The Washington Commanders wrapped up the offseason on Thursday, completing their mandatory three-day minicamp in Ashburn. It was a good week of practice for Washington, as the players will now have around six weeks off before the grind begins.
Head coach Dan Quinn spoke to the media on Thursday, expressing his happiness over the offseason. Quinn wasn’t yet ready to name a starting quarterback. That’s not because of anything Jayden Daniels has or hasn’t done, but more of the mindset of keeping everything competitive. That’s perfectly fine with Daniels, who doesn’t want anything given to him. Earlier this week, Daniels was asked about being a star quarterback, and he said he’s not a star quarterback: He’s a rookie.
You couldn’t script a better answer.
What else happened at this week’s minicamp? Here are five takeaways from Washington’s three-day minicamp.
Jamin Davis: Defensive end
Oct 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis (52) reacts after an interception against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jamin Davis is entering a make-or-break season. The Commanders declined his fifth-year option for 2025, which was expected. For Davis to earn a new deal from Washington or a long-term deal from another team, he needs to make progress in 2024.
Throughout this offseason, Davis has spent time with the defensive line, specifically at edge rusher. Davis is excited about the change, but remains a work in progress. Washington improved the linebacker position by adding Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, giving them options with Davis. Davis isn’t a natural pass rusher, so he is putting in the work to make himself much more valuable in 2024. If Davis can show promise as a pass rusher, that would create a path to more playing time. The Commanders don’t have a top-flight edge rusher on the roster. Davis doesn’t need to be a top-flight pass rusher to make an impact, but there is an opportunity for him.
