Barring a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, which isn’t likely, don’t expect the Washington Commanders to aggressively add to their roster over the next two months. That’s according to Sports Illustrated writer Albert Breer, who believes the new Commanders regime will follow Seattle’s roster-building model.
“Dan Quinn’s a Pete Carroll guy,” Breer said in his NFL mailbag Wednesday, responding to a Washington fan’s question, “and so he saw how the early-era Seattle Seahawks benefitted from relentlessly working waivers to churn their roster and try to find the best 53.”
Quinn, named Washington head coach Feb. 1, served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2013-14, helping the team to consecutive Super Bowl berths. In Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seahawks held Peyton Manning and one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history to just eight points. Most of Seattle’s stalwarts were not high draft choices, including Super Bowl MVP Malcom Smith (seventh round), interceptions leader Richard Sherman (fifth round), safety Kam Chancellor (fifth round) and sacks leader Michael Bennett, an undrafted free agent.
Following final cuts Tuesday, Quinn and new general manager Adam Peters already have their fingerprints on the Commanders roster. Washington entered Wednesday with only 16 of the 78 players the franchise drafted from 2015-23, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.
Breer doesn’t expect Peters and Quinn to trade veterans for draft choices, as the Commanders did last season for Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Calls for Jonathan Allen, Dante Fowler or Michael Davis are always possible, but…
“I wouldn’t expect fireworks, if that’s what you’re looking for,” Breer said.
There were fireworks last week, when Washington dealt wide receiver Jahan Dotson within the NFC East to the Philadelphia Eagles for three selections in the 2025 draft. Incidentally, with Quinn as their defensive line coach, the Seahawks acquired defensive end Kentwan Balmer from division-rival San Francisco prior to the 2010 season.
The Commanders did make one headline Tuesday, announcing a naming-rights agreement with Northwest Federal Credit Union to rename their home Northwest Stadium. The 27-year-old facility in Landover, Md., is the NFL’s ninth-oldest stadium.