The Athletic's Ben Standig is here to talk at the intersection of the NFL draft and free agency with guests Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic) and Mike Florio (Pro Football Talk). Ben opens the episode with an array of post-Combine thoughts, including Drake Maye vs. Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy hype, and trading down from 2. The releases of Charles Leno and Logan Thomas mean what? Targeted free agency spending. Brief chat with Mike about Caleb Williams and Josh Harris sitting in QB...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is podcasting from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Topics galore. Senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler shared insight into USC QB Caleb Williams following her investigative story for The Athletic on what the presumed No. 1 overall pick and his team seek upon entering the league and what it means for the Commanders. Ben opens the show with takeaways from comments by Adam Peters (QB search) and Dan Quinn (edge rusher plan). Renaming the current stadium and...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is in Indianapolis for this week's NFL Scouting Combine and talking about prospects with guest analyst Danny Kelly (The Ringer). Ben opens the episode with notes on Eric Bieniemy and Charles Leno before going through his initial draft of a mock draft. Thoughts on options at 2, but also the Commanders at 36, 40, and 67, and what to track leading to those slots. Then Ben and Danny discuss Day Two prospects, positional strengths (OL, WR) and weaknesses (edge, TE), and...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here for an action-packed episode talking Commanders. Guests: Former NFL GM Randy Mueller, Washington Post columnist Barry Svruluga, Washington assistant coaches Brian Johnson, Ryan Kerrigan and Ken Norton Jr. Segment 1 - Ben's takeaways from Wednesday's meet-the-assistant day in Ashburn Segment 2 - Ben and Randy banter about which of the QB prospects the GM likes best; Where Washington players rank (or not!) on Randy's top 150 NFL free agent list; Dan Quinn and...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here for an impromptu episode with Kevin Sheehan (Team 980/Kevin Sheehan podcast). The fellas, of course, discussed various Commanders' topics, including which free agents' should be re-signed, but this episode bounces around. What the failing NBA All-Star game says about viewer habits and the evolution of competition. Consuming more sports and stuff after the Super Bowl. TV shows they're watching and those that nailed the landing. More randomness.

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here talking Commanders' coordinators and Washington's new situation from an analytics angle with Ben Baldwin. The usual Ben opens the episode with first impressions from the Kliff Kingsbury ("Air Raid," Caleb Williams) and Joe Whitt Jr. (football aggression, avoiding groupthink) press conferences plus other notes. Then Ben Baldwin enters for what data says about the Dan Quinn hire, Kingsbury's scheme, and why Washington's wide receivers struggled to get open....

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here to share conversations about the Commanders' new assistant GM, former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn coming to Washington, and more with Nicki Jhabvala (Washington Post) and Al Galdi. Ben and Nicki open the show with thoughts on the addition of former Lions exec Lance Newmark, new titles for Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney, how the big-name offensive hires will mesh, the Kliff Kingsbury/Caleb Williams relationship, Usher and more. Then Al enters (40:25) for...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here talking about the Commnders' latest assistant coaching hires, Super Bowl takeaways, drafting Caleb Willams and more with Mike Smeltz (The Athletic). Ben opens the episode with thoughts on coaching changes at OL and special teams. Then Mike joins to discuss Adam Peters' path to assembling a Super Bowl roster, Patrick Mahomes' greatness, Tony Romo's gaffes, Kyle Shanahan's reputation, booing Taylor Swift along with the coach hires and more.

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here talking about Kliff Kingsbury, Drake Maye, and the Commanders filling out their coaching staff. Ben opens with some notes before interviewing Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo (10:32). Why Phil? He and his friend, Kingsbury, run a version of the Air Raid offense. That's also the scheme Longo used at North Carolina when he coached Sam Howell and Maye, the possible no. 2 selection in April's draft. Then Ben reacts to the reaction to his story on The...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here with colleagues David Aldridge and Cowboys insider Jon Machota to discuss new Commanders' head coach Dan Quinn, his coordinator hirings and the exit of Eric Bieniemy. Ben and David start with first impressions of Quinn at the introductory press conference. His energy (see the title of this episode), Quinn's working relationship with GM Adam Peters, new OC Kliff Kingsbury replacing Bieniemy, "recalibrating," and no expected front-office changes (for now)....

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here for a rambling solo pod about the Washington Commanders hiring Dan Quinn as the team's new head coach. Numerous league sources are fans of adding the ex-Cowboys defensive coordinator, but did Josh Harris and Adam Peters settle for someone who wasn't their top choice? Thoughts on the Ben Johnson situation, possible coordinator targets and your mailbag questions.

The Athletic's Ben Standig sets the stage for this pivotal week as the Washington Commanders prepare to hire a new head coach (and, far down the list, attend the Senior Bowl). Ben shares the latest intel on the remaining interview schedule, whether Ben Johnson is destined to become the hire, why the Seahawks' search process adds a curious variable for Washington and the championship round games. Then Denton Day (Team 980, Sirius) joins Ben to discuss their stances on the no. 2 pick and...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is talking about the NFL head coaching search, Ben Johnson's options, Commanders vs. NFC East, brainiac hire or leader of men, and a little bit about the Wizards making a coaching change. Guests: Cowboys insider Jon Machota (The Athletic) and Joe House (The Ringer). Is it time to lock in Johnson or Washington's HC position? Why isn't Mike Vrabel getting any mention, and is Dan Quinn getting too much?

The Athletic's Ben Standig is still talking about the Commanders' coaching search, but this time from the film breakdown perspective with his teammate Ted Nguyen. Ted is one of the top film analysts in the game and was kind enough to share details on Lions OC Ben Johnson's offense, what makes Ravens' DC Mike Macdonald's defense formidable, and Eric Bieniemy's first season with the Commanders (20:35). Ben opened the show with the buzz on the coach search, Bieniemy's HC interview reaction to...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is talking about the Commanders lining up second interviews with head-coach candidates, CEO vs play-caller, Lions OC Ben Johnson's presence, and more with the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. Also, thoughts on Ron Rivera's job interview with the Eagles and lessons learned from the Chiefs beyond Patrick Mahomes's awesomeness. (FWIW, we recorded before the Titans hired Brian Callahan as their next HC.)

The Athletic's Ben Standig and Mike Smeltz banter about the head coach search and thought-provoking ideas involving the Commanders. Ben opens with the latest on what he's heard about the candidates, including Ben Johnson's buzz and other options lurking. Then Mike enters for outside-the-box on Washington topics involving Caleb Williams and Dak Prescott, whether this coming season might be as bad as 2023 or worse, and ... is Adam Peters is too handsome?

The Athletic's Ben Standig is here to recap highlights from new GM Adam Peters' introductory press conference and chat with former Washington head coach Jay Gruden. After opening with Peters' comments on joining the franchise, the head coach search and more, Ben welcomes in Jay (11:45). They discuss playoff showcases for HC candidates Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik, the tricky transition from coordinator to head coach -- and Jay's wild 24 hours on social media involving back-and-forths with...

The Athletic's Ben Standig is talking about Adam Peters being officially hired, the ins and outs of the coaching search carousel, and expectations for a rookie QB with Al Galdi. Ben opens the show with a breakdown of the seven head coach openings and how they relate to the Commanders. Also, Martin Mayhew's future. Then Al joins. They discuss how coaching candidates fared in the playoffs, where playoff performances affect long-term plans, and QB at 2.

The Athletic's Ben Standig reacts to Friday's news that the Washington Commanders have agreed to terms with 49ers' Adam Peters to become the team's new general manager. Why Peters? What next? What happens to Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney?

The Athletic's Ben Standig is talking about the Commanders shrinking their football ops candidates down to two -- Adam Peters and Ian Cunningham -- and where Lions OC Ben Johnson lands. Guest: Chargers insider Daniel Popper, who is also covering an HC and FO search. Ben opens with notes on Peters, Cunningham and the process. Then Daniel joins as the fellas present pro/con arguments for Johnson and their respective while pondering the overall landscape. Ben wraps up the episode with wild card...

The Athletics' Ben Standig is talking about the Commanders' starting the front-office interview process, Josh Harris' urgency, Ron Rivera and free agents to re-sign with Nicki Jhabvala from the Washington Post. Ben also shares his insight into 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters and the hierarchy of the front office candidates.

The Athletic' Ben Standig is joined by 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen to discuss a seismic day for the Washington Commanders. Ron Rivera is officially out as head coach after four years. Owner Josh Harris spoke on the change and the next phase, which includes former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers becoming an advisor to Harris for big-picture matters, including the next coach and front office. Washington also quickly requested interviews with candidates, including Lions OC Ben Johnson,...

The Athletic's Ben Standig and Al Galdi consider Commanders head coach Ron Rivera's comments about leaving the franchise better than he arrived. The fellas compare and contrast aspects of the 2020 roster with the one a likely new coach and GM would inherit. Ben also shares a quick roster update ahead of the regular-season finale against the Cowboys.

The Athletic's Ben Standig and PFF's Brad Speilberger are here to discuss potential GM and coach candidates for the Washington Commanders. After Ben opens with the news of the day- Sam Howell will remain the starting QB in Week 18- Brad enters. The fellas pick their top target from the projected headliners, an under-the-radar name, and a go-bold option.

The Athletic's Ben Standig is talking GM candidates, Sam Howell's start, the no. 2 pick and another Washington Commanders loss with Michael Phillips. Ben opens with a detailed recap of the GM candidates article he published on The Athletic after speaking with league sources. Names to watch league-wide, their connections, and why the Commanders might fit. Then Michael joins from FedEx Field for thoughts on Washington's draft position k with one week remaining in the regular season and likely...