7 Commanders players Adam Peters was right to part ways with in 2024

Joe Slye - Former Commanders K

Ron Rivera was incredibly loyal to his players. This is a commendable trait and a testament to the coach's high character. However, it resulted in giving too many chances to some who just weren't up to the required standard.

A prime example of this came at the kicking position. The Washington Commanders kept faith with Joey Slye last season - who is a close Rivera associate from their previous stint together on the Carolina Panthers. He's got one of the biggest legs in the league, but accuracy is a major ongoing issue for the converted linebacker out of Virginia Tech.

Once Rivera was removed from the equation, things looked especially bleak for Slye. The Commanders signed Brandon McManus in free agency, which sealed his fate and ended a less-than-stellar spell with the organization.

Slye has already bounced around a team or two in recent months, which isn't a shock considering his subpar production. The best he can probably hope for at this juncture is getting the chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere.

Antonio Gibson - Former Commanders RB

Antonio Gibson looked like a potential star once upon a time. The running back seemed destined for a highly productive career in the nation's capital after going over 1,000 rushing yards in 2021. After that, it was a steady regression that resulted in not getting a second contract with the Commanders.

The emergence of Brian Robinson Jr. in 2023 coupled with a new regime coming into the fold left Gibson on the outside looking in. He wasn't out of work for long, signing a three-year deal with the New England Patriots that could be worth up to $11.25 million with incentives. Much like the situation with Curtis Samuel, this is never something general manager Adam Peters was going to match.

Washington had something up its sleeve to ensure no backfield momentum was lost. The Commanders pulled off a coup by signing veteran Austin Ekeler, who should form a prolific partnership with Robinson and make life easier for new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels along the way.

Gibson is a good player and remains a popular figure among the fanbase. That said, it's hard to look at Ekeler's production and not think the Commanders didn't get a huge upgrade.