The Washington Commanders made room for the impending return of running back Jeremy McNichols by waiving sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen. They hope to get him onto the practice squad, but the decision raised more than a few eyebrows among fans.
And this is not a good look for general manager Adam Peters.
Washington's front-office leader is coming under increasing scrutiny. The Commanders have gone 5-16 since their sensational run to the NFC Championship game in 2024, and even though injuries and coaching play a role, Peters must also be held accountable for the team's struggles.
Kaytron Allen's exit reflects poorly on Commanders' GM Adam Peters
The Commanders had a lot of work to do when the new regime took charge. Peters inherited an ungodly mess from Ron Rivera, which stemmed from terrible drafting and very few cornerstone pieces.
But aside from quarterback Jayden Daniels, offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., and linebacker Sonny Styles — all first-round selections — the rest of Peters' draft picks are questionable at best.
And that is a problem.
Allen was only a sixth-round pick, and he didn't shine with limited opportunities. But giving up on him so early, without the time needed to grow into an active-roster role, isn't in keeping with successful draft-and-develop programs around the league.
McNichols is a valued special-teams contributor, and with pressure clearly building, this regime prefers experience.
Regardless of whether Allen comes back to the practice squad, it's a knock on his long-term ambitions in Washington. And if the Commanders weren't going to let him grow, one has to wonder what the point in drafting him actually was?
Adam Peters' draft record with the Commanders is questionable at best
That's on Peters.
And patience is wearing thin.
Peters now has three draft classes under his belt in Washington. Aside from Daniels, every other pick from the 2024 class has questions to answer. His Day 2 picks have been disastrous, with Jordan Magee and Javontae Jean-Baptiste on the fringes.
The 2025 cohort had Conerly, who looks the part in Year 2. Trey Amos could be a productive starting cornerback if he stays healthy, and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round bargain despite his disappointing start to his second season.
Jaylin Lane and Kain Medrano? Not so much.
It's way too early to judge the 2026 class. Styles looks like a superstar, but that's about it so far. They need time, but the Commanders quickly made up their minds about Allen, regardless of whether he returns to the practice squad.
The Commanders believe they can cope without Allen. That made him expendable.
Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, McNichols, and Austin Ekeler look like a decent quartet, but how the dynamic will shake out remains to be seen. Peters also released the Penn State product strategically, at a time when other teams will find it difficult to cut someone else to bring him on board.
Allen could join another practice squad if he feels particularly slighted and there is an offer on the table, but it's hard to say for sure.
Either way, this does nothing to convince fans that Peters can find the right recruits via the college ranks.
And if he gets another chance in 2027, he must deliver.
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