5 offseason moves that could come back to haunt Commanders in 2025

Adam Peters was thrilled with how the Washington Commanders' 2024 season unfolded. However, the general manager knew that getting complacent was not an option entering his second offseason.

The Commanders' window to win another Super Bowl is open. That happened sooner than expected, but their memorable run to the NFC Championship game and quarterback Jayden Daniels' incredible early rise to superstardom moved the goalposts.

Peters pivoted accordingly. The Commanders made two bombshell trades throughout the offseason and placed a key emphasis on retaining the large majority of those who gave so much during the previous campaign. They did so while also retaining their future financial flexibility for good measure.

It's not going to be easy next season with a tougher schedule. Even so, confidence is high that Washington can maintain its positive momentum en route to another bold playoff push next time around.

That doesn't mean every move is going to work out. With this in mind, here are five dubious offseason moves that could come back to haunt the Commanders in 2025.

Dubious offseason moves that could come back to haunt Commanders in 2025

Commanders let Jeremy Chinn walk

There wasn't much concern that the Washington Commanders and Jeremy Chinn weren't going to reach an agreement regarding a new deal among the fanbase. The standout safety evolved into a highly productive performer under Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. His scope for further improvements at 27 years old in a stable environment with scheme familiarity made extending the player a foregone conclusion to most.

That didn't come to fruition. The Commanders didn't feel like Chinn was worth the money on his second deal with the club and let him walk in free agency. Pete Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders were only too happy to take him off Washington's hands.

Chinn signed a two-year, $16.25 million deal with a $4 million signing bonus and $12.25 million guaranteed. He'll carry salary-cap hits of $6.62 million and $9.62 million for his contract. The Commanders thought they could get better for cheaper, signing Will Harris in free agency.

Harris and Chinn have similar athletic traits. The production wasn't nearly as impactful, but the Commanders signed him for two years, $8 million with $3.39 million in guarantees. Simply put, general manager Adam Peters thought buying from the clearance sale was better than re-signing an ascending player who slotted into the schematic concepts seamlessly.

It might turn out to be yet another masterstroke from Peters. But if Harris fails to meet expectations and Chinn thrives in Las Vegas, he'll regret the decision.

Commanders signed Javon Kinlaw to big money

Releasing Jonathan Allen was the right call after the Washington Commanders failed to find a trade partner. The veteran defensive tackle wanted a fresh challenge and more money with one year remaining on his deal. Adam Peters wasn't willing to commit, so he did the player a favor by letting him have his pick of new destinations.

Allen signed a two-year, $51 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. The Commanders locked his replacement up pretty early, identifying Javon Kinlaw as the player who could fill the void with a smooth transition.

Signing Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed raised eyebrows around the league. The former first-round pick's career hasn't exactly gone according to plan in recent years. His subpar campaign with the New York Jets in 2024 didn't justify this whopping commitment, which led many to suggest this move was a massive overpay.

Kinlaw's heard the criticism and is eager to silence his doubters. Peters knows him well — he was part of the San Francisco 49ers' decision-making process that took him No. 14 overall out of South Carolina. If he believes this signing can help Washington improve in the trenches, fans need to trust his judgment.

But if Kinlaw cannot raise performance levels with increased expectations on his shoulders, it's not going to look favorably on anybody.

Commanders let Cornelius Lucas walk

Adam Peters placed a strong emphasis on rewarding those who made impressive contributions last season. Unfortunately for veteran offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, he wasn't one of them.

Lucas is one of the league's most reliable swing tackles despite his advancing years. The edge protector split reps with rookie Brandon Coleman on the blindside over the early stages of the campaign. He also filled in on the right-hand side when required, performing superbly whenever his number was called.

The Commanders opted not to re-sign Lucas. He wasn't out of employment for long, signing a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns that had a $2 million signing bonus and $3.25 million guaranteed attached.

Washington didn't feel like he was worth that commitment. They got stronger on the edge after trading for prolific left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but it's hard to argue their depth doesn't look as good without Lucas.

They have Coleman and Andrew Wylie. Foster Sarell was signed in free agency and versatile veteran Trent Scott got another deal. One could make a strong case for Lucas outperforming them all last season, so Peters took a risk by letting him take his chances elsewhere.

Lucas was popular in the locker room and a model professional. Don't be surprised if he surges into the Browns' starting lineup quickly.

Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel Sr.

The Washington Commanders kicked off their 2025 recruitment with a bang. Adam Peters seized the opportunity to add another dynamic playmaker for quarterback Jayden Daniels. He struck a deal with his old employer to achieve this objective.

Deebo Samuel Sr. was the target. The versatile wide receiver had his trade request granted and it became apparent he'd be released if no willing suitor came forward. Instead of biding his time, Peters sent a fifth-round selection to the Niners, leaving nothing to chance.

Samuel is coming off a down year by his typically high standards. The South Carolina product has a lot of tread on the tires, which seemed to take its toll en route to 806 all-purpose yards and four combined touchdowns in 2024.

He's highly motivated to make an impact and should fit seamlessly into Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts. The Commanders also fully guaranteed Samuel's $17 million salary and added up to $3 million in incentives. They are confident big things are coming where the former second-round pick is concerned.

That wasn't an opinion shared by the Niners. The fact they're taking on $31 million in dead money suggests San Francisco general manager John Lynch believes Samuel is past his sell-by date. It'll be interesting to see which side of the pendulum this trade swings when it's all said and done.

Commanders running it back with aging veterans

The Commanders re-signed the large majority of their free agents. Some are still awaiting their fate, but general manager Adam Peters' lack of conviction in this crop of available veterans led him to run it back with most of the squad who accomplished so much during the previous campaign.

This was something assistant general manager Lance Newmark hinted was possible during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Commanders are keeping to the same long-term strategy — albeit with an extra sense of aggressiveness — despite being way ahead of schedule. Whether it pays off or not is another matter.

Having continuity is important. Most only got one-year extensions, which keeps urgency high. However, this makes preparing for the Commanders a lot easier for the opposition with a lot of the same faces around.

Peters is banking on experience. He's only got five selections during the 2025 NFL Draft as things stand after trades for Deebo Samuel Sr., Laremy Tunsil, and Marshon Lattimore. There wasn't much choice, so the front-office leader is counting on those approaching the twilight of their respective careers to maintain the same high-level production.

Hopefully, the veteran stars in Washington have more to give. But make no mistake, the team's outlook in 2025 depends on it.

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