Adam Peters had a monumental task on his hands heading into the offseason. The Washington Commanders entrusted him with a rich bounty of assets to turn this wayward organization around. Huge alterations to the playing personnel were expected and the general manager duly delivered.
There was a level of conviction, professionalism, and long-term strategic planning that was seldom seen under previous regimes. Peters has been around the game for a long time. He's waited years to find the right opportunity. After identifying the Commanders as exactly that following lengthy conversations with Josh Harris' ownership group, he's keen to make the most of it.
Washington's roster looks almost unrecognizable from the one that concluded Ron Rivera's final campaign as head coach. There is fresh energy in the building with everyone pulling in the same direction. Fans are optimistic, although expecting Dan Quinn to immediately oversee strides into playoff contention is unrealistic, at least initially.
With the dust settling on a frantic recruitment period, here are seven former Commanders players that Peters was right to part ways during the 2024 offseason.
Saahdiq Charles - Former Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders offensive line was nothing short of embarrassing last season. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy put too much pressure on the struggling unit with a pass-heavy scheme, but only right guard Sam Cosmi reached or exceeded expectations during his genuine breakout campaign.
This was another season where Saahdiq Charles flattered to deceive. The former LSU star was given countless chances to impose himself throughout his stint in Washington. Injuries and poor production meant moving in a different direction this offseason was almost guaranteed.
Charles left with little fanfare attached, signing a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Whether the new additions provide an upgrade for the Commanders remains to be seen, but Adam Peters wasn't going to sit on his hands and do nothing in pursuit of progress.
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.
Nick Gates - Former Commanders OL
As previously mentioned, it came as no surprise to see Adam Peters implement significant changes across the offensive line during his first offseason as the team's front-office leader. Those around during the previous campaign failed to meet even modest expectations aside from Sam Cosmi. With the prospect of a new quarterback coming into the fold, solidifying the protection was among the Washington Commanders' biggest priorities.
Peters wasted no time in finding an upgrade at the center position. Tyler Biadasz was signed in free agency to link back up immediately with Dan Quinn. As a result, Nick Gates was deemed surplus to requirements and released after just one season in the nation's capital.
Gates struggled right out of the gate and was benched by Ron Rivera in favor of Tyler Larsen. His production improved slightly upon his return to the lineup, but it was nowhere near good enough to get a reprieve under the new regime.
The fact Gates is still seeking employment elsewhere is a damning indictment of how his production last season is perceived around the league. If no opportunities arrive before Week 1, that could be it for his football journey in the pros.
Curtis Samuel - Former Commanders WR
Curtis Samuel arrived in 2021 free agency after going over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Carolina Panthers the previous season. Big things were expected of the former second-round selection out of Ohio State as a result, but he never quite managed to meet these lofty projections upon reuniting with head coach Ron Rivera in a different environment.
Samuel suffered problems with injuries that hindered his early contribution. There was a lot to like about the wide receiver's production when healthy, but the Commanders opted not to match the lucrative offer he received from the Buffalo Bills when the legal tampering period began.
The versatile offensive weapon signed a three-year, $24 million deal with just over $15 million guaranteed. Looking at the way Adam Peters has worked contracts since arriving, seeking alternatives was always a genuine possibility.
Whether the Commanders have enough at the wide receiver position to compensate for Samuel's departure is debatable. However, the team does have additional financial resources to acquire another capable performer or two if the right opportunity comes along.
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.