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One painfully obvious truth defines the Commanders’ 2025 playoff hopes
Adam Peters Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It's been another eventful offseason for the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters navigated his second recruitment period successfully, putting the pieces in place to ensure another bold postseason bid is an attainable objective for head coach Dan Quinn's squad in 2025.

And their one primary reason for optimism is painfully obvious.

This centers on the additions made to Jayden Daniels' supporting cast. The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quickly established himself as one of the league's most dynamic quarterbacks. He took the pro ranks by storm and did it all with a smile on his face. The No. 2 pick in 2024 galvanized an entire organization, which saw the player become Peters' biggest priority above all else.

No stone was left unturned. The Commanders swung for the fences with two blockbuster trades. They re-signed some valuable contributors from last season's exceptional efforts. Peters also struck with conviction to find potential difference-makers via the draft. All signs are pointing up as a result.

Commanders' improved roster could see another bold playoff bid arrive in 2025

This was a sentiment echoed by Tyler Sullivan from CBS Sports. The analyst believes Peters did an incredible job of solidifying the foundations for Daniels. He also thought the Commanders could be an NFC force for years to come thanks to their highly impressive roster construction under the new regime.

The Commanders were one of the feel-good stories from 2024 as the downtrodden franchise enjoyed a remarkable turnaround spearheaded by the arrival of Jayden Daniels, who led them to the NFC Championship. This offseason, Washington did a masterful job of continuing to build around its young QB by adding star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel via trade. They also added offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and corner Trey Amos at the NFL Draft. All these moves seem to be solidifying the Commanders as a force in the NFC for the foreseeable future.Tyler Sullivan

The goal posts shifted slightly for Peters in Year 2. Washington was way ahead of schedule, so being more aggressive was critical. There's also the small matter of maximizing Daniels' rookie contract over the next few years before he becomes extension-eligible.

That could be a barrier-breaking deal if Daniels continues on his meteoric rise to superstardom. Peters knows it and has experience working around rookie quarterback contracts. There were calculated risks taken, but the Commanders' future financial flexibility remains intact. Fans couldn't have asked for much more, although questions linger about safety depth and the lack of explosive edge rushers at Washington's disposal.

Peters will know what more is needed. He's an outstanding personnel evaluator and roster builder. The Commanders are in fantastic hands, with genuine purpose replacing the constant dysfunction typically associated with Washington's football franchise over the last two decades.

Hope has been restored. Reaching loftier expectations is more difficult, but Peters made the adjustments necessary to achieve this objective and much more.

More Commanders news and analysis


This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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