Competence and conviction returns to Commanders with Adam Peters hire

Making Adam Peters their new general manager signals the return of competence and conviction to the Washington Commanders under Josh Harris.

The Washington Commanders have chosen their guy to take the football operation forward. After a quick and thorough process over the past few days, the franchise has reportedly selected Adam Peters to be their next general manager, signaling the start of an exciting new era for this storied organization.

Peters was regarded as the hottest general manager candidate in this year's cycle. His work behind the scenes with the San Francisco 49ers has come in for significant praise. He's the quiet mastermind behind Niners general manager John Lynch, building through the draft and taking advantage of trade opportunities when they come to mold a leading Super Bowl contender.

Commanders hit a home run with Adam Peters hire

This should be considered a major coup by the Commanders. The statement of intent Josh Harris and his brain trust were looking for as part of their ambitious plans for long-term prosperity.

The first task for Peters - a Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots - is assessing the front office. Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney, in particular, according to John Keim of ESPN.

"Peters will be the lead football executive under Harris and play a key role in hiring Washington's next coach. He'll also evaluate the current front office, including Martin Mayhew, who served as the general manager the past three years. Mayhew worked with Peters for four years in San Francisco. Mayhew was a vice president of player personnel his last two years with the 49ers. Peters was the first major front office hire made by 49ers general manager John Lynch when he was hired in 2017. Now Peters becomes the first major front office hire made by [Harris] as Washington enters a new era."

- John Keim, ESPN

It's not just the hire that's so impressive, it's how it came about.

Harris - together with Bob Myers and Rick Spielman - have been working on how to approach this offseason for some time. This has allowed them to strike quickly and with purpose, identifying key targets and doing everything in their power to convince them that Washington is a coveted destination after two decades of misery under Dan Snyder.

Conviction and competence aren't words that have been associated with the Commanders - or whatever brand they've had - since the 1990s. In just four days, Harris has altered perceptions. This all bodes well for their next objective - finding the head coach capable of waking a sleeping giant.

There is growing belief that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be the chosen individual. Like Peters, he's the hottest candidate in his field. If the Commanders could pull off this double swoop, it would completely ignite the fanbase in the blink of an eye.

Peters is seen by most as a home-run hire. Someone with the right experience and forward thinking to make the roster moves needed to take the Commanders into the playoff picture. It might take time. It might not - especially with the vast draft assets and salary-cap space available this offseason. But having a stable presence with an exceptional reputation is a good place to start.

The 2023 season was tough going for Washington's long-suffering support. Amid the chaos and constant losing, Harris promised there would be light at the end of this dark tunnel. He wasn't lying.

Make no mistake, the majority partner and his team couldn't have made a bigger impression over the last week. And the best part? Harris is just getting started.