Adam Peters is facing a tenure-defining 2026 offseason. The Washington Commanders surged to meteoric heights in Year 1 under his leadership. Things have nosedived just as quickly this time around, so there is a significant amount of hard work ahead.
Some harsh decisions are coming. The Commanders have plenty of salary-cap space but not many players under contract. They also only have six draft selections after Peters opted to stand pat at the 2025 trade deadline.
Not every complication is going to be resolved successfully; there are way too many holes for that. Peters must get younger across the board. If that involves upsetting some established veterans for a more sustainable future, it's a small price to pay.
Commanders need to extend Laremy Tunsil ahead of tiime this offseason
It'll be fascinating to see how Peters approaches matters. But the Commanders' first statement offseason move is suddenly becoming crystal clear.
The Commanders' aggressive offseason backfired. Peters ran it back with the same players who accomplished so much in 2024. He gambled on seasoned pros past their prime, and his big-money acquisition of defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is going just as fans feared. However, there was one massive move that cannot be seen as anything other than a home run right now.
Peters' decision to sacrifice considerable draft compensation to the Houston Texans for Laremy Tunsil was an outstanding piece of business. The Commanders have problems — lots of them — but the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle has been nothing short of exceptional, almost from start to finish.
Tunsil is a stone wall on the blindside. In 564 snaps this season, the former Ole Miss enforcer has given up just one sack, seven penalties, and 12 total pressures. His 87.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks fourth among qualifying offensive tackles. His run blocking is underrated, and his ability to bring rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. along through some growing pains only adds to his influence.
Sure, the Commanders haven't had Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, or a consistent ground attack for most of the campaign, but that only makes Tunsil's performances even more impressive. It's also why one of Peters' first moves this offseason is giving the edge protector a new contract extension ahead of time.
The 2016 first-round pick has one more year on his deal, counting $24.95 million against the salary cap. He might be 31 years old, but tackles tend to play healthy (and well) way into their thirties. Extending him to a two or three-year deal is worth considering, and it should also provide Peters with more money to spend elsewhere in free agency.
In a season with very few things to legitimately cheer, Tunsil has emerged as a constant. And the Commanders need to avoid any unnecessary complications by giving him a lucrative reward at the earliest possible opportunity.
Considering they restructured his contract this season, that seems highly likely.