Commanders choose Dan Quinn

The Commanders are hiring Dan Quinn to be the new HC. Quinn spent the past three years as Cowboys DC. Those teams finished seventh, fifth, and fifth in points allowed after checking in 28th and 11th the two years before he arrived. Quinn spent 2015-19 as HC of the Falcons, going 43-37 over that span with two winning seasons. Atlanta fired him five games into 2020 (with an 0-5 record). As a career-long defensive coach, Quinn shouldn't affect offensive outlooks in Washington with his arrival. We'll see who he brings in to assist on that side of the ball and what the Commanders decide to do at QB. We'd bet they'll select one with the second overall pick in the draft. The Washington defense can only improve after ranking last in both yards and points allowed in 2023.

The Commanders fired HC Ron Rivera on Monday. The writing was on the wall after Washington went 4-13 and ended the season with eight straight losses. Rivera lasted four seasons on the job but never posted a winning record. Per league insider Jordan Schultz, Washington has contacted the agent for Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. We’ll see if there’s mutual interest. But there’s little doubt that Washington will usher in a new starting QB after Sam Howell’s second-season slump. The Commanders sit atop the league in projected cap space -- $85 million, according to Spotrac -- while they also hold the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.