Nobody expected general manager Adam Peters to be anything other than aggressive when the free agency window opened. The Washington Commanders had money to spend and were in desperate need of a roster overhaul. More is needed, but the franchise is off to a tremendous start.
And the moves made by Peters so far give the Commanders some additional power when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around.
The needs for Washington couldn't be clearer entering the offseason. They needed to prioritize the defense while also adding to the weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Peters recognized this, too, and he's turned over every stone in pursuit of achieving these objectives.
Commanders became a draft wild card after agreesive first wave of free agency
There were big splashes and some potential bargains over the first wave of free agency. The team added three new edge rushers, an ascending linebacker, a hard-hitting safety, and a versatile cornerback. Peters also got a legitimate pass-catching tight end and a dual-threat running back in Rachaad White, who reunites with Daniels for pennies on the dollar.
Now, Peters can approach his first-round pick at No. 7 overall with flexibility rather than urgently trying to solve a need. There should be several blue-chip prospects available, depending on what goes on in front of Washington. But there is just no telling how the Commanders will use it.
That's a positive. It keeps other teams guessing. It could even create trade-down opportunities, which Peters will consider.
The Commanders only have two picks in the first four rounds. If Peters can get a second-rounder and more by moving back, that will be difficult to turn down.
Peters won't hesitate to take the best prospect available on his board. While edge rushers David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. might not be high on the shortlist, they couldn't be dismissed entirely. The same goes for linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, despite the acquisitions of Leo Chenal and Nick Cross. Signing White may not preclude the Commanders from selecting Jeremiyah Love if he makes it that far.
Carnell Tate, Mansoor Delane, and maybe even Makai Lemon are other possibilities. The options are now endless for Peters, which makes the Commanders a legitimate wild-card team entering the draft when they go on the clock.
This is precisely what Peters had in mind. He didn't want to go into the draft feeling under any pressure to target one position with his first-round pick. Now, he can let the board play out in front of him, react accordingly, and become more receptive to a move back if a substantial offer comes along.
Nobody should be complaining about that. And if a few more notable signings are confirmed beforehand, that's only going to strengthen the Commanders' draft strategy.