Adam Peters had the challenge of turning a roster that was 4-13 in 2023 into a more competitive group in his first season as the Washington Commanders' general manager. Now, he has a different task: elevating a team that made it to the NFC Championship.
There are a lot of new faces on the roster for the second straight season, but the national pundits believe Peters achieved his goal. NFL.com's Nick Shook listed the Commanders as one of his seven most improved teams heading into the 2025 season.
"The Commanders entered the offseason with a clear goal: capitalize on their newfound success, and do so fearlessly," **Shook wrote.**
Shook highlights the trades for wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil as the biggest reasons for his optimism. Both players were brought in to solve glaring issues for an offense that was ranked among the top 10 in several categories. Tunsil, regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in football, is set to provide more protection for Jayden Daniels, who was the sixth-most sacked quarterback last season. Samuel, meanwhile, was brought in to give Daniels a more diverse weapon who can be dynamic with the ball in his hands.
Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowler, said he is ready to make a "huge impact" for his new team and "damn sure can't wait" to block for Daniels.
"It seems like he's a better dude, too, just hearing from a lot of people just around the locker room and his teammates at LSU. I know a couple of guys," Tunsil said. "So, I can't wait. He'll make my job hella easy."
Samuel, whom Peters helped draft with the San Francisco 49ers, was acquired to provide Daniels with a dynamic playmaker after the catch. Peters has seen Samuel do plenty of that in his career, as 3,594 of his career 5,935 yards have come after contact. Like Tunsil, Samuel is impressed with Daniels, saying it feels like the second-year quarterback has been in the league for far longer.
"He's comfortable; he knows what's going on; he knows where the ball needs to go," Samuel said after OTA practice on June 6. "I just think he's very smart."
The Commanders acquired or re-signed about two dozen players during free agency, prioritizing size and experience on the offensive and defensive lines, but Samuel and Tunsil were the crown jewels of the team's offseason, even if they had to give up some of their future draft capital to get them.
"You take each opportunity as they come," Peters said at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. "Understanding that we were able to get really good players at important positions, there's give and take to that."
Shook also provided counterpoints to both moves. Samuel has yet to play a full NFL season and is three seasons removed from his record-setting campaign in 2021. Tunsil, while still near the top of his position, did allow 52 pressures in 2024, according to Next Gen Stats, which is the most for him since 2018.
However, it is worth noting that Samuel is still an upgrade for the Commanders, as his 670 receiving yards in 2024 would have ranked second on the roster last year, and is joining an offense led by Kliff Kingsbury, who has already toyed with placing him at different positions on the field during OTAs and minicamp. Tunsil is also a proven commodity and has a stellar track record against some of the league's top edge rushers. Since 2022, Tunsil has allowed a 3.1% pressure rate, which ranks third best among offensive tackles.
Of course, both Tunsil and Samuel still need to produce, but if they can provide the production Washington thinks they can, Shook believes it will lead to the Commanders taking another step.
"If everything works out, the Commanders should be better than they were a year ago, when they sprinted all the way to the NFC Championship Game," Shook wrote.
