Dan Quinn, the new head coach of the Washington Commanders, has a wealth of experience coaching franchise quarterbacks. Simply put, he has never had to choose.
In an April 2 episode of “This is Football,” host podcast Kevin Clark, Quinn discussed his experiences as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, and player against a number of franchise quarterbacks. He also discussed the process the Commanders had to go through in order to secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 25–27. It is highly expected that they will select a quarterback, most likely Drake Maye of North Carolina or Jayden Daniels of LSU.
Quinn remarked, “You know, (the process) has been fun.” “Over the previous ten to eleven years of my career, I’ve seen what good looks like at the spot in Seattle with Russ Wilson in year two or three, moving into that space in Atlanta with Matt Ryan, and being with Dak Prescott.For a considerable amount of time, defensive coaches research the best quarterbacks in the game because they anticipate facing them. It’s been fantastic to go through the (assessment) process from a different perspective while going through all the guys, and going through it with Adam (Peters) has been one of the finest parts of it.
What Commanders Look for in a Franchise QB
Brad Spielberger’s most recent PFF mock draft has the Commanders selecting Maye. Daniels is drafted by the Commanders in Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent ESPN mock draft.
Quinn stated unequivocally that no detail will be overlooked in the selection of Washington’s future franchise leader.
Quinn stated, “That’s how we would go through (the process) is really specific.” You can look at the receiver’s targets if you’d like to gaze at him. You want to look at a quarterback because they have so many more skills than just arm strength, dexterity, and problem-solving skills. And all that goes into it, so you want to experience every game play for a few years (or perhaps a lifetime), which takes time but is a truly amazing experience.
Dan Quinn Transitions From Activist to Assessor
Clark questioned Quinn about his transition as a defensive coordinator from stopping the NFL’s top quarterbacks to selecting a quarterback that he will have to develop into one of the best.
“You’ve thought about how to disrupt this person your entire career.” stated Quinn. However, observing those characteristics in many players and realizing that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, how does this person make these choices and escape it? How does a third down appear? How does a look last for two minutes? How will that person react when the game is about to end and everything is on the line? Although a lot goes into it, going through the process is quite cool.
