The 2024 NFL Draft will mark Josh Harris’ first since purchasing the Washington Commanders last summer.
And it appears that the new Commanders owner is taking a hands-on approach when it comes to Washington’s pre-draft process.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harris has sat in on all six of the team’s interviews with the top quarterback prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. Per Schefter, most NFL owners don’t even attend the annual scouting combine — let alone sit in on interviews.
Attending his first combine as the Washington Commanders owner, Josh Harris has sat in and taken part of each of the six interviews that the team has conducted with the top quarterback prospects in this draft. Most owners don’t attend the combine; Harris is not only in… pic.twitter.com/45CB3tb65E
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2024
While it might be unique, it’s not necessarily surprising that Harris would be so involved with the Commanders’ pre-draft process. With Washington laying claim to the No. 2 overall pick, the Commanders could very well be in position to draft a new franchise quarterback, with USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. standing out as the top signal-caller prospects in the draft.
Make the right decision and it could set the Commanders up for the type of success it never experienced under their previous owner, Daniel Snyder. Make the wrong pick and it could set Washington back even further than it already is.
While this will mark Harris’ first NFL Draft as an owner, the Chevy Chase, Maryland, native is no stranger to his new role. In addition to the Commanders, he also serves as the managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, as well as the general partner of Crystal Palace of the English Premier League.
Following the news of Harris’ involvement at the scouting combine, many in the NFL world took to X (formerly Twitter) to react.
what NFL fans want from team owners: guy who signs checks and lets the football staff do their jobs
what NFL owners believe NFL fans want from team owners: all-knowing god-king who controls all aspects of team with his infinite wisdom https://t.co/xdDtGte6T3— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 29, 2024
I can already see how this ends.
Washington wins 4 games, a report comes out about how ownership and GM/HC disagreed on who to draft and they went with the wrong one. Meanwhile the other choice wins rookie of the year. Something something sewage leaking into the locker room. https://t.co/7FZj8Zj6u4
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) February 29, 2024
oh no Washington is one step away from this https://t.co/Brd5szqMnj pic.twitter.com/mPyiVf461b
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 29, 2024
seen a lot of negative responses to this
if you spend $6 billion on an NFL team, of course you want to sit in and be a voice in the decision making process for your top 2 pick QB
(that's different than being THE voice) https://t.co/6i218pGULd
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 29, 2024
As long as he doesn’t override the GM’s first pick because he saw “it in the eyes” https://t.co/WWUmKHUXF3
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) February 29, 2024
Sitting in on the interview process is quite a bit different than picking the player.
Adam Peters has, and has had, options, wouldn't have signed on for a situation like that.
Relax. https://t.co/gDQPTfxFR9
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 29, 2024
https://t.co/sYJLXrh7ce pic.twitter.com/hPHNXnrkMQ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 29, 2024
Doesn't necessarily matter but the owner being involved in all aspects of the QB selection process is probably a negative https://t.co/RsEYF4Zmho
— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) February 29, 2024
