One of the most prominent dates on the draft assessment calendar is on the immediate horizon. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will be at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which is an important occasion for more than just evaluating potential prospects of interest.
This is also a time when negotiations can begin on new contracts and trade talks gather pace. Having coaches, front office personnel, and agents all in the same place represents a hotbed of activity. But the most important thing from Washington's perspective is getting a good feel for every prospect they interview and see on the field in pursuit of narrowing down their shortlist.
The Commanders have seven draft selections at their disposal currently. Couple this with their substantial salary-cap availability, and Peters is in a strong position heading into the offseason. Looking at how Washington's opening draft class under his leadership fared in year one, fans are hoping this is the start of an ongoing trend.
Of course, drafting good players is a fine art.
The league is littered with teams languishing in mediocrity or worse thanks in no small part to their lack of nous in this critical area of recruitment. That's not the case with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who've nailed their last few drafts and have the Vince Lombardi trophy to show for it.
Commanders GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will speak at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
Peters and Quinn will also speak to media members at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This is probably the last time we'll hear from both officially before free agency and the draft. There are going to be plenty of questions to answer, mainly regarding incomings and potential extensions with some of the 29 free agents Washington has to navigate.
First up will be Peters, who is scheduled for a press conference on Tuesday, February 25 at noon ET. The front-office leader won't be giving too much away, but there might be a few clues if reporters look hard enough.
Quinn is up in front of reporters on Wednesday, February 26 at 1 p.m. ET. His focus will probably be on the sort of prospects he's looking for, the desirable traits capable of fitting into the locker room, and diverting any other questions to Peters (who'd have already spoken by this point).
The last time we heard from Quinn and Peters was during their exit presser. Although they were disappointed to fall short of the Super Bowl, there was a clear sense of pride in their accomplishments and an obvious drive to ensure this becomes the start of something truly special in D.C.
Peters wants to build through the draft and supplement any remaining needs in free agency. The Commanders must be more aggressive with their Super Bowl window open, but the former San Francisco 49ers executive won't be mortgaging the future and dismissing the long-term plan he brought into the organization upon taking the job.
The NFL Scouting Combine is a hive of activity. And who knows, perhaps the seeds will be sown for a successful offseason for the Commanders along the way.