Adam Peters is doing a lot right once again this offseason. The Washington Commanders were finely poised to make the roster enhancements needed with plenty of salary-cap space and trade ammunition. He's lived up to the hype so far.
However, there was one bizarre recent decision that raised eyebrows among the fanbase. And this didn't revolve around the money allocated to free-agent defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.
The Commanders weren't very active in the veteran pool initially. Peters didn't think too much about the options available, and he wasn't alone. There were a few new faces, but it didn't take long for his attention to focus on retaining players who were part of Washington's memorable run to the NFC Championship game last time around.
Several players have been given new deals since the new league year began. Some will play important roles. Others will be fighting for their places on the 53-man roster, especially considering the Commanders only have 65 players under contract right now according to Spotrac.
However, one extension represented a bizarre move considering his performance levels throughout the campaign.
Commanders hand Michael Deiter surprising reprieve despite subpar 2024
The Commanders announced that Michael Deiter will return in 2025 on a one-year deal. This keeps continuity on the offensive line depth chart, but it's hard to believe there wasn't a better option available.
Deiter is versatile, which worked in his favor. He's able to slot in anywhere along the interior if injury strikes. The problem centered on how big the drop-off was on Washington's protection whenever he was in the lineup.
Consistency cratered when Deiter replaced starting center Tyler Biadasz. The chemistry nose-dived and quarterback Jayden Daniels was less trusting, taking off on the run when pressure inevitably arrived.
Deiter's pass-blocking was abysmal, giving up three sacks and seven total pressures from just 144 pass-blocking snaps en route to a 41.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. This ranked 61st out of 64 qualifying centers.
Most thought Deiter would be moved on with little fanfare attached. Peters had other ideas, retaining the struggling lineman in the hope another offseason in the same blocking concepts with the same coaches can bring about improvements.
Considering Biadasz dealt with injury issues last season, the Commanders should have explored upgrades to their backup options. That's not to say Peters won't find a promising recruit from the college ranks. But with just five selections as it stands, Washington's options are restricted unless a trade-down partner can be found at some stage.
This shouldn't come with any guarantees. Deiter made the squad last season, so he'll feel confident. Even so, his subpar performances when opportunities came his way mean the veteran needs to prove himself all over again.
At least the Commanders are giving him a chance to do just that, no matter how strange it seems. Capitalizing on this surprising gift becomes Deiter's immediate (and most important) objective.
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