Perhaps Adam Peters will approach free agency as he did in 2024?
You may recall that the Washington Commanders' new GM arrived and was busy releasing veterans, signing new ones, and making a draft-day trade to acquire an extra draft choice.
In that first off season for the Commanders, Peters quickly released three starters from the 2023 team: Logan Thomas, Nick Gates and Charles Leno, Jr. Then Peters surprised many by letting Commanders go that he had no interest in re-signing such as RB Antonio Gibson, DE Casey Toohill, WR Curtis Samuel, QB Jacoby Brissett, DE James Smith-Williams, S Kam Curl, CB Kendall Fuller, G Saahdiq Charles and K Joey Slye.
Looking at each of those, how many would you say Peters unquestionably missed on, and should have resigned them? I don't know that I could say he "unquestionably" missed any of them. You could question whether Kam Curl should have been re-signed.
Next came a large volume of one-year contracts signed with veteran free agents. Only five contracts were three-year deals. That was wise by Peters. For instance, the Daron Payne deal now, where his dead cap hit this season is $28 million, yet he has played nothing close to that value. That was signed when Ron Rivera was the head coach/general manager.
Of those five three-year deals, it would appear four of the five players are expected to still be present and starting in 2026: DE Dorance Armstrong, LB Frankie Luvu, C Tyler Biadasz and LS Tyler Ott. The only deal that has underperformed has been G Nick Allegretti. Two two-year deals were also completed as RB Austin Ekeler and S Jeremy Reaves re-signed for two years.
Consequently, with the Commanders not owning draft choices in the second or fourth rounds, don't be surprised to see Peters busy again signing most players to a prove-it, one-year deal. Then look for him to sprinkle in a few more two- or three-year deals with ascending players.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: How will GM Adam Peters approach free agency?