Adam Peters has his work cut out for him this offseason. After a promising first year under head coach Dan Quinn that saw the Commanders reach the NFC Championship, 2025 brought a harsh reality check. Washington stumbled to just five wins, and now Peters is tasked with making sure that slide doesn’t turn into a full-blown freefall.
There’s no sugarcoating it - this roster needs a shake-up. Peters has six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but only two fall within the first four rounds. That puts a premium on smart spending in free agency, where Washington could have over $100 million in cap space once the dust settles from contract restructures, early extensions, and the inevitable roster cuts.
Before Peters can even think about bringing in outside help, he’s got to make some tough calls on his own free agents. Some of those decisions will be straightforward - aging veterans or underperformers likely won’t be back.
But others? Not so simple.
Peters will need to be both calculated and decisive if he wants to steer this team back toward contention.
One of the more complicated cases? Defensive end Drake Jackson.
Drake Jackson - DE
If there’s one area Washington absolutely must address this offseason, it’s the pass rush. Peters didn’t dance around that fact in his end-of-year press conference, and he’s right to make it a top priority.
The Commanders’ front looked sluggish in 2025 - slow off the ball, lacking explosion, and unable to create consistent pressure. That problem only worsened when Dorance Armstrong Jr. went down with a significant knee injury during what had been a breakout campaign.
The defensive line, once a strength, became a liability. And for a team that wants to hang its hat on physicality and disruption, that’s a problem Peters can’t afford to ignore.
Enter Drake Jackson - a player who sits right on the fence between potential and uncertainty.
Washington brought Jackson in after his stint with the 49ers ended, hoping to tap into the upside that made him a promising prospect out of USC. But his journey in D.C. started on the injured reserve list, as he continued to recover from lingering health issues.
He eventually saw the field late in the year, appearing in three games and recording four pressures and three tackles. It was a small sample, but it showed flashes of what he might still become.
That’s where Peters faces a dilemma. Jackson is young, athletic, and familiar with some of the defensive principles that new coordinator Daronte Jones might implement. With a full offseason to rehab and train, there’s a chance he could become a valuable rotational piece - or even more.
But there’s also the risk that Jackson never quite reaches the level Washington needs. Peters can’t afford to miss on edge help this offseason, and with new additions almost certainly on the way, there may not be room for a developmental project unless the coaching staff is fully sold.
This is the kind of decision that defines a front office. Does Peters bet on Jackson’s upside and give him another year to prove himself? Or does he cut ties and clear the path for a more immediate contributor?
Either way, the clock is ticking - and Peters has no shortage of tough calls to make.