Costly Error No. 3
Terry McLaurin's contract standoff
Terry McLaurin was coming off a campaign where he broke the franchise record for single-season receiving touchdowns and earned second-team All-Pro honors. The Washington Commanders finally found out what the wide receiver could do with a franchise-caliber presence under center. Although positive, this put the player and the team on a collision course.
McLaurin wanted an extension in advance. Adam Peters chose to drag out the situation, and it lasted longer than anyone expected. The former Ohio State standout sat out almost the entire summer before something got worked out. The deal turned out to be team-friendly, but it completely changed the vibe around the building.
The pass-catcher failed to get into an early groove. McLaurin missed a lot of the season due to injury. He finished the campaign strongly, but the damage had been done long before.
Peters admitted mistakes were made. And he must learn his lesson before embarking on a similar situation with left tackle Laremy Tunsil this time around.
Major Hit No. 3
Commanders' trade for Deebo Samuel Sr.
The Commanders knew they had a superstar on their hands in Jayden Daniels. Adam Peters knew he needed to be aggressive in providing Washington's franchise player with everything needed to thrive. He began this quest by striking a trade for veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.
It looked as if Samuel would be released for a long time. His stint with the San Francisco 49ers had run its course, with questions about his commitment and conditioning rife in the media. Peters held a different opinion, and he only had to give up a fifth-round selection to jump the queue.
This was a low-risk, high-reward pickup. Samuel came into the franchise with renewed focus and became a valuable asset throughout the campaign. With so many injuries elsewhere, the South Carolina product remained the one constant, gaining 802 yards from scrimmage and scoring six touchdowns.
That might not be enough for another financial commitment, but the decision to trade for Samuel was the right one.
Costly Mistake No. 4
Commanders let Jeremy Chinn walk
The Commanders and Jeremy Chinn looked like the perfect match. His outstanding first season in Washington brought some much-needed dynamism and explosiveness to the second and third levels of Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense. He was an instinctive playmaker, and most fans thought Adam Peters would reward him accordingly when the time came.
They were wrong. The Commanders didn't believe Chinn was worth what the Las Vegas Raiders were willing to pay. The former Southern Illinois standout took his chances elsewhere, and things weren't the same on Washington's back end this time around.
Quan Martin's breakout campaign flopped. Will Harris — the man signed to replace Chinn — lacked the same traits and got hurt early. The rest were rotational pieces, although Jeremy Reaves flashed some promise when tasked with more defensive responsibilities.
Things didn't go well for the Raiders, but Chinn was among their very few bright spots. He deserved to stay in Washington, and not paying him was a mistake.