'A New Era!' Commanders Battle Dan Snyder Distraction as NFL Draft Approaches

Even with the chaos surrounding the Washington Commanders, head coach Ron Rivera is focused on the NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday.

Few teams have more on their plate than the Washington Commanders heading into the NFL Draft on Thursday. 

Along with preparing for what they hope will be a monumental draft, the Commanders are on the verge of potentially being sold to billionaire Josh Harris. While distractions off the field are nothing new for Washington head coach Ron Rivera, focus here is key. 

"Until it is done, there really isn’t much to say," Rivera said. "We are going to stick to what we have done in terms of our preparation and we are going to stick to the plan."

Rivera also added positively in recent days, it's "a new era'' in Washington. More accurately? Let's call it "the eve of a new era.''

Amid the distractions surrounding the franchise, the Commanders are entering a key draft. With the No. 16 pick, Washington has a chance to add an immediate contributor to a team that went 8-8-1 in 2022. 

Washington has missed the playoffs in back-to-back years after winning the NFC East in 2020. Given the amount of change surrounding the Commanders, a third straight year without a playoff appearance could mark the end of Rivera and the front office's tenure with the franchise. ... which would mark the start of yet another "new era.''

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