Adam Peters is gearing up for his second NFL Draft as Washington Commanders general manager. Before attention turns to the next crop of prospects emerging from the college ranks, the front-office leader offered a bullish outlook for three members of last year's influx heading into their sophomore campaigns.
Drafting well was key for Peters in 2024. He completely galvanized the Commanders' roster, but he wanted to build more stable foundations long-term. The best way to accomplish this feat is via the draft. It's something he managed to do successfully enough.
The Commanders found a franchise quarterback on the first time of asking. Jayden Daniels is a superstar in every sense of the term. He's someone Washington can build around in full confidence. It's been a long time since this organization has had this luxury at football's most important position.
Peters also found a legitimate starting cornerback (Mike Sainristil), a starter along the offensive line (Brandon Coleman), a developmental wide receiver with a high ceiling (Luke McCaffrey), a rotational edge rusher (Javontae Jean-Baptiste), and three other prospects who big things are expected during the 2024 campaign.
Adam Peters has high hopes for Commanders' second-year trio in 2025
Ben Standig from The Athletic asked Peters about the development of Johnny Newton, Ben Sinnott, and Jordan Magee entering Year 2. He was gushing in his praise, highlighting how hard they've been working over the offseason. He's also expecting a major leap from the trio when competitive action commences in 2025.
"It's cool that you asked about those three because all three of them have been here working in the building for quite some time. We just started with the offseason program, but they've been working their tails off, really for the last couple of months. I see them in here almost every day. So, really excited about each of their future. They're the right types of guys we have and want on the Commanders. I think you'll see a big jump in each and every one of those guys' play this year."Adam Peters
This would be the best possible outcome. Something the aforementioned fledgling stars are all striving to achieve based on Peters' emphatic confidence in their outlook.
Newton saw his playing time increase as the season went on. There were flashes of exceptional promise from the defensive tackle, but becoming more impactful against the run is crucial. He'll be tasked with more after Jonathan Allen's release, so it would be disappointing if significant growth didn't arrive with a full offseason to prepare without any injury concerns.
There was some intrigue regarding Sinnott being taken in the second round. The Kansas State graduate was used sparingly as a rookie, which was thanks to Zach Ertz's resurgence and John Bates's exceptional blocking capabilities. Both are back next season, but fans should expect the second-year pro's role to increase right out of the gate.
Magee is an interesting case. He blazed a trail over early workouts, earning adulation from the coaching staff. He looked capable of a core rotational role behind Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu at the linebacker spot. Unfortunately, this momentum came to an abrupt halt thanks to a knee injury that required surgery.
The Commanders didn't involve Magee much after that, but there is an opening for more reps with the required progress throughout the summer.
Peters is enthused by what he's seen. He'll be expecting a return on his investment, and they are putting in the hard yards to ensure raised expectations are met.