Adam Peters
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Commanders general manager Adam Pteres during minicamp
The Washington Commanders need to fill multiple positions of need during free agency. With limited draft capital, the franchise attacked the open signing period. One writer believes that general manager Adam Peters pinpointed a specific type of player. David Aldridge from The Athletic discussed this.
“GM Adam Peters indeed pivoted, as he said he would after the season, toward younger, faster players and toward multi-year deals, instead of the one-year contracts for aging talent that highlighted Peters’ first two offseasons as GM.”
Presumably, the easier fix for the Commanders would be to bring in veterans on one-year deals. While these talents arrive ready to play and require little development, they don’t necessarily fit into team-building. As a result, instead of improving as the team matures, the franchise just gets older, staying the same.
Odafe Oweh 12 Games, 7.5 SCK, 28 TKL, 29 Pressures 2025 Season Highlights.
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“The Commanders certainly seemed to have a type this time around: position fast, capable of playing multiple spots on the field, looking for a more prominent role than they had before — and people who’ve been in winning shops, and who really bought into the culture setting.”
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks, winners of the last two Super Bowls, have grown with younger talent, adding older veterans only in spots. Likewise for the Kansas City Chiefs.
When they started their dynasty, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Chris Jones were all younger players who appeared hungry to win. Over time, they added older vets as role players. For example, players like LeSean McCoy and Terrell Suggs were not going to dominate the reps. Under those circumstances, they took the opportunity to play lesser roles to win.
Odafe Oweh
GettyNew Commanders edge rusher Odafe Oweh before a 2025 game, as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Daronte Lee’s Pledge of Aggressive Defense Comes to Fruition
When the Commanders hired the former Vikings assistant, he spoke openly about his wishes for his defense. If you look at the defensive signings, each embodies the role. Odafe Oweh and K’ Lavon Chaisson plays fast and heads straight towards the quarterback. In the last two seasons, Oweh has boasted 22 quarterback knockdowns.
While pressures do matter, arriving with physicality may count a little more. In his last six games, including the playoffs, Chaisson recorded four sacks and six tackles for loss, knocking the quarterback down 12 times in the process.
What does edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson bring to the Washington Commanders?
-Legit speed & bend on edge
-Developing counter rushes/rush plan
-Pass rush production trending upwards
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Okonkwo’s Mission to Speed Up Offense
While playing for the Tennessee Titans, tight end Chig Okonkwo said he felt underused. While not the strongest blocker, the team did not sign him to play in-line. In fact, plays like this probably led to the agreement.
While Zach Ertz provided sure hands and sound blocking, he lacked the ability to separate from defenders. Where he caught the ball was pretty much where the tackle occurred. Meanwhile, Onkonkwo, whether slightly split up or more widely, could pose a matchup problem for defenses. Until the Commanders figure out the No. 2 receiver, Okonkwo sits as the second option.
Chig Okonkwo
GettyNew Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo races away from Arizona Cardinals defender during 2025 game.
Jayden Daniels could prove to be the ultimate beneficiary. However, with the ramped-up aggression, the occurrence of mistakes could rise. For instance, new nickel corner Amik Robertson allowed eight touchdowns last season. In his defense, he played out of position at outside corner.
With the No. 7 pick in the draft, aggressive players like Ohio State’s Josh Downs and Carnell Tate could be potential fits within Peter’s overarching scheme.