Who’s next for Commanders at coach, GM positions?

When the Washington Commanders return from their bye week, they still have four games of football remaining.

That won’t stop fans from looking ahead though, as a lost season will quickly turn to the optimism of whatever change new owner Josh Harris brings to the franchise.

With his other teams, the NHL’s Devils and NBA’s 76ers, Harris has worked to put progressive, analytically-minded people in charge of personnel, and then used them as a launching pad to success.

In Washington, that almost certainly means the final say on roster construction will reside with a general manager, who is hired separately from the head coach (right now, coach Ron Rivera has final say over personnel).

There aren’t as many watch lists for general managers, but traditionally teams try to poach a young executive from a team running what is perceived to be a successful operation, like the Eagles or Ravens.

Those two processes — the GM and coach searches — will run concurrently, though. And there’s no shortage of speculation about who will be the next head coach of the Commanders, a hire that will help put Harris’ stamp on the operation.

The NFL has worked to pump the brakes on the hiring season, preferring to let the postseason play out before major movement takes place, but through intermediaries and other methods, the search is undoubtedly already on in Washington.

Here are the names to know over the next month.

Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson: Conventional wisdom in the NFL right now says to hire an offensive-minded coach, because if you don’t, a successful offensive coordinator will soon leave for his own head gig.

This also provides stability for coach and quarterback, the most important relationship on a team. If it’s a young coach, as has been the case with the Rams, Dolphins and Packers, they are often paired with a veteran defensive coordinator who can provide experience.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will undoubtedly be the hottest name this cycle. He’s helped revive the Lions and checks all the boxes of a young up-and-coming star. 

But would he prefer to work with Justin Herbert and the Chargers? Or will he opt for Panthers owner David Tepper’s seemingly unlimited pile of cash?

Miami Dolphins OC Frank Smith: Harris got a good look at what Smith is capable of during Sunday’s game at FedEx Field.

Jaguars OC Press Taylor: The brother of Bengals coach Zac Taylor, Press is next in line to get an NFL gig. Of course, Washington has already gone down the road of hiring the brother of a famous NFL coach, and Jay Gruden didn’t work out all that well.

Chargers OC Kellen Moore: A former Cowboys assistant, many thought that he would get the head job under Jerry Jones. However, a subpar season in Los Angeles might slow some of the momentum behind Moore’s candidacy.

Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy: Bieniemy is sure to get many interviews this offseason, but there’s nowhere he’s known better than Ashburn, where he’s already coached the team’s offense for the past year.

Vikings DC Brian Flores: Hiring a defensive coach provides stability on a side of the ball where Washington already has a lot of stockpiled talent.

Flores didn’t get a fair shake as coach of the Dolphins, which later turned into a class-action lawsuit. His coaching chops are undeniable and for an ownership group that used to have a stake in the Steelers, he’s probably as close as you can get to Mike Tomlin.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick: Time for the list’s most controversial name. Belichick’s days seem to be numbered in New England, and without Tom Brady, the magic has faded quickly. But nobody will dispute that he’s still a brilliant football mind, and he’s about two seasons away from catching Don Shula as the NFL’s winningest coach.

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero: This may be an under-the-radar pick, given the Panthers failings this year, but the defense has largely been stout, and Evero has experience with Sean McVay and Nathaniel Hackett, so he’s run in the circles that have largely dictated how the league is moving.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day or Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh: There are rumors that Day could be on the move, and the whispers start annually about this time as to where Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh will land, though so far he’s resisted pro overtures.

For a group looking to make a splash, either would fit the bill. For an ownership group that seems to be interested in innovation and empowering the scouting department, it’s hard to see either being the right pick for Washington.