Adam Peters didn’t waste any time putting his stamp on the Washington Commanders. When he took over as general manager, he came in with a clear plan: tear it down, build it back up through the draft, and get younger, faster, and more dynamic.
That approach paid off early-Washington surged all the way to the NFC Championship game. But in Year 2, things didn’t just stall-they unraveled.
Peters pivoted away from his draft-first philosophy, opting instead to roll the dice on veteran talent in hopes of capitalizing on that playoff momentum. The gamble didn’t pay off.
Injuries piled up. Older players couldn’t hold up.
And the young core that was supposed to take the next step? It never quite materialized.
That brings us back to the 2024 draft class. Two years in, it’s time to take a closer look at how that group has developed-or in some cases, failed to-and what it means for the Commanders moving forward.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - EDGE, Notre Dame
Round 7, Pick 222
Year 1 Grade: A → Year 2 Grade: B
When you’re talking about seventh-round picks, you’re usually hoping for a special teams contributor or a developmental project. But Javontae Jean-Baptiste bucked that trend right out of the gate.
He earned a rotational role as a rookie and showed real flashes-speed off the edge, a high motor, and a nose for disruption. That kind of production from a late-round pick?
That’s house money.
Year 2 was supposed to be the leap. But a torn pectoral muscle in the early going-suffered against the Falcons-shut him down for the season. It's a tough break for a player who looked poised to carve out a bigger role, especially as Washington transitions to a new defensive coordinator and likely a new scheme.
Now, Jean-Baptiste finds himself in a familiar spot: fighting for a spot all over again. The talent’s there, and the early returns were promising. But heading into Year 3, he’s got to prove he can stay healthy and adapt to a revamped defense that’s likely to bring in new faces and fresh competition.
Dominique Hampton - S/LB, Washington
Round 5, Pick 161
Year 1 Grade: C → Year 2 Grade: F
This one never really got off the ground. Dominique Hampton came into the league after a strong final season at Washington, where he played a hybrid safety-linebacker role. The Commanders clearly saw a versatile chess piece, someone who could develop into a matchup defender in today’s pass-heavy league.
But the transition didn’t take. Hampton made the roster in 2024 but was barely a factor on game days.
He spent most of his rookie season buried on the depth chart, and when he finally got extended snaps in the following preseason, things went sideways fast. A rough outing sealed his fate, and Washington moved on before the 2025 regular season even began.
Hampton hasn’t resurfaced elsewhere, and unless something changes drastically, this pick looks like a miss. It happens-especially in the middle rounds where teams are often projecting traits over polish-but it’s a reminder that not every athletic profile translates to the NFL.
Final Thoughts on the 2024 Draft Class (So Far)
Two years in, Peters’ first draft class in Washington is a mixed bag. Jean-Baptiste showed enough as a rookie to still be in the conversation, but injuries have stalled his progress.
Hampton, meanwhile, never found his footing. And beyond those two, the rest of the class hasn’t done much to move the needle either.
That doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause-development isn’t always linear, and some players need more time. But for a team that hoped to build a foundation through the draft, the early returns haven’t matched the expectations.
As Washington heads into another offseason of transition, Peters will be under pressure to hit on his next draft class-and to find out if any of his 2024 picks can still be part of the long-term vision.