7 Commanders players Adam Peters was right to part ways with in 2024
By Dean Jones
Logan Thomas - Former Commanders TE
Veteran tight end Logan Thomas' production was solid enough last season. He stayed relatively healthy, which was another bonus. However, this wasn't enough to see out the final year of his deal with the Washington Commanders.
Many thought Thomas would be a salary-cap casualty given there was more than $6 million in savings attached to his early departure. Adam Peters let him go as anticipated, with the Commanders acquiring two tight-end options who should be able to provide an upgrade in production.
Zach Ertz is familiar with Kliff Kingsbury's offensive demands. He's not played much football of late and is firmly in the twilight of his prolific career, but there is some merit to having him around as a dependable pass-catching option and mentor to younger players looking to follow in his footsteps.
The Commanders also selected Ben Sinnott at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. This comes with significant intrigue attached, so it doesn't seem as if Thomas will be missed if these new additions hit the ground running.
Cody Barton - Former Commanders LB
After it became a constant afterthought during Ron Rivera's roster building, the linebacking corps finally got the respect it deserved from new general manager Adam Peters. The Washington Commanders prioritized this unit in free agency. They also picked up an intriguing rotational/development piece during the 2024 NFL Draft in the form of Jordan Magee.
This group has gone from a weak link to arguably the team's biggest strength in the blink of an eye. Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner will set the tone for others to follow. Their presence should also allow Jamin Davis to be moved around as Dan Quinn looks to put his outstanding physical attributes to better use.
Washington had some collateral damage as a result. Cody Barton wasn't brought back after his underwhelming campaign. Nobody will be shedding too many tears about that looking at his sluggish performances. Whether he can galvanize his career after signing a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with the Denver Broncos is another matter.
Fortunately, that's not the Commanders' problem anymore. We can all be thankful for that.