NFL free agency officially begins next week. But for one former Washington Commanders starter who's gone to thrive elsewhere, he's got nothing more to worry about.
And for general manager Adam Peters, it puts the exclamation point on one of his most egregious mistakes since taking charge.
Not a lot of mistakes were made in the 2024 offseason for the Commanders, but one of them that flew under the radar was letting safety Kamren Curl walk in free agency. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he has spent the past two seasons and played quality football.
Kamren Curl deal puts exclamation point on massive Commanders error in judgment
Curl was exceptional for the Rams last season, and it didn't go unnoticed by Rams general manager Les Snead. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the dynamic safety has signed a new three-year, $36 million deal to remain in Los Angeles. It also ended a hope Commanders fans had of an unlikely reunion with the defensive back in free agency.
The Commanders replaced Curl with Jeremy Chinn, then inexplicably let him walk too and signed Will Harris. Between the Boston College product and struggling 2023 second-round pick Quan Martin, they now have a glaring hole at the safety position.
Curl is a big hitter who always brought the energy in Washington and made everyone around him better. The only criticism of him was that he struggled to generate takeaways, but he had his best year since his rookie season in that regard in 2025, with two picks and a forced fumble.
Everybody during Curl's four seasons in Washington could have told you how valuable he was to the Commanders' defense. His injury at the end of the 2022 campaign might have singlehandedly cost the team a playoff appearance. He's a great tackler who covers well and even brings the occasional pressure. Any NFL organization would be lucky to have him.
Peters held a different opinion. He clearly doesn't value the position as much as other teams. Letting Curl and Chinn take their chances elsewhere after exceptional contributions in Washington is proof of that. What he's got planned this offseason is anyone's guess, but a change in approach might be the preferred option.
Because nothing Peters has done at the safety position up to now has brought any long-term benefits to the Commanders.
The Rams were not willing to let Curl enter unrestricted free agency. They recognized his rising trajectory and outstanding performances and rewarded him accordingly.
Peters did not. And the Commanders are still paying the price.