The Washington Commanders were one of the NFL’s best offensive teams in 2024, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Washington’s offense ranked in the top five of most statistical categories. However, there were areas in which they could improve.
Warren Sharp recently posted a statistic highlighting explosive play differential.
Essentially, what this stat means is that the Commanders allowed more plays of at least 15 yards than they produced themselves. Washington was at -2, which was tied at No. 15.
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This offseason, the Commanders focused on improving their offensive line, trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and using a first-round pick on offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Those moves allowed Washington to move last year’s rookie standout Brandon Coleman inside to guard.
At the skill positions, the Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel. While Samuel is not known for making explosive plays down the field, he’s good at creating them after the catch. His strength is what he does once the ball is in his hands, which should help Washington create more explosive plays. While the Commanders allowed receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown to depart, they used a fourth-round pick on speedy Jaylin Lane and expect Luke McCaffrey to take a step forward in 2025.
Running back Austin Ekeler could also help Washington improve with explosive plays. He missed some time last season due to injuries. Ekeler is arguably the NFL’s top pass-catching back.
Of course, the defense must do its part, too. The Commanders believe they’ve significantly improved their defense. While the pass defense was ranked in the top 10, the run defense was one of the league’s worst. Saquon Barkley along had several explosive runs against Washington.
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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders’ offense needs more explosive plays in 2025