2022 was certainly a mixed bag as far as the Commanders were concerned. After a rough start that saw them lose four of their first five outings, the team rallied to finish 8-8-1. This marked the Commanders’ first non-losing season since 2016. They still finished fourth in the NFC East though and they were once again plagued by instability and inconsistency at the quarterback position.
Roster changes
With long-awaited change in ownership headlining the Commanders’ offseason, it isn’t surprising that they weren’t exactly making waves in free agency. They did acquire a few players who are likely to play a role in 2023, including right tackle Andrew Wylie, center Nick Gates, and linebacker Cody Barton. They also picked up former Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a one-year $8.5 million deal.
Departures were fairly minimal too. The team cut Carson Wentz after a dire 2022 season that saw him benched for Taylor Heinecke. Heinecke also moved on from Washington, joining the Falcons in free agency. They also lost two starters on defensive in safety Bobby McCain and linebacker Cole Holcomb, who combined for over 1,400 snaps in 2022.
Coaching situation
Ron Rivera will be returning for his fourth season as Washington’s head coach and 2023 is going to be a crucial year. He is yet to post a winning record with the team and were it not for the change in ownership he may well have been out of the door already. Rivera, who has spent the offseason undertaking major changes to the coaching staff, clearly understands the urgency to turn things around.
Eric Bieniemy has joined from the Chiefs to be the new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Bieniemy has also been given total autonomy over the offense in the hopes of turning things around. In total just three coaches have returned on offense for the 2023 season. Rivera has however stayed loyal to his defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio after the defense showed some improvements down the stretch last season.
2023 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 1.16 | Emmanuel Forbes – CB, Mississippi State |
| 2.47 | Jartavius Martin – S, Illinois |
| 3.97 | Ricky Stromberg – IOL, Arkansas |
| 4.118 | Braeden Daniels – OT, Utah |
| 5.137 | KJ Henry – EDGE, Clemson |
| 6.193 | Chris Rodriguez – RB, Kentucky |
| 7.233 | Andre Jones – LB, Louisiana |
Washington certainly turned a few heads with their first pick, taking Emmanuel Forbes over the likes of Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter, two players who were ranked in the top ten of the Consensus Board. The rest was a little less surprising, but they ended up landing a handful of players who could contribute as rookies, including center Ricky Stromberg, safety Jartavius Martin, and running back Chris Rodriguez.
Offense
It doesn’t get talked about much, but Washington have quietly assembled one of the better groups of offensive skill position players in the NFC. Terry McLaurin is an exceptional talent who would receive far more attention if he benefited from good quarterback play. Jahan Dotson also showed he is capable of being a legitimate force at the NFL level as a rookie. These two are accompanied by a good pair of running backs in Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson and some nice tertiary options in Curtis Samuel and Logan Thomas.
There are worries elsewhere though. The offensive line struggled in 2022 and has now been subject to some major turnover. Charles Leno is the only returning starter set to play in the same spot. Sam Cosmi will be moving over to guard, a position where he has played just 65 snaps in college and the NFL combined. They have a new starter at left guard, whilst center and right tackle are both occupied by new additions. Don’t be surprised if it takes this new unit a while to gel.
There is also a big unknown as far as the Commanders’ quarterback situation is concerned. They were let down by some terrible quarterback play in 2022 and even if Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett represent an upgrade on Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinecke, the position remains a question mark ahead of 2023. Howell showed flashes in 2022, but he still has just one game of NFL experience. How their quarterback situation shapes out will massively impact their outlook for 2023.
Defense
Whilst the Commanders offense was hugely disappointing in 2022, their defense was excellent. They ranked fifth in EPA per play and led the NFL in success rate allowed, whilst also giving up the fewest yards per drive. This came despite just 18 turnovers, which ranked 26th. If they can see some sort of positive regression on that front they could be even better in 2023.
This is also a unit that still boasts perhaps the best front four in football, when healthy. They were one of just two teams to rank inside the top 10 in adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, which speaks to their ability to shut down both the run and the pass. Montez Sweat’s 62 pressures ranked 12th amongst edge rushers, whilst Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen were both in the top 10 amongst interior lineman. They could be even better if Chase Young can get back to full fitness.
They have a great safety duo too in Darrick Forrest and Kamren Curl. If there is a worry it will be this cornerback room. Kendall Fuller is a solid starter, but Benjamin St-Juste has been up and down since arriving in 2021. They also have a rookie starting on the boundary in Emmanuel Forbes. How quickly these two find their feet could help to determine the ceiling of this defense.
Prediction
Washington’s defense looks like it will once again be amongst the league’s best, but the offense feels like it is still some way off competing with the top dogs in the NFC. An overhauled offensive line and brand new starter at quarterback is rarely a recipe for success. This feels like a team who would do very well to end the season with a winning record.
