Commanders hire ex-Ravens scouting director David Blackburn as director of player personnel

Another new addition to the Commanders front office: the team announced Monday they have hired former Ravens director of college scouting David Blackburn as the team's director of player personnel.

Blackburn has spent the last 17 years in Baltimore, working his way up from a player personnel assistant in 2007 to that director of college scouting role, which he assumed following the 2022 NFL Draft.

“I've known David Blackburn for a number of years dating back to our days scouting the West Coast," GM Adam Peters said in the team’s statement announcing the hire. "David has always impressed me with his consistent approach, talent in player evaluation and overall professionalism. He is one of the most respected scouts in the NFL and is also a top-notch person. He has been a valued member of the Baltimore Ravens personnel department and has learned from two of the most well-respected people in our business in Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta. David will be an outstanding addition to the staff we are building here in Washington."

Blackburn is the second big front office hire this week following Brandon Sosna, who left the Lions to join former colleague and current Assistant GM Lance Newmark and was named Commanders’ senior vice president of football operations on Monday.

Blackburn had taken part in last year’s NFL Front Office & General Manager Accelerator Program, which Josh Harris attended and is part of the NFL’s efforts to bring minority front office candidates in front of owners.

Prior to his 17 years in Baltimore, Blackburn was a four-year starter in the defensive backfield at Division III DePauw University in Indiana from 2000-03, and began his football career as a graduate assistant coaching DBs at Butler in 2006.