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It finally happened.
Washington's $6.05 billion sale from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris and his limited partners was approved by NFL owners on Thursday.
“Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners,” Goodell said in a Thursday statement, via NFL.com. “Josh will be a great addition to the NFL. He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and in his communities.
“The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties and we welcome them to the NFL as well.”
Even before the sale, the Commanders made their fair share of moves during the NFL offseason.
They welcomed seven rookies to their roster via the 2023 NFL Draft, including Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and Illinois safety Jartavius Martin. In March, they signed offensive tackle Andrew Wylie to a three-year, $24 million contract, reuniting him with now-Commanders assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
What are some of the biggest training camp battles for the Washington Commanders to look out for?
Quarterback
Who will take the starting spot at quarterback by the end of training camp?
Taylor Heinicke, who played in nine games for Washington last season, signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a two-year contract worth up to $20 million in March. The Commanders released Carson Wentz in February after spending one year in Washington.
Quarterbacks Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett will highlight the battle under center for the Commanders next season.
Howell, a former fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, played in a Week 18 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. He ended the outing with 11 completed passes and one touchdown as Washington walked away with a 26-6 victory at FedExField. Brissett played in 16 games and started in 11 for the Cleveland Browns last season, finishing the year with 2,608 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera revealed Howell would enter training camp as QB1, according to a June article from NBC Sports.
“He's young, we know he is young,” Rivera said, via NBC Sports. “There was a lot of room for growth, and we know that, but he's got a good skillset.
“He's mobile, he's got good foot movement, he's got quick twitch to him, good decision maker. He is still learning to make those decisions, but he's also got the arm talent and that's the thing that excites us.”
Will the Commanders take a chance on Howell when Washington kicks off against the Arizona Cardinals in September? Or will they opt for a more experienced option in Brissett?
Offensive line
The offensive line will be a position of importance heading into the 2023 season.
The Commanders' offensive line allowed 48 sacks last season, putting them at 26th in the NFL behind the Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Along with Wylie, Washington added offensive tackle Trenton Scott and center Nick Gates while re-signing center Tyler Larsen in free agency. It added Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg and Utah guard Braeden Daniels through the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wylie and offensive tackle Charles Leno can take the starting spots at offensive tackle heading into training camp. Leno, a former seven-year veteran for the Chicago Bears, played and started in 17 games for Washington last season. He allowed eight sacks last season, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference.
Bieniemy had high praise for Wylie in April.
“One thing I love about Andrew, not only does he bring experience from a player's point of view, but he also brings some resilience that can help young players that are trying to develop and become the players that they want to be,” Bieniemy said, via Commanders.com. “He can help them to grow as well.”
The Commanders will have to find a way to keep consistent starters on the line to create a solid pocket around Howell or Brissett and spark a consistent running game around running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson.
