Adam Peters has gone about his business effectively this offseason. An aggressive offseason was followed by some shrewd moves during the 2026 NFL Draft, which set the Washington Commanders up well for potential improvements next season.
And according to one analytics guru, Peters put on a masterclass on how best to extract maximum value from the limited resources at his disposal.
The Commanders only had six picks — two in the top 100 — after their trade for stud left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year. Instead of panicking, Peters let everything come to him. He needed a little bit of good fortune along the way, but the returns were met with widespread approval.
Commanders lauded for extracting maximum value during the 2026 NFL Draft
Warren Sharp of Sharp Analytics went one step further, stating the Commanders finished first league-wide in draft capital over expected. The respected guru thought Peters' moves during the draft were teaching tape for any other front-office leader on how best to approach the challenging event, which is precisely what the Commanders needed at a critical time.
"This year, they finished No. 1 in the NFL in terms of draft capital over expected. Washington didn't have much capital, but it grabbed value early and often.
"This was an exercise in maximizing draft capital and making more out of less by drafting players the vast majority of evaluators expected to go earlier in the draft."
This is a general consensus among the media. The players still have to prove their value, but the Commanders came out smiling. Even their seventh-round quarterback could be worth something if Athan Kaliakmanis becomes a cheap backup or future trade bait.
Some began to question Peters after last season's complete capitulation. The Commanders went from the NFC Championship game to securing just five wins. Injuries didn't help their cause, but it was clear that drastic action was required.
Peters self-evaluated and adjusted. That's not easy to do in a position of power, and there was a sense of urgency that raised the stakes just enough to provide optimism. If his free agency moves and draft picks all hit the ground running, the Commanders have a tremendous chance to bounce back at the first time of asking.
This is the best fans could have hoped for. The 2026 class's success will be predicated on Sonny Styles and Antonio Williams reaching their potential. But if others lower down the board can also exceed expectations, this will go a long way towards turning the tide.
If that happens, Peters will also be back in the good graces of his critics.
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