coming around the end of July, like Samuel’s did. Should things fall through, though, it sounds like Aiyuk is open to a change of scenery.

Latest On Commanders’ CB Situation

June 29th, 2024 at 9:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders invested a first-round pick at the cornerback position last year, and the team followed that up with a second-round selection this spring. Both Emmanuel Forbes and Mike Sainristil could see notable roles in 2024.

Forbes had a record-breaking college career in terms of pick-sixes, but his ball skills were balanced against concerns related to his frame. The Mississippi State product was listed at 173 pounds during his rookie year, although to little surprise ESPN’s John Keim notes he has added weight this offseason. After finding himself a healthy scratch at times in 2023, Forbes could be in line for increased usage in Year 2.

The 23-year-old took first-team reps during spring practices, Keim notes. He rotated in a starting perimeter role with free agent addition Michael Davis, a veteran of 107 games and 74 starts with the Chargers. Forbes, by contrast, was limited to six starts and a 50% defensive snap share last season. He totaled one interception and 11 pass deflections, but coverage was an issue with three touchdowns and a 103 passer rating allowed as the nearest defender.

The Commanders overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, and the arrival of Dan Quinn has provided Forbes with a clean slate ahead of an important second season in the nation’s capital. Carrying over his spring performances into training camp – when padded practices take place – will of course be important for Forbes as he looks to earn a starting role opposite Benjamin St-Juste on the perimeter. Keim adds that Sainristil, meanwhile, will be used in the slot as he transitions to the pro game.

A converted receiver, the Michigan alum proved to be an effective cover man on the inside during his college career. Sainristil developed into a key member of the Wolverines’ defense, and translating that success in Washington would be crucial for a team which ranked last in points and yards allowed in 2023. Deploying a starting CB trio of Forbes, Sainristil and St-Juste would certainly mark a departure from Washington’s previous secondary and leave the team with a young set of cover men.

The latter is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but Forbes and Sainristil could both be under team control though 2028 if Forbes’ fifth-year option were to be picked up. A decision on that front will not need to be made until after the 2025 campaign, but it will be informed in large part by his play under Quinn and Co. this year.

Jeff Bezos Not Barred From Commanders Bid

June 26th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Ely Allen

Before Dan Snyder sold the Commanders to a group of investors led by Josh Harris last year, there was wide speculation about who all would be taking place in the bidding process for the franchise. An obvious name came up in Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, due to his ownership in local news outlet, The Washington Post, but word came out that Bezos’s ability to bid was not a reality. Conflicting reports have surfaced of late claiming that Bezos was not blocked from the vote but was simply outbid, per Mike Florio of NBC Sports.

This insight comes from a recent article from the Financial Times which suggests that Snyder did not, in fact, block Bezos from submitting a bid. It claims that Bezos simply did not put forth a bid worth more than the $6.05BB-offer put forth by Harris and company.

Snyder certainly has had issues with the Post and its views, also voicing displeasure for Bezos himself. That being said, Snyder is reportedly not so petty that he would turn down an offer for more money if it came from Bezos. An unnamed source for the Financial Times claimed, “I don’t think Snyder would have not sold to them if Jeff came in with a bid of $7(BB).”

Business reporter Daniel Kaplan, formerly of The Athletic, dissents that perhaps Snyder was, in fact, that petty, but once the funding difficulties of the Harris group became known, Snyder became more open to the idea. Kaplan particularly notes that the potential for more money could have softened Snyder’s resolve, as well.

Florio suggests the stance that perhaps the lack of a late bid from Bezos to outdo the $6.05BB-figure was not due to an inability to match the desired amount but was more a valuation determination. He puts forth that, should Bezos shell out the money it takes to buy an NFL franchise, the Commanders would not be worth the trouble. A damaged brand, an outdated stadium, and a slew of other messy situations left by the preceding staff make Washington a tough sell.

Instead, Florio claims that the smarter move would be to wait for the next franchise, perhaps the Seahawks, to hit the market. The NFL has made it known that they certainly have interest in having Bezos as a part of their ownership group. If interest is ever to turn into reality, a franchise with far less baggage may make the most sense for the billionaire.

Commanders Move Doug Williams Back To Personnel Role, Part Ways With Eugene Shen

June 25th, 2024 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Best known for his late-1980s run as Washington’s starting quarterback, Doug Williams remains with the organization. Though, the former Super Bowl XXII MVP’s role has changed a few times in recent years. Another adjustment will take place moving forward.

Moved out of the personnel picture early in Ron Rivera‘s tenure with the franchise, Williams is now back in the front office mix. The Commanders announced Tuesday the veteran exec will work as a senior advisor to GM Adam Peters. This will not be a foreign role for Williams, who was receiving Fritz Pollard Alliance recommendations for GM gigs in the late 2010s.

The first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl — a Washington romp over Denver that ended with the QB throwing four touchdown passes — Williams previously worked as Washington’s senior VP of player personnel during a three-year stretch from 2017-19. Days into his tenure atop the club’s personnel hierarchy, Rivera shifted Williams to the title of senior VP of player development. The Bruce Allen-era staple, despite multiple GM changes since the team president’s exit, remains and will join Rivera-era hires Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney as Peters lieutenants moving forward.

The Commanders also hired Texans director of player development Dylan Thompson, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Thompson, a former Lions character coach who spent three-plus years with Nick Caserio in Houston, to work as their senior director of team support and advancement. A former 49ers UDFA quarterback, Thompson did not overlap with Peters in San Francisco. But he will be part of the new Washington GM’s staff.

Washington is also moving on from senior VP of football strategy Eugene Shen, ESPN.com’s Seth Walder and John Keim report. Shen’s tenure lasted less than eight months, with Josh Harris having hired him in November. Coming to Washington after stints in Jacksonville, Baltimore and Miami, Shen was in place to provide more of an assessment rather than serve in a long-term capacity, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s JP Finlay.

Hurney remains in place after following Rivera to Washington, and fellow Rivera hire Rob Rogers will as well. Reported to be staying on at least through the draft, the ex-Panthers exec — hired in 2020 — is still with the club as VP of football administration. Carrying extensive negotiating experience, Rogers held this title for 11 years with the Panthers as well.

Additionally, the Commanders hired Doug Drewry as their manager of football research and development. Connor Nickel and Travis Ho are coming aboard as coaching analysts, while Matt Peterson is on the staff roster as the team’s football operations coordinator. Cyrus Daniels is in place as a football ops assistant. Dustin Regan is also now with the team as a college scout, being among the new scouting hires the now-Peters-led team has made this offseason. Charles Brensinger, Alberto de la Guardia, Mitch Sterner and Miles Turner are now scouting assistants with the NFC East team.

Commanders LB Jamin Davis To Get Edge Reps

June 22nd, 2024 at 9:11am CST by Ben Levine

Jamin Davis hasn’t necessarily lived up to his first-round billing in Washington, putting his future with the organization in doubt. Just this offseason, the Commanders declined the linebacker’s fifth-year option while also bringing in veterans Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu to start on Dan Quinn‘s new defense.

Without a clear path to playing time, the impending free agent may get a look at a different position. Quinn told reporters this week that the Commanders would give Davis a chance on the edge in 2024.

“[Y]ou’ll see him working some with the defensive line, you’ll see him working with [coach] Ryan Kerrigan on the side, and we’re adding parts to his game that maybe we didn’t use and we’re certainly trying to explore that,” Quinn told reporters (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “And so, if that’s something that he can add value for himself and for the team, then we’ll dig in, and that’ll take a while as well. That’s not something that’s in one practice or in one week to say, ‘Okay, it’s there.’ Let’s take the time and work through it. I’ve been very impressed by his work ethic.”

Davis struggled with an inconsistent role as a rookie in 2021. While the Kentucky product managed to top 100 tackles during his sophomore campaign, Pro Football Focus still only graded him as a below-average linebacker. The 25-year-old was having his strongest NFL season in 2023 before he missed the final four games with a shoulder injury. In 13 appearances, Davis collected 89 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles while grading as the 37th-best LB.

That performance still wasn’t enough for Washington’s new regime to commit to the player beyond the 2024 campaign. Now, Davis will be entering a crucial season, but fortunately for the player, it sounds like the organization is still committed to squeezing the most out of the former first rounder.

While Davis would be limited to a backup role at linebacker, he could see some opportunities on the edge in 2024. The team moved on from Chase Young and Montez Sweat last year before adding the likes of Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Clelin Ferrell. Among that grouping, only Ferrell has seen a starting role over the past few years, so there could be a path to Davis carving out a role on the edge.

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Likely To Open Season As Starting QB?

June 16th, 2024 at 10:43pm CST by Rory Parks

The Commanders naturally expected QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, to become their starting signal-caller sooner rather than later. While Washington acquired veteran Marcus Mariota in free agency as a potential bridge option, Daniels seemingly has a firm grasp on the top spot on the depth chart.

As Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano writes, Daniels appears “entrenched” as the Commanders’ starting quaterback. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner took most of the first-team reps during last week’s mandatory minicamp, and Vacchiano says there has been no indication that will change when training camp opens next month.

New GM Adam Peters zeroed in on Daniels as soon as he began to watch the rookie’s college game tape, and Daniels has lived up to the hype during the Commanders’ offseason work. Per Vacchiano, Daniels had an “outstanding spring,” and both his passing ability and running ability were on full display.

Daniels’ work ethic was one of the attributes that sold Peters on the former LSU passer, and head coach Dan Quinn and Pro Bowl wideout Terry McLaurin both cited that work ethic when discussing Daniels with the media.

“Not only does the physical traits show up, its the work ethic,” Quinn said. “I think that through the years and through the season, you guys will feel that and see that.”

“He’s going to be a really good player because of the time and the work that he puts in,” McLaurin added. “I don’t think I’ve had a young quarterback that really has come in and, within the first week, he’s like, ‘Hey, can we (work on) this route?’ or, ‘Let me get this rep after practice?’ It’s exciting for me.”

To be clear, Quinn said no decisions have been made about who the starting quarterback will be (via ESPN’s John Keim). Vacchiano, though, believes that regardless of what Quinn says publicly, the job is Daniels’ to lose, and the team does not expect him to lose it. Indeed, as Quinn himself said (via Keim), “he’s further along than you probably should be. … He really has a very firm handle on the things that we’re doing, but he also has the humility of a young player … knowing he has a lot to prove.”

Daniels, who recently put pen to paper on his four-year, $37.75MM rookie contract, said, “I ain’t a star quarterback yet. … I still got a long way to go to be where I want to be. (I) try to perfect it, try to be a perfectionist as much as possible.”

Apparently, he will get plenty of opportunity to perfect his craft with the first-team offense when training camp rolls around, and at this point, it would be a surprise if he is not under center on Week 1.

NFL Contract Details: Rookies, Andrews, Shepard

June 15th, 2024 at 5:57pm CST by Ely Allen

Normally, the details of rookie contract signings don’t draw much note from the media. Most facets of the rookie contract are not up for negotiation, so by the book numbers don’t tend to interest the NFL world. Lately, though, NFL teams have gotten creative with how they deal with rookie deals, usually rewarding first- and second-round picks with guaranteed money.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 noted three second-round picks whose deals were reported recently. New Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil out of Michigan’s rookie deal will see the base salaries of his 2024 and 2025 seasons fully guaranteed and $897K of $1.5MM guaranteed from his 2026 salary. Dolphins rookie offensive tackle Patrick Paul from Houston will see similar guarantees. All of his base salary for 2024 and 2025 will be guaranteed along with $413K of his 2026 salary worth $1.42MM. Lastly, Cowboys rookie pass rusher out of Western Michigan, Marshawn Kneeland, will see his first two years fully guaranteed, as well. Kneeland will also see $322K of his 2026 base salary (worth a total of $1.42MM) guaranteed.

Here are some other details from recent contracts around the NFL:

  • We recently saw the Patriots grant center David Andrews a raise in a new extension. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe gives us further details on the new contract. He notes that Andrews was guaranteed $1.75MM of his $5MM for 2024. He also reports that the deal will reduce Andrews’ cap impact next year from $8.43MM to $6.68MM.
  • The Buccaneers recently signed former Giants receiver Sterling Shepard to a one-year, $1.38MM deal. Wilson of KPRC2 tells us that Shepard will be able to earn a $50K roster bonus if he’s on the active roster by Week 1 of the season. He’ll also have the opportunity to earn an additional $6,911 per game in active roster bonuses for a potential season total of $117,500.

Commanders Wrap Up Draft Class Signings

June 14th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Shortly after signing the quarterback they drafted No. 2 overall, the Commanders wrapped up the contract work for the rest of their rookie draft class today, as well. Per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washinton Post, Washington signed second-round tight end Ben Sinnott and third-round offensive tackle Brandon Coleman to their rookie contracts today, completing their rookie signings for this year.

Despite being projected for the fourth-round (Dane Brugler of The Athletic had him ranked as the sixth-best tight end prospect in 2024), Sinnott was the second tight end taken off the board as a second-round pick. This was just the latest example of Sinnott outperforming expectations. Coming out of high school, Sinnott had only one FCS offer but opted to walk on at Kansas State.

Sinnott’s value comes in his versatility. Made in the mold of the sparingly used H-back role, Sinnott played all over the field for the Wildcats, winning the NCAA’s Lowman Trophy (awarded to the top fullback in the nation) while leading his team in receiving yards. With veteran Zach Ertz reuniting with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury after both spent time in Arizona, Sinnott has a chance to learn from one of the better tight ends of the previous generation and provide a separate look as TE2 on the roster.

Coleman was a three-year starter at TCU splitting time between the guard and tackle spots on the left side of the line. His first year as a starter saw him start eight games at guard, he started all 15 games of the 2022 season at left tackle, and he played four games at guard and seven games at tackle in his final collegiate season. His efforts last year earned him second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Coleman may have a lot asked of him in his rookie year. The Commanders allowed Sam Howell to be the most-sacked quarterback in the league last year, yet they only used one draft pick on the offensive line and waited until the third round to do it. They did bring in two free agents to likely start at center and right guard, but the left tackle starting job remains open for competition after the team released Charles Leno. The new coaching staff has refused to place that pressure directly on Coleman’s shoulders this early, but the former Horned Frog will certainly be in the competition for the job with Cornelius Lucas and Trent Scott.

Here’s a breakdown of Commanders 2024 rookie draft class, now including their latest signees:

Commanders Sign First-Round QB Jayden Daniels

June 14th, 2024 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders and their top draft choice have crossed off the rookie-deal step in this partnership. No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels agreed to terms on his four-year intro NFL pact, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Daniels will be tied to a fully guaranteed $37.75MM deal, one that will come with a fifth-year option for the 2028 season. This marks the third first-round slot deal for a QB for Washington, which drafted Robert Griffin III second overall in 2012 and Dwayne Haskins 15th overall in 2019.

Although some Drake Maye rumors emerged with this draft slot during the run-up to this year’s selection event, Daniels became the widely expected choice. The Commanders rebuffed Raiders interest in the pick. Only one offer is believed to have come in for the selection. Given Antonio Pierce‘s interest in reuniting with the former Arizona State recruit, it was viewed as likely Las Vegas submitted that proposal for No. 2 overall. The Commanders put that issue to rest by drafting the LSU-developed Heisman winner, and the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime will build around the dual-threat quarterback.

Washington did not need to give up any assets for Daniels, separating this selection from the 2012 RG3 process, as last year’s eight-game losing streak to close the season secured the No. 2 draft slot behind Chicago. Not many rumors about the Bears’ preference emerged during the pre-draft period, as Caleb Williams was the runaway favorite to begin this draft. As weeks passed, Commanders rumors slowed. Despite Maye being viewed for months as the 1-B in this class, Daniels’ dominant 2023 season allowed him to leapfrog the two-year North Carolina starter.

Transferring from Arizona State in 2022, Daniels — like multiple other QBs in this year’s first round — shined after relocating. While Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix became first-round picks after moving to the Pac-12, Daniels trekked east to raise his stock. Daniels posted an eye-popping stat line in his final season with the Tigers, throwing 40 touchdown passes (compared to four interceptions) and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 more TDs. Altogether, Daniels accounted for 4,946 yards in 12 games.

After entering his final college season far from a lock to go in the first round, the slender QB will attempt to give Washington its first dependable QB answer since Kirk Cousins. The team traded Sam Howell to the Seahawks and added former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota in free agency. While Mariota showed in Atlanta he remains capable as a starter, it would surprise if Daniels was not on the field in Week 1.

Daniels’ frame has generated some concerns, with various sources noting the QB weighed in the 180s and 190s during his college seasons. He checked in at 210 pounds this offseason. Bryce Young‘s rookie-year struggles, after ballooning to 204 pounds for his Combine weigh-in, showed the risks an undersized QB can bring. The Panthers, of course, are not giving up on the 2023 top pick just yet; Daniels also offers a much higher upside as a runner by comparison. The five-year college QB’s ability to protect himself this season will be paramount, however.

Griffin’s inability to stay healthy preceded a quick decline after a dazzling rookie season, and Washington could not re-sign Cousins after a lengthy franchise tag saga. Alex Smith did come back from his gruesome leg injury, but he retired soon after that surprising re-emergence. The team’s Carson Wentz effort failed, and it passed on a big-ticket pursuit — centering its offseason around Howell — last year. Following years of half-measure efforts to staff this job, Washington hired a new regime that will bet on Daniels.

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