Nothing is off the table for the Washington Commanders this offseason. They have an abundance of resources to strengthen and are an attractive destination again after a miraculous run to the NFC Championship game. Adam Peters must seize the initiative and be aggressive in pursuit of getting over the hump.
Free agency and the draft will play a big part. Peters will examine potential trades that can help the Commanders win now while also offering a more promising outlook for the future.
Several veteran stars have either handed in trade requests or been told to explore opportunities elsewhere. Peters is no stranger to this after two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen declared his desire for a fresh challenge heading into the final year of his deal.
Deebo Samuel update adds intrigue to Commanders' offseason plans
One player being strongly linked with a move to Washington is Deebo Samuel Sr. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch gave the Commanders (or anyone else) the green light to explore the possibility in greater detail.
Lynch officially confirmed that he plans to honor Samuel's trade request during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine. While he's reluctant and holds the player in high regard, there's an acknowledgment that it's the best possible solution for all parties.
"We're on good terms with Deebo. He's asked for a fresh start and I think we're going to honor that. I don't like seeing great players (leave), and he is a great player. I think often one of my favorite draft picks of my time. He makes plays and he makes game-changing plays. Everything's good, but at some point, time happens. He asked for that. It probably makes sense, so we're at least allowing him to look. We're having conversations, and we'll see where that goes."John Lynch via NFL.com
This was the common thought around the league even before Lynch's confirmation. Samuel is a versatile weapon on offense who'd be a major asset to quarterback Jayden Daniels. His skill set looks tailor-made for Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts as the Commanders look to find a legitimate No. 2 receiver to go alongside Terry McLaurin.
There are significant financial ramifications to consider. The Commanders would be taking on a lot of money looking at how Samuel's contract is structured. That makes finding a trade partner difficult unless San Francisco is willing to take on most of his remaining salary.
If this situation ends up with Samuel being released, that changes everything. The Commanders could offer him a big role with one of the brightest young quarterbacks around. His familiarity with Peters, who was part of the Niners' brain trust that drafted him out of South Carolina, only lends further weight to this rumor.
Peters will probably inquire from a due diligence standpoint if nothing else. His previous relationship with Lynch is a good starting point, but there are several difficult hurdles to overcome before this scenario becomes reality.
Fans will be waiting with bated breath for developments regarding incomings. Whether it's Samuel or someone else, getting Daniels more help is among Peters' primary objectives.
How he goes about achieving this is the difficult part to predict.