The wide receiver might be a surprise teams don't see coming in 2024.
The Washington Commanders are expecting improvements to their offense in 2024. That's not exactly a lofty bar after Eric Bieniemy failed to meet expectations following his high-profile move from the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
It's been all change since then. The Commanders gutted their playing personnel and appointed Kliff Kingsbury to succeed Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. They have a potential franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, an enhanced offensive line, and pass-catchers who should keep things ticking over.
Trading Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles highlighted the confidence general manager Adam Peters has in the other wide receivers at Washington's disposal. All will see this move as a major confidence boost and a significant opportunity to firmly establish themselves.
Luke McCaffrey tipped to emerge for the Commanders in 2024
One player who's been relatively quiet over the offseason is Luke McCaffrey. The third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft hasn't looked out of place - far from it. He's just not featured all that much, which could potentially mean the Commanders are holding something back before unleashing him as a secret weapon during the regular season.
This was a topic discussed by Matthew Berry from NBC Sports during a recent appearance on the Dan Le Batard Show. The analyst believes that the former Rice standout will emerge for the Commanders in a similar way Tank Dell accomplished with the Houston Texans. It might not be right away with the same numbers attached, but he's confident this scenario will come to fruition at some stage for McCaffrey.
"At some point this year Luke McCaffrey is gonna be a thing. Last preseason I said this about Tank Dell. I promised that at some point during the 2023 season, Tank Dell is gonna be a thing. I don't think he's gonna have a Tank Dell-like year, but I do believe at some point this year, Luke McCaffrey's going to be a thing. "
- Matthew Berry, NBC Sports
This could be the case although asking him to reach Dell's immediate levels is a stretch. McCaffrey is a slick route runner with eye-catching athleticism and assured hands. At the same time, he's only got two seasons' experience at the wide receiver spot and has a significant amount to learn.
Hype is building around McCaffrey and rightfully so. He comes from a strong NFL bloodline, which brings its own set of potential complications. However, his outstanding work ethic and commitment to improvements might leave the coaching staff with no option other than to throw him in at the deep end.
McCaffrey tackled every challenge throughout his career with the same mindset. This will be no different when given the chance. One only has to look at his status on the Commanders' unofficial depth chart to see how targets could be plentiful right out of the gate in 2024.
The Commanders opted not to trade for Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. That means those in power need one of their wideouts to emerge from proverbial obscurity and into a prominent role.
It could go either way for McCaffrey. But don't be surprised if Washington's perceived secret weapon flourishes.
