Even Emmanuel Acho had to admit what the Commanders just pulled off

The Washington Commanders have taken care of business so far in free agency, and everybody knows it. Even those who never seem to have anything positive to say.

General manager Adam Peters went out and added edge rushers Odafe Oweh, Charles Omenihu, and K'Lavon Chaisson. They acquired safety Nick Cross, cornerback Amik Robertson, linebacker Leo Chenal, tight end Chig Okonkwo, and running backs Rachaad White and Jerome Ford. Peters might still not be done if there are any legs to the Brandon Aiyuk rumors.

After going 5-12 last year, Washington needed all the help it could get to return to respectability. The first wave of free agency was an ideal start, and Peters is getting his flowers from the unlikeliest of sources.

Commanders' first wave of free agency gets praise from unlikely source

Emmanuel Acho gave a shoutout to the Commanders on his Speakeasy talk show, citing the fit for Peters' laundry list of new additions. Particularly, he emphasized the signings on the defensive side of the ball.

"Dan Quinn knows exactly what he needs... he needs to get younger, he needs to get more pass-rushers, and he needs to get more depth. And that's exactly what he got. When you look at what the Commanders did, they did not make any splash signings. But they made a lot of really good signings."

Oweh could be considered a splash signing, with a four-year, $100 million deal. But aside from him, Acho's point is correct.

The Commanders didn't chase the big names or throw their money around at players who would have cost a fortune. They went the Moneyball route, prioritizing team needs while betting on upside.

Chaisson is the only addition besides Oweh whose average value exceeds $10 million, and he's on a one-year deal. Washington got Chenal, Robertson, Okonkwo, and Cross all within the $7-to-8 million range, and others, such as White, for even less.

In addition to having the league's oldest and slowest roster, the Commanders also had a glaring depth issue last season. That became apparent when Washington was ravaged by injuries and had no one to step up.

Fixing that has been a top priority for Peters. He has signed a total of 15 players — including the re-signings of left guard Chris Paul, quarterback Marcus Mariota, and running back Jeremy McNichols — throughout free agency.

Building a competitive NFL roster is ultimately about quality over quantity, but strength in numbers matters. The Commanders didn't break the bank for a superstar such as Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson, but they got the guys they needed.

And finally, Peters is building things the right way.