Daily Slop – 10 May 2024 : Rookie minicamp starts today

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general

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Articles

Washington Post (paywall)

Jayden Daniels will learn about NFL policies after $10,000 bet with Malik Nabers

Washington Commanders first-round draft pick Jayden Daniels will be educated on the NFL’s sports gambling policy this week at the team’s rookie minicamp, a person with knowledge of the matter said, probably nixing the quarterback’s wager with New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Nabers, who was teammates with Daniels at LSU, said on “The Pivot” podcast the night of the draft that he and Daniels bet $10,000 on who would win rookie of the year honors.

“Whoever lose got to pay I think it’s $10,000 cash,” Nabers said.

Daniels was asked about the bet when the rookie appeared on Keyshawn Johnson’s “All Facts No Brakes” podcast in an episode released this week.

“Man, he wasn’t supposed to tell nobody,” Daniels said. “It’s supposed to be — we got a little something going on.”

Daniels confirmed that the two players have a $10,000 bet on who will win the rookie of the year.

The NFL revised its policy in 2023 to include more stringent penalties for some violations and reduce the penalties for others. The latest policy does not appear to have explicit language pertaining to private bets with friends and family.

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Commanders.com

Five things to know about Javontae Jean-Baptiste

He was one of Bruce Feldman’s athletic freaks.

Jean-Baptiste was one of the top defensive ends at the scouting combine earlier this year, posting a top 10 time in the 40-yard dash (4.66) and broad jump (10-foot-7) as well as solid numbers in the vertical jump (34.5 inches).

That probably wasn’t a surprise to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, who has been impressed with Jean-Baptiste’s athletic traits since last August.

“The Ohio State transfer, who had 11 TFLs and eight sacks in 45 games with the Buckeyes, should give the Irish D-line depth a big boost,” Feldman wrote in his “freaks list” of 2023, ranking Jean-Baptiste 82nd among 101 players.

Feldman was right when he predicted Jean-Baptiste would have a positive influence on the Fighting Irish as a sixth-year player. He was fifth on the team with 49 tackles and first with five sacks — both career highs. Feldman also pointed out that Jean-Baptiste ran 20.4 mph and did 45 pull-ups during the offseason.

It’s one thing to have athleticism; it’s another to know how to use it. And Jean-Baptiste knows how to get the most out of his skill set.

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Riggo’s Rag

Commanders most important relationship hits the ground running

Things seem to be going well…

None is more important than the relationship between offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Commanders placed a significant amount of faith in Daniels by making him their pick at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Those in power also believe they pulled off a coup by ensuring Kingsbury had a late change of heart, spurning the Las Vegas Raiders for the nation’s capital after speaking to minority ownership partner Magic Johnson.

Commanders expect big things from Kliff Kingsbury and Jayden Daniels

It’s been nothing more than conversations up to now, but it seems as if Kingsbury and Daniels have hit the ground running. The former Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU revealed on the All Facts No Breaks podcast – transcribed by Kevin Patra from Around the NFL – that the play-caller has already been receptive to suggestions regarding schematic alterations that can better suit the skill set he brings to the table.

“Just learning the playbook, going back and watching the stuff, it’s different than the Air Raid. We’re not gonna air the ball out 50 times a game. You’ve got to have balance. One thing about Kliff: Kliff is open-minded. He ain’t the OC that’s like, ‘It’s my way. We’ve got to do x, y and z.’ Just having conversations with him, it’s like, ‘Man, what do you like? How can we help the team be better?’ We’re bouncing ideas off each other. I like his scheme, honestly. It suits me, and obviously, you’ve got to evolve with the times. You’ve got to be able to have balance, keep a defense honest now, especially with all those athletes out there, too.”

Both Kingsbury and Daniels seem like laid-back characters with fierce inner desires. While opposites attract in some cases, having these common outlooks can become the catalyst behind potentially brighter days where the Commanders are concerned. It’s a small step in the right direction, but a positive one nonetheless.

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NBC Sports

Commanders roster review after 5 months of intense turnover

Tight ends: Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott (R), John Bates

Note: Questions here come after Sinnott and Ertz, who are both roster locks. Bates seems like the next man up for sure, but what about Cole Turner? How many TEs will the team keep on its final 53 and how does that impact the RB roster load? Does Sinnott get listed as an HB/FB for roster flexibility? What’s the status of Armani Rodgers? Let’s repeat — lots of questions here.

Wide receivers: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey (R), Jamison Crowder, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown

Note: No questions at the top, but the bottom of this roster group looks humble. Dyami Brown needs a strong camp as his production has lacked for three seasons and these aren’t the guys that drafted him. Maybe a surprise veteran gets added here? Zaccheaus could be a sneaky productive signing. An undrafted player out of Virginia, he’s been in the NFL now for five seasons with more than 100 catches. He’s never gotten a ton of opportunity, but would it shock anybody if he takes over as the Commanders fourth wideout?

Defensive line: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Johnny Newton (R), John Ridgeway, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Clelin Ferrell, Efe Obada, Phidarian Mathis, KJ Henry, Andre Jones Jr. (?), Javontae Jean-Baptiste (R)

Note: This unit has real pop at the top, especially if rookie Johnny Newton lives up to his college game film. Allen and Payne are established anchors that would be well served with fewer snaps. Ridgeway is a useful tool too, but will Mathis show something this year? It’s been two very quiet seasons for the former second-round pick, and remember, Peters didn’t draft Mathis. The ends don’t have the star power of previous years, but they might have more production. Unfortunately, that bar isn’t too high.

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Commanders.com

11 things to know about Washington’s 11 UDFAs

4. Ben Nikkel’s work ethic is second to none.

Nikkel took a gamble on himself after being a two-time all-conference player at McPherson College, transferring to Iowa State and trying his hands at a bigger program as a walk-on. While he wasn’t the standout receiver he was at McPherson, he established himself as a hard worker on special teams, appearing in 12 games and making three tackles in 2022.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell called Nikkel “one of the hardest-working kids” on the team and said that he deserved to get a scholarship. That became a reality before the season, as the team surprised him with the distinction during the last year of his eligibility.

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Commanders Wire

Harris Ownership Group addressing Commanders branding botch

As the headlines will vary from week to week, the header will remain constant until the Commanders adjust their message.

The Commanders did make the adjustment, recently launching a new header that reads, “RAISE HAIL.” This is clearly intentional.

This, of course, is a direct shorthand reference to the team’s once-popular fight song, “Hail to the Redskins.” For instance, several years ago, while attending a high school football game in Florida, while climbing the bleachers, I noticed a male wearing a Redskins tee-shirt, so I voiced to him, “H-T-T-R.” Without blinking an eye, he replied, “Hail.”

The Harris Ownership Group (HOG) possesses acute business acumen. They are well aware that Daniel Snyder and Jason Wright were unsuccessful when they came up with “Commanders.” Even more, they know that Wright’s declaration that the fans were in on the choosing of “Commanders” is largely not true.

Has a transition been smoothly launched by the Harris Ownership Group (HOG)? They know so many outside the fan base would give them much grief if they attempted to return to “Redskins.” So, they won’t. Yet, isn’t this obviously an indirect reference (code) back to the historic name?

If no transition is being launched toward a new name, the HOG is at least unquestionably attempting to please its fan base in some small way. After all, this fan base has made it clear that they don’t like “Commanders,” nor do they like the uniforms that take on an ‘expansion team’ look rather than the once bold burgundy and gold.

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Sports Illustrated

Where Does Commanders Strength of Schedule Stack Up in the NFL?

The Washington Commanders face a 2024 schedule that puts them right in the middle of the field.

For the Commanders they are tied in the middle of the pack at 16th when it comes to strength of schedule heading into 2024 with their opponents having a combined record of 145-144, just one game over .500, with a winning % of just .502.

Things can also change on a dime so take the percentages and strength of schedule with a grain of salt as it’s likely that the Commanders will more so than not have their work cut out for them in 2024, especially with a new head coach and rookie QB under center.

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Podcasts & videos

#5 Jayden Daniels Tress Way, Rookies in the Building | Command Center | Washington Commanders

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Photos

Commanders.com

PHOTOS | Offseason workouts, 05/07

The Washington Commanders were back on the field to continue their offseason workout program. Check out the top photos from Tuesday’s action.

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NFL league links

Articles

Over the Cap

Quarterback Three Year Salary Cap Values

I broke the salary cap counts down into two sections. One is based just on the average cap per year based on the years remaining, up to a maximum of three years. The second takes into account any dead money that will hit the books in 2025 or 2026 for the players. The numbers are based solely on the current structure of the contract and how each team has decided to take the cap charges these next few years. I also have listed total remaining years under contract. Options are not included unless it was already exercised.

In my opinion once you get past these five the needle should begin to move toward the rookie contract players. Stroud should easily get the nod as the top option, which is where the Athletic had him. After that I think it just depends on who you are bullish on from Stroud’s class and this one.

The biggest question mark to me is Dak Prescott. Im not sure what upside there is and we have to account for $95M in cap charges if his contract expires. That is a minefield. Timing would have to be everything on an extension to make this cap remotely reasonable and anything done after the year is going to be a cap per year of $45M+. That should be a hard pass.

Jalen Hurts could be higher depending on long term being a factor. His contract runs a long time and is dirt cheap on the cap but there is a massive bill to pay at the end if things go sideways. If just picking short term though it is fair to put him with the Love group.

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