Adam Peters has transformed the Washington Commanders. The general manager knew there was a tremendous amount of hard work ahead. He knew this project needed drastic measures immediately. The respected front office leader improved the infrastructure and completely shifted the mindset within the building in one fell swoop.
One of the biggest flaws of Ron Rivera's four-year stint as head coach was his failure to identify the correct college prospects. It was a constant stream of failed high-end draft selections. Aside from a couple of rare gems in the later rounds, it was largely underwhelming after that. The fact Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - who is hanging by a thread - is the only first-round pick left from his era speaks volumes.
Peters navigated his first draft exceptionally well. He moved up and down the board when opportunities arose, leaving nothing to chance and always keeping the bigger picture in mind. He trusted his colleagues and their evaluations - something that's played a leading role in the team's jaw-dropping renaissance over the first half of 2024.
With this in mind, we took a look at how Peters' first rookie class has fared so far and graded each prospect at the midseason point.
Re-grading Commanders 2024 draft class at the midseason point
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB
- Round No. 7 | No. 222 overall
The Washington Commanders ended their first draft under Adam Peters by taking a flier on Javontae Jean-Baptiste. His athletic traits were something those in power thought could be molded into something more. It was always going to be a development project than anything else, but the early signs were promising nonetheless.
Jean-Baptiste outperformed former first-round pick Jamin Davis, who was released after failing to make a successful transition to the edge-rushing spot. This was a supreme vote of confidence in the rookie, who wasted no time in repaying the faith shown in him by the coaching staff.
The Notre Dame product gained one sack and four pressures from 36 percent of the team's defensive snaps. His encouraging 73.4 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 22nd out of 192 qualifying edge defenders to further raise encouragement.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Midseason draft grade: A
Getting this much production so quickly from a seventh-round pick is highly encouraging. Jean-Baptiste's impressive start was halted by a trip to injured reserve with an ankle issue. Hopefully, this doesn't dent his overall outlook and the first-year pro can pick up where he left off once medically cleared to resume football activities.