The Washington Commanders achieved more than anyone imagined during their first season under head coach Dan Quinn. That won't stop general manager Adam Peters from making more drastic changes to the playing personnel this offseason.
Peters is a ruthless, aggressive roster builder. Gutting two-thirds of Washington's squad in year one was just the start. Especially considering the Commanders officially opened their Super Bowl window much sooner than anticipated.
Most fans and analysts expected improvement of some kind. That was a realistic aim, but 14 total victories (regular season and playoffs) led Washington to the NFC Championship game against all odds. They eventually came unstuck one game short of the Super Bowl. Even so, nobody could have asked any more from the new regime as they formally announced the Commanders' return to the NFL's forefront.
The Commanders are in a strong position heading into the offseason. They have plenty of salary-cap space to strengthen the ranks and seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Peters has genuine flexibility with a rookie quarterback contract to build around. Unfortunately for some, not everyone will come along for the ride.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players who won't be missed when they inevitably depart this offseason. We'll begin with veteran offensive lineman Michael Deiter.
Washington Commanders players who won't be missed in 2025
Michael Deiter - Commanders OL
If there was one key area where the Washington Commanders were found wanting against the NFL's elite, it was the trenches on both sides of the football. Not having Daron Payne or Sam Cosmi available against the Philadelphia Eagles represented a significant blow, one that exposed the team's lack of depth along the way.
Michael Deiter was acquired as a depth piece in Peters' first offseason. His experience and ability to play anywhere along the interior brought intrigue and possible stability. It didn't take long to realize this wasn't going to go well.
Deiter struggled during the preseason, which set the tone for what came next. The former Wisconsin standout played 232 snaps throughout the campaign, giving up three sacks and seven pressures from 144 pass-blocking reps. His 41.1 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 61st out of 64 qualifying centers. It was pretty ugly aside from a few flashes.
There was no confidence in Deiter. There's almost no chance the veteran gets a new deal with reinforcements expected. And it wouldn't take much to upgrade the depth options across the offensive line based on his performance levels when called upon.