The Biggest Lessons From Every NFL Team’s Final 2024 Roster Cuts | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

The Washington Commanders believe rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels can improve their supporting cast, not the other way around. This is what “franchise” quarterbacks are supposed to do, of course, but they don’t do it early in their careers.

A number of decisions Washington made prior to the final cuts suggest the LSU product is already ready for the challenge.

First, the Commanders named Daniels the starter for Week 1 before the preseason had even ended. Second, they traded 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Eagles the week before the cut deadline.

The Dotson trade tells us two things. First, it says the Commanders are relying on Daniels to get the most out of receivers like Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey—Terry McLaurin is a proven star.

If Washington wanted to keep the rookie, Dotson probably would have stayed. He’s been inconsistent, but he’s shown his talent with 11 touchdowns and an average of 12.4 yards per catch in two seasons.

Second, it says the Commanders are confident in their receiver depth and/or that they can find a suitable replacement for Dotson via a trade or in the free-agent pool after the cuts.

Washington didn’t get much in return for Dotson (a 2025 third-round pick and two seventh-round picks) to send him to a division rival. So while the compensation is something, the deal seems more about the current team, specifically that Daniels is ready to help the Commanders turn the corner immediately.