5 bold moves Commanders made during the 2024 offseason

Commanders allowed good free agents to leave without a fight

It was clear that the previous regime led by previous head coach Ron Rivera did not leave a roster well-stocked with talent. Major free agent signings from last year - especially the likes of Cody Barton and Nick Gates - were unmitigated disasters.

A lot of Rivera's draft picks throughout his four-year tenure were deemed expendable when their rookie deals expired. It was not surprising that Peters made no genuine effort to retain players like Saahdiq Charles or Khaleke Hudson. They flashed promise, but reliability was an issue when both were given prominent reps on the defensive rotation.

Some thought the new front-office leader might want to negotiate with running back Antonio Gibson. But serious discussions never materialized and he signed for the New England Patriots on a three-year deal.

Still, at least three free agents played well in 2023 and could have been viewed as useful building blocks going forward. Veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller and wide receiver Curtis Samuel were a little older but still in their prime. They would have been an asset during this transition period for Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

Fuller was the Commanders' best cornerback in 2023 by a considerable margin. Samuel was the team's second-best receiver. Still, Peters showed little interest in negotiating new deals with them. They both ended up in the AFC East with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills respectively.

Perhaps most surprising, Kamren Curl was never close to re-signing. Despite the former seventh-round pick's rise into a key contributor, the Commanders never offered him an extension according to reports.

Curl has been one the steadiest players drafted during the Rivera years and could have been viewed as a cornerstone going forward. The fact that Peters made no serious effort to retain any of these players shows how he regarded the roster he inherited and how eager he was to essentially start over.