Adam Peters is busy forming plans for every possible scenario that might come his way during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Washington Commanders are in an unusual spot further down the order than most anticipated. Fortunately for fans, the general manager has an abundance of experience working in this area of the process.
The Commanders only have five selections after some frantic trade activity this offseason. They are picking at No. 29 overall following the team's fairytale run to the NFC Championship game. That's a steep drop from having the No. 2 pick last spring, which they used to transform the franchise's fortunes in the blink of an eye.
Peters is keeping his options open. He's not shown his hand or ruled anything out. He'll react to what's going on in front of him and strike with conviction when opportunities arise. And make no mistake, the front-office leader will always have the Commanders' best interests at heart.
There's a good chance Peters is looking to trade down. He wants to build through the draft despite changing plans slightly to maximize Jayden Daniels' rookie contract. But if the Commanders want to become a perennial powerhouse, they must continue to find foundational pieces from the college ranks who fit into their new way of thinking.
Adam Schefter offers thoughts on potential Commanders' trade down from No. 29
Adam Schefter from ESPN thought it was way too early to determine whether the Commanders would trade back from No. 29. The respected insider thought the pick would become more valuable if one (or more) of the upper-echelon quarterbacks were available. But that's still to be determined.
Of course. That's a range where, if a team doesn't get a quarterback early on, or wants to move back into the back half of the first half to get a quarterback that's still sitting there. Maybe it's Jaxson Dart, maybe it's Tyler Shough or somebody like that. If that's still an option, that pick becomes even more valuable. But you couldn't say now that there's going to be movement at 29. It all depends on how the board falls.Adam Schefter via Commanders.com
This is something that fans knew all along. The Commanders won't be moving down for nothing. They need to extract the maximum possible value for the pick. The best way Peters can accomplish this is if a quarterback-needy team wants to move up for their preferred target and the luxury of a fifth-year option on their rookie contract.
Peters will take all calls and contemplate all offers. He's a shrewd negotiator who knows what a good deal looks like. At the same time, the Commanders could easily stand pat if a prospect high on their board is there for the taking.
Anyone expecting the Commanders to move up for one of the blue-chip prospects will be out of luck. Peters doesn't have the ammunition for that, all things considered, but he's a fantastic talent evaluator with proven credentials when it comes to identifying the right options at the right stage. One only has to look at his first class in Washington to see that.
Fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next. Peters laid the groundwork for flexibility through free agency and the trade market. If he can navigate the draft successfully, another bold postseason bid won't be far behind next time around.
