The Washington Commanders have been making changes to their front office staff. They are reportedly targeting David Blackburn, the Baltimore Ravens’ Director of College Scouting, for a personnel role. This comes after the Commanders decided not to retain Senior Director of Player Personnel Eric Stokes. Additionally, national scout David Whittington is leaving the organization to become the assistant director of college scouting for the Carolina Panthers. Harrison Ritcher, a Commanders college scout, is joining the Atlanta Falcons as a national scout. Jack Quagliarello, a scout for the San Francisco 49ers, is headed to Washington as a pro scout.
It’s common for staff movement to occur after the draft, especially with new people in charge. The hiring of General Manager Adam Peters and Assistant GM Lance Newmark earlier this year set the stage for these changes. Peters expressed his enthusiasm for implementing what they learned from their previous experiences and blending it with the existing staff to improve the team moving forward.
David Blackburn has been with the Ravens since 2007, starting as a player personnel assistant before being promoted to director of college scouting in 2022. Eric Stokes joined Washington in 2020 under head coach Ron Rivera, having previously worked with the Carolina Panthers.
The future of other football executives within the Commanders organization has also been part of discussions throughout the offseason. Chris Polian, the former GM of the Indianapolis Colts, joined Washington as Director of Pro Personnel in 2021. Rob Rogers, the Senior VP of Football Administration, and Tim Gribble, Director of College Scouting, are holdovers from the prior staff. It was previously reported that Stokes and Senior Director of Player Development Malcolm Blacken would not have their contracts renewed.
There may also be changes in the department responsible for negotiating contracts and managing salary caps. Potential targets for this department include Brandon Sosna, the Lions’ senior director of football administration, and Jake Rosenberg, the former Eagles VP of Football Administration.
The Commanders had a busy offseason, with nine selections in the 2024 NFL draft. Their top pick was Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. After a 4-13 season, the team signed over 20 free agents, including Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Austin Ekeler, Tyler Biadasz, and Marcus Mariota. General Manager Adam Peters praised the entire staff for their contributions to the team-building process and expressed his excitement to work with everyone.
In conclusion, the Washington Commanders have undergone significant changes in their front office staff, targeting David Blackburn from the Ravens and parting ways with Eric Stokes and Malcolm Blacken. With new hires and a busy offseason, the Commanders are looking to turn things around and improve on their 4-13 record from last season.