Commanders GM Adam Peters ignores obvious warning signs with latest gamble

Adam Peters had one of the NFL’s best waiver positions and a roster begging for reinforcements. Somehow, the Washington Commanders came away without adding anyone.

That represents quite a gamble for a general manager whose team just finished the preseason by losing 41-3 to the Baltimore Ravens.

Commanders gamble on roster that has already shown its flaws

Washington held the No. 7 waiver priority following roster cuts. Only six teams had the chance to block Peters from adding a player he wanted, giving the Commanders a valuable opportunity to upgrade the bottom of their roster.

Fourteen teams combined to claim 29 players. Washington was not one of them.

Perhaps Peters did not consider any available player an upgrade. That is possible. It is also a remarkable show of confidence in a roster whose backups were demolished by Baltimore.

The Ravens finished with a 456-177 advantage in total offense and picked up 26 first downs. Washington managed seven, with three coming during its final possession. Preseason results can be deceptive, especially when starters are wearing baseball caps on the sideline. A 38-point loss is still difficult to dismiss as meaningless.

Nobody expected Peters to uncover an All-Pro on the waiver wire. The concern is that Washington could use help at several positions and declined an opportunity to search for even a modest improvement.

Injuries have already tested Washington’s depth

The Commanders placed left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton on injured reserve Monday. Cornerback Trey Amos will also begin the season on IR, leaving Washington without one of its most important defensive backs.

Peters brought back Fabian Moreau and Shy Tuttle after temporarily releasing both veterans. Those moves filled the openings created by placing Tunsil and Newton on IR, but they did not transform the roster.

Washington is now counting on Brandon Coleman and  D.J. Humphries to protect Jayden Daniels’ blind side. Nick Allegretti is moving from guard to center after missing valuable practice time, while the secondary must survive without Amos. The defensive line is also thinner than Peters envisioned entering training camp.

One of those concerns would be manageable. All three arriving together should have pushed Washington toward a more aggressive response.

Adam Peters is trusting his own evaluation

Peters said Monday that the Commanders were “far from done” adjusting the roster. He can still sign veterans, make trades or use the No. 7 waiver priority if another intriguing player becomes available before the order changes after Week 3.

For now, however, his lack of action sends a clear message. Peters believes the ugly preseason exposed players who were unlikely to play major roles, not problems that threaten Washington’s season.

That distinction will determine whether his patience was justified or stubborn.

The Commanders do not need September’s roster to look perfect in August. They do need enough protection around Daniels and enough defensive depth to survive injuries. Both were obvious weaknesses before the waiver deadline.

Peters saw the warning signs and chose to keep driving. Now he has to hope the smoke underneath the hood never becomes a fire.