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Adam Peters didn’t fix everything in one offseason. But maybe most importantly, given the past 25 years, the Washington Commanders’ new general manager had the restraint and support not even to try.

Instead, Peters stuck to his long-term vision and built <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/20/commanders-roster-rebuild/" target="_blank">a bridge roster for 2024</a>. He hopes this team will be good enough to compete with anyone, of course, but pushing for even a playoff spot may be tough — <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/football/nfl?category=wins&amp;subcategory=regular-season-wins" target="_blank">many sportsbooks</a> project the Commanders’ win total at 6½, tied for the fourth lowest in the NFL.

The best measure of success this season will be the growth of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/26/commanders-draft-tracker/" target=_blank>the rookies</a>. They are the bedrock of the roster — and if they show promise, Peters could be emboldened to make splash signings or aggressive trades. If they don’t, he can tweak his process and try again, albeit with less benefit of the doubt.

Either way, Peters has maintained “optionality” — one of his favorite words — because in 2025 he’s in line to have a full complement of draft picks and a boatload of salary cap space again.

But let’s zoom in on this draft, the foundation of the rebuild. Peters had a clear vision for how to use his assets. He de-emphasized the short-term problem of positional need and instead prioritized talent, leadership and experience. All nine picks spent at least four years in college. Seven were team captains. Two metrics, Next Gen Stats and <a href="https://ras.football/" target=_blank>Relative Athletic Score</a>, graded the Commanders’ picks as the most athletic in the NFL.

“Washington had two players who didn’t test, and if they had they likely would have had an even higher RAS,” Kent Lee Platte, the creator of RAS, <a href="https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1784390657617936870" target=_blank>wrote</a> on social media.

No one encapsulated the philosophy better than second-round defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

“We could not believe he was still there,” Peters said. “We were a little nervous that he wasn’t going to make it to us at 36. We looked at moving up to get him. Very surprising. We had a first-round grade on him, and he is an explosive, violent player. He’s a team captain. He got the Commander tag, and he’s exactly who we want to bring into this building. We think he’s an advanced player who can come in and play right away.”

But why draft a defensive tackle when the Commanders already have two stars and two dependable backups?

“At first glance, you think that it’s a pretty packed room,” Peters said. “But I don’t think you can — what I learned in San Francisco is you can’t have too many great [defensive] linemen, and we’ll find a way to get them all on the field. … And that’s what I said to [Coach Dan Quinn]: ‘Can we do this?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, we’ll find a way to get them all on the field.’ Talked with [defensive coordinator] Joe Whitt, and he was all about it. Because really Johnny was certainly, clearly higher than anybody else we had on the board there.”

2024 NFL Draft Highlights: DT Jer'Zhan Newton | Illinois Football

Okay, great. But what about the offensive line? Quarterback Jayden Daniels is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/27/jayden-daniels-commanders-quarterback/" target=_blank>the team’s most important player</a>, and it’s critical to protect him, especially given his thin frame. The team still has major question marks at tackle.

A popular theory before the draft was that Washington would trade up for a tackle in a deep, talented class. But then seven of them went in the first 29 picks.

“We made a couple calls, but nothing materialized,” Peters said.

Ultimately, the only addition was third-round pick Brandon Coleman. He played guard and tackle at TCU, and most draft experts projected him to play guard in the NFL. <a href="http://nfl.com/" target=_blank>NFL.com</a> analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Coleman could play tackle “in an emergency.”

“We see him as a tackle, and we think he could be a really good tackle,” Peters said. “He’s really experienced. He’s got heavy hands. He’s a really good athlete.”

After Day 2 of the draft, Peters said he didn’t necessarily view tackle as “a need,” but “if the right player was available [on Day 3], we’ll take an offensive lineman, just like we’d take any other position.”

The Commanders didn’t add another. So if the season started tomorrow, the starting left tackle probably would be Coleman or journeyman Cornelius Lucas, and the top right tackle probably would be Andrew Wylie, who struggled last season and has been <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/08/15/commanders-offensive-line/" target=_blank>doubted since he signed last year</a>.

The Commanders could add another veteran. The tackle market is relatively thin, and on Sunday night, Philadelphia scooped up one of the best available by agreeing to terms with Mekhi Becton, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Other remaining free agents include Donovan Smith and Chris Hubbard. The pool could deepen in the post-draft roster churn, but it’s hard to find contributors between the draft and training camp.

Regardless of what Washington does next, the decision not to use more assets on the line will put a spotlight on that unit and the front office, especially if Daniels gets sacked at a high rate, as he did in college. But public perception doesn’t seem to be top of mind for Peters.

The front office stuck to its process and used the late rounds of the draft and the undrafted free agent market to continue taking low-risk, high-upside swings. The Commanders were aggressive by signing former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman for a hefty $245,000 guaranteed and giving former Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem a $300,000 base salary guarantee as well as a $50,000 signing bonus, according to people with knowledge of the deals.

This offseason has highlighted the new regime’s measured approach. The Commanders bet big on Daniels, of course, but otherwise remained disciplined. They passed on a chance to win off the field so that maybe, some day not too long from now, they can win on it instead.

<i>Nicki Jhabvala contributed to this report.</i>

Syracuse University, B.S. in magazine journalism

Sam Fortier is a beat writer for The Post covering Washington's NFL team.

Sam Fortier

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