Adam Peters hasn't done much wrong since becoming general manager. The Washington Commanders have been transformed under his leadership, crawling out of irrelevancy and back into the national limelight for all the right reasons much sooner than expected.
However, one decision this offseason might come back to haunt him when it's all said and done.
Most fans and analysts thought the Commanders would bring back Jeremy Chinn in free agency. The athletically gifted safety made a tremendous impression, galvanizing his career after being cast aside as an afterthought by the Carolina Panthers. He was ever-present in the secondary, providing an instinctive, explosive presence that took Washington by storm on its sensational run to the NFC Championship game.
Jeremy Chinn making presence felt elsewhere after Commanders departure
Peters had other ideas. He was unwilling to pay what the Las Vegas Raiders offered Chinn and the defensive back left for the desert. The Commanders signed Will Harris on a two-year deal to fill the void. Whether he can provide similar output remains to be seen.
Chinn wasted no time in making his presence felt with the AFC club. Reports have been glowing around the former second-round pick out of Southern Illinois, with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham highlighting his physical attributes and leadership as core components behind his seamless transition to a different environment.
"Just in terms of his leadership, he's very sure of himself because he puts in the work. And he's been a sponge in terms of learning how we want to do things, and then all the physical attributes, but all 32 teams know about that. The speed, the size, physicality, ability to tackle and nose for the ball. It's all been positive there."
Patrick Graham via ESPN
This was a sentiment echoed by Raiders general manager John Spytek. He lavished praise on Chinn, which centered on his skill set and on-field intelligence. The front-office leader believes Las Vegas has a genuine difference-maker on its hands, and Commanders fans will be watching closely.
"He's got such an amazing skill set for a man of his size. And you love the intelligence and the instincts that go with it."
John Spytek via ESPN
Considering how many valued contributors from the previous campaign were re-signed, eyebrows were raised when Chinn took his chances elsewhere. He only got $12.25 million guaranteed over two years, so it was something the Commanders could have easily afforded if they wanted to. Peters just didn't think he was worth it.
The general manager has earned enough trust from fans to let things play out. Peters revolutionized the front office, installing a sense of professionalism that was sorely lacking previously. If he thought letting Chinn walk was the right thing to do, the team's supporters are fully behind him.
But if Chinn thrives in Las Vegas and Harris struggles to meet expectations, it won't take long for questions to surface.
