The Washington Commanders thought they had strategically waived rookie running back Kaytron Allen to get him onto their practice squad. Unfortunately, general manager Adam Peters miscalculated just how much interest there would be.
And it's left him looking a little red-faced.
The Miami Dolphins picked up Allen off waivers. They had first priority with the NFL's worst record, and they desperately need running back help after losing De'Von Achane to a season-ending torn ACL.
Dolphins claiming Kaytron Allen leaves the Commanders looking foolish
They were not alone in converting Allen, either.
According to reports, several teams around the league also put in waiver claims. Though Allen's time in Washington fizzled out quickly, the league still views him positively.
If he transitions smoothly to the Miami setup, he could feature soon.
This whole situation hasn't gone well for Peters. The Commanders once again preferred experience to developing talent. It's a flaw they also went with last season without much success, and it seems like the same trend is continuing this time around as pressure builds.
Peters defended his decision, saying the Commanders weren't down on Allen and planned to bring him back onto the practice squad. And the timing of his release was supposed to give them a good chance of the backfield force slipping through the net unnoticed.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Kaytron Allen will now aim to make the Commanders regret their decision
And if Allen goes on to thrive in Miami, even more scrutiny will come Peters' way.
Allen is only a sixth-round selection. He was behind more established running backs in the pecking order, and people may be making too big a deal out of it.
Even so, it is not a good look.
Peters clearly didn't judge things effectively. The front office leader thought he was playing chess, and he lost. Now, Allen will be out to prove the Commanders made a grave error, and the Penn State product isn't lacking motivation as he looks to stick with the Dolphins.
At the very least, the Commanders could have explored a trade opportunity.
Interest in Allen was high, but Peters didn't think it would be. While nothing has been confirmed, this mindset suggests the Commanders didn't explore trade avenues.
Debatable. But if so, that's another mistake.
The fact that Allen's departure drew so much criticism signals a shifting mood around Peters. Fans are getting sick of losing, and even though injuries have played their part, the roster construction is now coming under fire.
Washington is in real danger of wasting quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract. Peters is trying his best, but it hasn't been enough so far. The conference championship game appearance seems like a lifetime ago, and if the Commanders cannot turn their campaign around, his seat is going to get a little warmer.
As for Allen? He is definitely warmer after landing with the Dolphins. His primary objective now is to firmly establish himself as their long-term power option.
If he does, Peters will look even more foolish than he already does.
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