Adam Peters had no shortage of moving parts to manage this offseason. The Commanders’ general manager worked through 17 free-agent signings, eight re-signings, six contract extensions, six draft picks and nine undrafted additions while also being involved in the decision to keep Dan Quinn and overhaul both coordinator spots, with David Blough moving up to offensive coordinator and Daronte Jones taking over the defense.
That kind of turnover can go either way. In Washington’s case, Peters hit on several moves that should matter right away. The biggest wins came on the line, on the sideline and in the middle of the defense.
The cleanest call was locking up Laremy Tunsil. Peters already paid a steep price to land the left tackle, sending the Houston Texans a 2025 third-round pick and a seventh-rounder, plus second- and fourth-rounders in 2026, along with a 2025 fourth-round pick coming back to Washington.
Once Tunsil arrived, he backed up the investment by establishing himself as both a leader and an elite blindside protector. Peters then doubled down with a two-year, $60 million extension that keeps Tunsil in Washington through the 2028 season.
It’s a hefty number, but that’s the cost of doing business for a premium player at a premium position. More importantly, Tunsil gives the Commanders stability and a strong mentor - especially with all the work he does with Josh Conerly Jr. - while making the original draft capital look like a worthwhile gamble for Peters, Jayden Daniels and the team as a whole.
Peters also made the right call by changing the defensive direction. Washington finished last season No. 32 in total defense, No. 27 in scoring defense, allowing 384 yards per game, 26.5 points per game and ranking No. 29 with 6.0 yards per play allowed.
The roster had issues, sure, but the problems weren’t only about personnel. The scheme needed a reset, and that was obvious once Quinn took over play-calling in Week 10.
The key was not simply replacing the coordinator, but choosing the right kind of replacement. Instead of hiring someone to keep the old system alive, the Commanders brought in Daronte Jones and gave him room to install his own approach. That was the bold move, and it was the correct one.
Jones is bringing a different style - aggressive, fast and rooted in ideas tied to what Brian Flores runs in Minnesota and what Mike Zimmer used with the Vikings before him, with some Lou Anarumo mixed in. Washington also backed that up with younger, faster personnel in free agency and the draft. The early read on Jones has been positive, and after last season’s defensive collapse, a full break from the old setup was necessary.
Another smart decision was moving on from Bobby Wagner. On paper, 162 total tackles still looks impressive, but anyone who watched the Commanders knew he was getting exposed by the end of 2025. He had 11 straight seasons of at least second-team All-Pro honors, yet he was too slow to match the pace Washington needed.
Letting a likely Hall-of-Famer leave is never a trivial move, but Peters made it easier by not having to cut him. Wagner probably would have been released anyway, and Washington wasn’t his primary team or his hometown club. More importantly, his departure opened the door to a linebacker reset that the Commanders badly needed.
That overhaul got a major boost with No. 7 overall pick Sonny Styles, an elite athlete who gives the position a very different look. For Washington, that’s the kind of change that can make the whole offseason feel connected.
In Other News...
Commanders May Finally Be Forced To Fix Their Biggest Offensive Problem
Washington has spent the offseason trying to sharpen an offense that still has a clear weak spot, and now the front office may be ready to address it the hard way. General manager Adam Peters has not shut the door on a trade, even after leaning on other roster-building moves, and the receiver market is starting to look like the most direct path to adding another weapon for the passing game.
The names circulating fit different versions of the same idea: a proven target who could help right away, or a younger player whose current situation makes him available if the price is right. Calvin Ridley is one possibility, while Rashod Bateman is another, and both bring enough intrigue to make Washingtons search worth watching as the team weighs whether to stay patient or finally push for a bigger swing. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Veteran Suddenly Faces A Brutal Camp Fight For His Future
Deatrich Wise Jr. is heading into training camp with a lot more to prove than he did a year ago. The Washington defensive lineman signed another one-year deal after last season ended early for him, and the roster around him has changed enough that his old path to playing time is no longer so clear. With new defensive investments and a scheme shift in the mix, Wise is now fighting to show he still belongs in the conversation.
What keeps him interesting is the same thing that has helped veteran depth players survive in the past: he can move around the front and give a staff options if he is productive enough. Wises experience and versatility still matter, especially for a team that will need reliable pieces behind the headline names, but camp is where he has to make that case. For a player coming off a lost year, every rep now carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis Is Making A Strong First Impression
Athan Kaliakmanis is already making an impression in Washington, and not just because of what he does on the field. The Commanders rookie quarterback took part in the inaugural NFC East Rookies Challenge at Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, a lighthearted event that also helped raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, giving the first-year passer a chance to show some personality while settling into his new surroundings.
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 🡒]