The Washington Commanders, teetering on the brink of a substantial rebuild, have found their next General Manager in Adam Peters.
His specialty is now to shepherd the nation’s capital’s NFL team into a new phase of its existence.
In his first media interaction post his appointment as the Commanders’ GM, Peters underscored the magnitude of the task at hand.
The Commanders, in dire need of a thorough rebuild, aim to usher in an era of successful football in Washington, D.C.
Peters viewed the essentiality of assembling a competent, resourceful team as both a challenge and an opportunity for his leadership role.
Commanders GM Adam Peters discusses upcoming HC search, building team around "cornerstone" playershttps://t.co/5ePnAmXblS
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 17, 2024
The abrupt departure of Ron Rivera has left a vacuum that ought to be filled swiftly.
While Peters himself admitted that no interviews have been conducted thus far, he has a vision for the expected capabilities of the new Head Coach.
“We’re looking for the best leader for this team, for the Washington Commanders,” Peters told reporters. “So we’ll have set criteria that we’re going to be aligned in that vision, and it’s not going to be in a box, it’s not going to be offense, it’s not going to be defense, it’s going to be the best leader for this organization.”
The Commanders are in a privileged position with the number two pick in the impending draft.
Besides, with the unexpected advantage of $75.3 million in open cap space for 2024, they have the best odds in the NFL.
This season is especially fruitful for the Commanders, considering an attractive line-up of quarterback options from the college pool.
Since 2018, the Commanders have started with a different quarterback each season due to various circumstances.
While they found some stability in Sam Howell in 2023, the repeated shifts have caused a worrisome inconsistency in the team’s performance.
Even though several scenarios regarding their quarterback situation can be drafted, the possibilities remain wide open.
Despite the prevailing uncertainty at QB, Peters appreciates the team’s stable roster. He identified that there are several strong performers in various positions which can serve as a supportive foundation for a challenging reinvention.
“I believe that there’s a few cornerstone pieces on this roster, I believe we have a lot of work to do, and that’s just evaluating everybody, and that’s going to start with the coaches,” he said. “Once the coaches come in, we hire a head coach, and we sit down together with the personnel department, and we sit down and evaluate everything, and figure out where we need to be. So that’s an ongoing process, I’ve started a little bit, but we have a lot of work to do.”
Peters is not oblivious to the logistical and tactical nuances of a team rebuild, having been in a similar role when the San Francisco 49ers went through a dramatic turnaround.
To this end, he intends to draw from his successful seven-year stint with the 49ers. Also, the satisfaction of transforming the 49ers into championship contenders undoubtedly fuels his vision for the Commanders.
“I think the thing that I could tell you is right away, with the 49ers maybe the results didn’t show, but you could see it on the field, and you could see what we were doing on the field, and the fans could feel it and they knew it was turning and we were close,” Peters said on Tuesday. “So you can’t put timetables on it, but what I can tell you is that you’re going to see great competitors, you’re going to see a physical team, you’re going to be really impressed with what you see on the field.”
