Adam Peters was a coveted general manager target for several teams around the league. Judging by his first year with the Washington Commanders, it's not hard to see why.
Peters came into the franchise with a clear purpose. He revamped the front office, adopting a more collaborative, professional approach. There were no rash gambles or mortgaging the franchise's future. It was a long-term strategy that brought instant rewards.
The Commanders took off in 2024. Head coach Dan Quinn's locker room culture shift and Peters' roster construction were the perfect match. Washington won 12 regular-season games, secured two postseason triumphs, and reached the NFC Championship game for the first time in over three decades.
They eventually came undone at the final hurdle with a disappointing loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although it stung fans, that doesn't detract from the outstanding accomplishments secured by the Commanders in Year 1 of this ambitious project.
There is a lot of hard work ahead. Peters and his front-office staff have already turned their attention to the offseason. Draft evaluation events are ongoing and Washington also has 30 free agents to decide on before free agency. It'll be another fascinating few months before the time to resume organized team activities arrives.
With this in mind, here are five pressing priorities for Peters during his second offseason in 2025.
Pressing offseason priorities for Commanders GM Adam Peters in 2025
Building around Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders have a superstar quarterback at long last. Jayden Daniels' talent, work ethic, ability to inspire others, and remarkable composure in big moments saw him take the league by storm. Losing in the NFC Championship game lit an instant fire under the signal-caller heading into Year 2 of his professional career.
Daniels will be ready, but the Commanders must do their part. Adam Peters needs to build around the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The front-office leader must maximize his rookie contract before he becomes extension-eligible. Anything less is organizational malpractice.
Fortunately for the Commanders, Peters has experience in this area. He helped mold a formidable roster around San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's seventh-round rookie deal. They fell short of a Super Bowl triumph, but this leaves hope the same trend can continue and perhaps even increase in Washington.
The Commanders are an attractive destination. Free agents will actively pursue moves to Washington in pursuit of playing with Daniels. That's something Peters must put to good use through the offseason and beyond.
Bobby Wagner extension
As mentioned previously, the Washington Commanders have 30 free agents to navigate before free agency begins. Adam Peters has already cut ties with several players and signed others to reserve/futures deals. But there are other important matters to decide in the coming weeks.
Some will be moved on with little fanfare attached. Others have their respective fortunes hanging in the balance. There are a couple of players that must be retained to keep continuity.
Bobby Wagner is one of them. The veteran linebacker linked back up with head coach Dan Quinn and excelled. He was a driving force behind the team's culture shift, improving standards and installing a winning mentality across the locker room.
Wagner is vocal when needed. He leads by example and ensures others do not let standards slip. The perennial All-Pro taught this team to believe anything is possible and the results spoke for themselves.
His on-field production showed no signs of slowing down. Wagner made the Pro Bowl again and earned second-team All-Pro honors alongside fellow linebacker Frankie Luvu. The former second-round pick wants to continue playing, so Washington should do everything to keep him in the building.
Wagner doesn't have many years left before hanging up his cleats and preparing for his first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement. The Commanders are ready to contend, so it would be a surprise if Adam Peters didn't work something out.
Commanders must decide Jonathan Allen's future
The Commanders have a complex conundrum with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Their conclusions come with significant ramifications attached.
Allen has no more guaranteed money on his deal. The former first-round pick remains a core leader within the locker room and deserves credit for pushing through the pain barrier to return from a torn pectoral. However, the notable drop-off in performance levels makes this a tricky situation heading into the final year of his contract.
It doesn't seem likely that Daron Payne will be moved. He's entering his prime and can still be impactful when fully healthy. The Commanders also spent a second-round pick on Johnny Newton, who flashed promise during his rookie campaign and should improve further with additional polish.
If the Commanders trade or outright release Allen this offseason, they'd save $17 million on their salary-cap and incurr $6 million in dead money. There should be interest in the player given his previous production, although just how much Adam Peters would be able to extract from a compensation standpoint in this scenario remains to be seen.
Teams won't be shelling out high-end capital for Allen — that ship has sailed. What Peters must figure out is whether the financial commitment justifies the production these days.
It could go either way.
Trimming the fat
Adam Peters wasted no time in stamping his authority on the Washington Commanders. The general manager gutted the playing personnel, turning over around two-thirds of the roster and giving this franchise life where once there was nothing but abject misery.
The Commanders achieved more than anyone imagined. They reached the final four and could be playing in the Super Bowl had it not been for some costly mistakes against the Philadelphia Eagles. Not many had that on their bingo card before competitive action began.
Peters cannot get complacent. This roster is going to look different again next season. It's the price for progress and there will be no sentiment attached to his decision-making process.
Trimming the fat is key. The Commanders must remove the dead-weight from the squad, replacing them with more productive starters or improved depth. Some will return, but not everyone is going to come along for this exciting ride.
That goes for free agents and those under contract. Peters is ruthless, so if he feels like someone isn't pulling their weight with the money committed, he won't hesitate to remove them from the equation.
That might sound harsh after everything they gave to the cause this season. However, nothing will stop Peters from turning the Commanders into a perennial contender.
Commanders must extend Terry McLaurin
Terry McLaurin is a phenomenal player. Every Commanders fan who's watched him produce despite the quarterback carousel under previous regimes knew this already. Now that the gifted wide receiver has a franchise-caliber presence under center, the entire league knows it too.
McLaurin and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels quickly formed a profitable partnership. They pushed each other throughout, ensuring standards remained high and urgency stayed the same despite Washington's incredible success. It didn't take long for this to explode during the regular season.
The duo formed a dynamic quarterback-wide receiver tandem up there with the NFL's best. McLaurin's targets diminished within Kliff Kingsbury's offense, but he still went over 1,000 receiving yards and saw his touchdown numbers surge. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State earned his second Pro Bowl honor and attained a second-team All-Pro selection as a result of his exceptional efforts.
Nobody deserves this adulation more than McLaurin. He stayed professional amid the chaos and led from the front. This is the sort of franchise cornerstone the Commanders would be wise to keep around.
McLaurin has one more year remaining on his deal. Peters should extend him as a matter of urgency this offseason — something that will also increase the salary-cap resources at his disposal in 2025.