NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
* All stats/grades are via PFF
Adam Peters completed his first draft with Washington last week. Most of the draft media gave the Commanders anywhere from an A- to an A+. While it was only one draft, I believe we learned about how Peters will look to construct the roster in the coming years.
Here are three takeaways/things we learned in Adam Peters’ first draft.
No More Drafting for Need
Drafting “needs” was something the last regime was notorious for. While this doesn’t always lead to bad picks, the end results can lead to a roster with lackluster talent. In 2021, they passed on drafting OT Christian Darrisaw (now a top 5 LT in the NFL) for LB Jamin Davis. After losing Kevin Pierre Louis in free agency, Washington had a massive hole at LB, which ultimately led to the Davis selection.
In 2022, Payne was expected to walk after the upcoming season. This led to them reaching on Phidarian Mathis in the 2nd round to be his replacement.
The Commander’s defense in 2022 only forced 18 turnovers, ranking 26th lowest. Wanting to improve that number, Washington selected Emmanuel Forbes over Christian Gonzalez because Forbes was a “ballhawk.” Every year, the last regime would reach on multiple players to fill their needs. Peters did not make this same mistake last week.
On day 2 of the draft, Peters made multiple picks that signaled they were drafting for talent. None were louder than the selection of Jer’Zhan Newton. Allen and Payne have a combined cap hit of $43 million in 2024 and $49 million in 2025. This didn’t stop Peters from selecting the DT 36th overall. Newton’s explosiveness and ability to shed blocks led many to believe he was a surefire 1st rounder.
Newton was PFF’s 11th ranked prospect. Washington got him at 36
— Cooley's Takes (@Cooleystakes) April 26, 2024
The Mike Sainristil selection surprised some as well since Quan Martin (the 2023 2nd round pick) played mainly in the slot last season. In only 2 years of playing defense, Sainristil quickly established himself as one of the best slot CBs in the country.
Mike Sainristil’s stable metrics (coverage grade):
– 99th percentile in the slot
– 95th percentile in single coverage
– 96th percentile vs a clean pocket
– 94th percentile when time to throw was over 3 seconds
Was PFF’s 34th ranked prospect
— Cooley's Takes (@Cooleystakes) April 27, 2024
What Peters Values Most in a QB
Much speculation circled the media and the fan base about what type of QB Peters prefers. Some alluded to the Trey Lance pick in 2021, while others mentioned how Brock Purdy’s success meant Peters could lean toward a skill set similar to his. He actually gave some insight into this question during an interview. He emphasized that a QB needs to know how to play the position first.
QB is arguably the most difficult and complex position in all of sports. Physical tools can only take someone so far. They must have the awareness and ability to process loads of information in a matter of seconds. If a QB struggles with the mental side of playing the position, it doesn’t matter how talented they are in other areas, they won’t be successful, especially in the NFL.
While many believed the decision was down to Daniels vs Maye, according to John Keim and Adam Schefter, it was actually between Daniels and McCarthy. Both prospects were considered “high IQ” and “fast processors.” This paints an even clearer picture of the traits he values the most in a QB. Here is more insight about Daniels and what impressed Peters about him:
Some good information shared on the @MoveTheSticks podcast.
Daniel Jeremiah interviewed Adam Peters a few days before the draft and talked QBs. DJ shares the conversation regarding Jayden Daniels.@BuckyBrooks gives his take on Daniels' growth and how he has evolved since ASU. pic.twitter.com/lOyRYImxfR
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) May 2, 2024
The Roster Is Still a Work in Progress
Fans are excited about the direction this team is headed in. I like what Peters did in free agency and believe he attacked his first draft the right way. While they have made many improvements, the roster is still a work in progress.
I’ve seen people already putting expectations on Washington for the 2024 season. Some believe they will have a winning record and/or make the playoffs. While that is possible, I think it’s an unfair expectation to put on a team in the first year of a rebuild. There are too many question marks on the roster to feel confident about a 9-10 win season.
LT, LG, and RT are all shakey positions that could be upgraded. Having that much uncertainty on the offensive line with a rookie QB could lead to some struggles offensively. Defensively, they lack a “dominant” Edge and have serious questions at both outside CB positions.
I do think the team will look much better compared to the one in 2023. However, I don’t want to go overboard and expect immediate success after just one offseason. I believe the best approach for 2024 will be to sit back and enjoy the ride.
