OXON HILL, Md. — Thousands of Washington Commanders fans converged at National Harbor in Prince George's County on an overcast and at times rainy Saturday to celebrate what could be the most transformative draft in the team’s history.
But it also seemed to mark a new era in Commanders football.
There was an overwhelming sense of positivity and good vibes at the Washington Commanders 2024 draft party at National Harbor, as Commanders fans cheered the past, present and future of the franchise.
“Just with the new changes we see coming, I think it’s going to be a great season for us,” said life long Commanders fan Courtney Wimbush.
A once proud football fanbase seems to have completely emerged from a decades long cloud under former owner Dan Snyder. And the fans love for the Washington Commanders' new look, complete with number 2 overall pick Quarterback Jayden Daniels, was on full display at the draft party.
“There’s hope now it’s positive,” said John Bennett, who came with with his 3-year-old son. Bennett has been a season ticket holder since 2009.
“My hope for him is like what I experienced growing up,” Bennett said. “I experienced three Super Bowls. So my hope is that in his lifetime he can experience 4 or 5 Super Bowls.”
Rick Johnson has been a fan for 42 years.
“Snyder's gone. I was not a fan of Snyder,” Johnson said.
He and his son Johnathan just bought season tickets this year. Johnson drove up from North Carolina to be at the draft party.
“They actually got some really good players,” Johnson said of the Commanders draft class. “They’ve done a good job.”
Commanders stars, past and present, feel it too.
“I’m excited man,” said wide receiver Jahan Dotson. “We got change, that’s what we needed. Around DC. Around our building. We got change and it’s change for the better.”
“I feel like the team is more energized,” said running back Brian Robinson, Jr. “I feel Iike the fans are excited.”
Former Commanders running back and kick returner Brian Mitchell agreed.
“When I first got here man, people talk about family on your team but it was family for this whole community,” Mitchell said.
“And I felt like we lost that at some point because that’s how [old] ownership was towards the fans. Now you see Josh [Harris] comes and he’s inviting everybody back.”
In fact, the biggest cheers at the draft party came for the legendary Washington cornerback Darrel Green. The team announced they were retiring his jersey on day one of the draft.
“It is a new day, I am back,” Green told the roaring crowd. “I’ve been gone ya’ll, but I am back.”
When asked, Green declined to elaborate on the meaning behind his comments, adding he wants to focus on the positive.
“I don’t want to talk about the emotions of why I was gone. I just want to talk about the fact that I am back,” Green said. “Forget about yesterday. Let’s think about today.”
Both players and fans agreed on something else. That if the team doesn’t win all this good will, won’t last long. But, there is a sense of hope the team is closer to turning things around than they have been in years.