“New blood everywhere!” That’s how NFL.com describes Washington’s offseason shake-up. Just when you thought the Commanders couldn’t get any fresher, having a new owner, HC, OT, and QB, they threw another play-action pass. On August 4th, right before Coach Dan Quinn’s Day 9 media blitz, defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth signed a one-year deal. Looks like Washington’s defense just got a power-up for the season. But hold on, Quinn had more good news up his sleeve for the Commanders Nation.

On the August 4th morning itself, ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter made it official. “Hardly a surprise,” Adam wrote on his X account. He added, “Commanders HC Dan Quinn said No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels will play in Washington’s first preseason game vs. the Jets.” The excitement has been building for a long time now. So, we can say that the stage is set for the youngster to walk the talk.

While Coach Quinn’s “Yes” to the question of Jayden’s availability in the preseason game was very reassuring, he did leave the fans hanging with one question. Would Daniels get the full game? Or how much time would he get? “It’s been a process all along,” Quinn said, underscoring the importance of games for getting players prepped. “The games are important, to go and play and get ready. Not just with Jayden, but with everybody.”

You cannot blame the coach for this thinking. At the end of the day, it’s a preseason game for the new HC to analyze where his team stands. But what does this mean for the 23-year-old? Daniels might be getting in a battle with veteran Marcus Mariota for the QB1 role. On the 23rd of July, Dan Quinn also hinted the same, when he said that reps will shift between Daniels and Marcus, depending on the day.

“There’ll be certain days that feature more of another,” the head coach said. Now, if you are wondering about the basis of the assessment, well, Dan’s got you covered. He said it’s all part of the journey—practices, scrimmages, and preseason games. “Not trying to hold back the info, but when we know, we’ll say it,” Quinn promised.

However, all the hype around Daniels suggests that one can expect the rookie QB, coming out of an amazing 5 years at LSU, to announce himself in his first pro season itself. In his 55 college games, the 23-year-old threw a total of 12,750 passing yards with 89 touchdowns. He lit up the college gridiron in his final season, clinching the Heisman Trophy and proving he’s a dual-threat dynamo. Daniels’ jaw-dropping stats and playmaking ability had Washington scrambling to draft him at No. 2 overall.

Let’s see what becomes of the QB1 situation in Washington. But for now, it seems the new HC, former defensive coordinator, would be analyzing another new addition to the Commanders’ 90-man roster.

Dan Quinn’s Washington has yet another addition

On the 4th of August, Agent Brett Tessler broke the news first on X: “The Washington Commanders just signed my client Taylor Stallworth to a 1-yr deal. 7th year DT worked out with them last week and has plenty of experience playing multiple positions in their scheme.” The franchise officially announced it half an hour later. Meanwhile, they revealed that CB Christian Holmes was released in a corresponding move.

But what about Stallworth? Firstly, you must know that he is not your tall, hefty tackle. A red flag? Not necessarily. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote on NLF.com, as a draft-related analysis, that, “NFL teams may very well take a look at Stallworth’s relative lack of length and mass and immediately push him down the draft pile. That could be a mistake. Stallworth may not be a factor on rush downs, but he carries a compact, powerful frame and outstanding body control to fight through contact and come out on the right side.” 

Stallworth has made his rounds in the NFL, suiting up for the Titans, Texans, Chiefs, Colts, and Saints. More like, he has bounced his way with 58 games under his belt and has racked up 52 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Now, he’s stepping into a heated competition on Washington’s D-line. Joining forces with Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Johnny Newton, John Ridgeway, and Phidarian Mathis, this defensive front is shaping up to be a powerhouse. It’s not a blockbuster free-agency signing, but Dan Quinn and crew can feel good about adding Taylor Stallworth to the roster.

Now, as the regular season draws near, there’s a lot on the line for the new HC to deal with. From monitoring the game time of Jayden Daniels to adding chemistry to the Commanders’ new brew. How far do you see Washington go under Quinn’s lead?