Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Commanders GM reveals what really went into key decisions

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated May 8, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The Washington Commanders have been bold about their changes this offseason, especially on the offensive line.

The team acquired Laremy Tunsil in a trade with the Houston Texans and selected Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon in the first round of the draft.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters explained the reasoning behind those moves.

Peters explains offensive line upgrades

"It was both, really. I think, in the offseason, when we had the opportunity to get Tunsil, which doesn't come around that often to get a blue-chip left tackle, one of the best tackles in the league, so we felt that was an opportunity we didn't want to pass up," Peters said on the "Pat McAfee Show." h/t Commanders Wire's Bryan Manning.

"We want to protect Jayden, he's the cornerstone of our franchise, and we want to make sure we're protecting him."

When it came to Conerly Jr. in particular, Peters said that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had a big say in bringing him on board with the No. 29 overall pick.

"We really wanted Conerly. That letter was cool because, you know, Kliff, he's a tireless worker, it's unbelievable how much he works," Peters said.

"And as he's doing draft prep, he's also watching college teams for different plays and different schemes he can learn from, so he can implement them into what we do. And he watched a lot of Oregon, so he said, 'I watched every single snap of Oregon,' and he usually just watches the skill guys, the quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends, running backs, so he left that note on my desk. He came by to say what's up and just wrote that down and left it on my desk, so I thought, 'If Kliff wants this guy, then I'm good.'"

With Tunsil and Conerly both in the fold, the Commanders made one of their weaknesses a strength, and that should raise their ceiling for the 2025 season.