Adam Peters spent the 2026 offseason doing just about everything a general manager can do. He turned over the roster in a big way, bringing in 17 free agents, keeping eight players in free agency, handing out six extensions, making six draft picks and then adding nine undrafted players. He also played a major role in keeping Dan Quinn as head coach and in the coordinator shakeup that sent David Blough to offensive coordinator and Daronte Jones to defensive coordinator.
That kind of volume guarantees a few hits and a few head-scratchers. Peters clearly made some smart moves. But there are also a few decisions that look questionable on paper, and the biggest concern starts with how long Washington waited to deal with its No. 2 receiver spot.
The Commanders have been living through Brandon Aiyuk fatigue, and it’s hard to blame their fans. The 49ers receiver has gone full nuclear on social media in recent weeks while trying to force his way out and land with Washington.
That alone would be enough noise. Add in DMV native Stefon Diggs dealing with public legal issues this summer, and the receiver market suddenly looks messy for a team that could use more firepower next to Terry McLaurin.
The problem is that Peters didn’t really solve that need early enough. Washington was working with limited draft capital, with only a third-round pick after taking linebacker Sonny Styles at No.
- There wasn’t an obvious receiver fit at that spot once Carnell Tate was gone, though Clemson’s Antonio Williams was eventually taken in the third round.
Maybe Williams turns into the kind of third-round steal McLaurin became. But that kind of outcome is rare, and the Commanders had the cap space to be more aggressive if they wanted to. Free-agent receivers are expensive, sure, but Washington still had plenty of room to make a move.
There were options. ESPN reported the Commanders were interested in Colts receiver Alec Pierce, but he stayed in Indianapolis and never reached free agency.
Mike Evans ended up in San Francisco. Pairing him with McLaurin would have looked pretty good.
Instead, Washington watched those possibilities disappear and now sits with volatile choices still on the board.
Cornerback presents a similar story. Peters didn’t ignore the position entirely, but he also didn’t go big.
Amik Robertson arrived in free agency on a two-year, $16 million deal, a move that suggests the Commanders believe in Trey Amos and Mikey Sainristil. That makes sense, since Peters drafted both of them in the second round over the last two years.
Still, the questions are obvious. Amos is coming off a season-ending leg injury, and Sainristil is coming off a rough 2025 campaign. Can that group, along with Robertson, hold up at such an important spot?
Washington did add Rasul Douglas last week, which was a smart depth and insurance move. But Peters passed on some quality that was available in free agency, and that could matter later.
Maybe it won’t. Maybe the lighter approach at cornerback works just fine.
But it’s fair to wonder whether the Commanders should have been more aggressive there, especially after taking a modest swing at receiver too.
The center situation is another choice that could go either way. Peters didn’t just let Tylar Biasdaz leave in free agency; he cut him.
ESPN reported the move was made to save money for other spending, though it also looked performance-based. Biasdaz then got a raise with the L.A.
Chargers and moved on.
Washington is betting on Nick Allegretti to handle center in Blough’s system, and there’s a belief that the new setup, with its heavy dose of wide-zone rushing concepts, could make the switch work. The Commanders also added Michigan State alum Matt Gulbin in the sixth round, with hopes he can develop into a center down the line.
That’s the kind of move that can age well if Allegretti delivers.
And that’s the bigger picture here: if center is the third item on a list of Peters’ worst offseason decisions, then he probably did a pretty good job overall. The real verdict won’t come until 2026, when Washington’s results will tell the story of whether these choices were sharp or shaky.
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Commanders Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis Is Making A Strong First Impression
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Kaliakmanis came away with the challenge crown after winning both the Wave Pool and Lazy River events, a small but notable early marker for a player trying to carve out his place in the organization. He also talked about joining the Commanders, learning from teammates and approaching his first NFL opportunity the right way, and those early impressions suggest Washington likes what it has seen so far as he continues to find his footing. [Read more 🡒]