Tag: GM Adam Peters

NFL analyst predicts Eagles will sign away Commanders defensive leader

Could the Eagles attempt to steal one of the Commanders’ top defensive players from this season?

It’s the Commanders’ bye week, but earlier this week, speculation emerged that the Eagles would pursue and sign one of their top defensive players away from the Commanders.

It is no secret to Commanders fans that GM Adam Peters signed many players on one-year deals. You can’t blame him; he inherits a roster full of holes. Wisely, Peters put most of his free agents in contract years with one-year deals, and as a result, he has seen much benefit on the field.

Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. is one of those contract-year free agents who has performed well for the Commanders. Fowler was with head coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta in 2020 and then again with Quinn in Dallas for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In fact, their relationship dates back to when Quinn recruited Fowler to the University of Florida and coached him there.

With four games remaining this season, Fowler has already totaled his second-highest sack total in his nine-year career, with 8.5 in 2024. He will be a free agent next off-season.

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has publicly stated that he sees the Eagles signing a pass-rushing defensive end, and he believes Fowler is one they will aggressively pursue.

Graham (Brandon) is expected to retire at the end of the year, and Josh Sweat is an impending free agent. While Nolan Smith could take over as the starter moving forward, the defense could still use some pass-rush help. That’s where Fowler comes in, as he’s been having a strong campaign with 8.5 sacks this fall heading into the weekend. While the 30-year-old who turns 31 in August has never been much of a run defender, he can get after the quarterback with over 50 career sacks.

In addition to Fowler generating 8.5 sacks, he also has 19 solo tackles, 11 assists, 11 tackles for a loss, and 10 quarterback hits. Fowler leads the Commanders in sacks and tackles for a loss.

Fowler could demand a pay raise from the Commanders next off-season. If the Commanders don’t aggressively sign him and grant him a good raise, other teams looking for one or two years could swoop in and steal him from them.

But again, this is clearly speculation by Holder of Bleacher Report, a result of his reporting on the Eagles. Commanders Wire is simply informing Commanders fans of what is being circulated about the team.

Quinn: Commanders ‘have a really cool quarterback room here’

Dan Quinn and Adam Peters discussed keeping three quarterbacks and one on the practice squad.

Did the NFLPA’s decision to decline the option to have the emergency quarterback come off the practice squad lead the Commanders to keep three quarterbacks on their initial roster?

That was a question posed Wednesday to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn during their press conference. On Tuesday, the team announced its initial 53-man roster, which included quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Jeff Driskel.

Peters began by expressing, “not a lot.” “We thought Jeff did a really good job throughout. He got better and better throughout the offseason and training camp. We thought when we were making those (roster) decisions that Jeff earned a spot on the 53.”

Peters acknowledged the two spots were already determined to be Daniels and Mariota, but that Driskel “went and took it (roster spot). I am proud of him and the way he played; he earned it.”

Quinn quickly jumped in, elaborating further, “It’s a really cool quarterback room here. The coaching, their connection together and to see these four guys working together and in support of all that goes into it. It was by design that we were going to be heavy into that space from a coaching point of view. To see that transfer into the players and the belief in them, it’s been all we hoped it would be.”

The fourth was rookie Sam Hartman out of Notre Dame (and Wake Forest). Hartman was brought back and signed to the practice squad.

With Daniels being a rookie, the coaches could think that keeping another veteran around like Driskel in addition to Mariota gives Daniels another player with years of experience preparing in work weeks throughout an NFL season.

In addition, keeping Hartman means the Commanders have an extra veteran in Driskel for knowledge and playing if necessary. They also have Hartman, whom they can keep in hopes that he will develop toward competing for a roster spot next year.

Three Commanders rookies working through injuries

Injury updates on three Washington rookies.

Brandon Coleman, Jordan Magee and Johnny Newton are three Commanders draft choices currently dealing with injuries.

Magee, drafted 139th overall in the fifth round out of Temple, had moved well in training camp before suffering an injured meniscus against the Jets in the first preseason game.

Head coach Dan Quinn said during Monday’s press conference that Magee’s knee required a procedure. The procedure has already been performed, and Magee will subsequently be out for a while. However, Quinn quickly clarified that Magee’s meniscus injury is not season-ending.

Newton surprised everyone when he was still available for the Commanders at No. 36 overall. Though they already had defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, Adam Peters felt Newton should not be passed up, so they grabbed him.

Newton, however, required foot surgery soon afterward to repair a Jones fracture. The surgery was said to be successful, and Newton has returned to individual workouts.

Coleman, an offensive tackle from TCU, was selected in round three (67th overall). Coleman pleased coaches in training camp until Quinn last week said he suffered a “strain in his shoulder and his pec.”

Monday, regarding both Newton and Coleman, Quinn said, “So far, you are going to see those guys work individual. It would have to be towards the end of the week if they would get any team reps.”

“Brandon’s a little bit further along than Johnny, but not by tons. Both of them I see on the way up. As far as getting them to the game, I’ll have a better sense for that as we get to the end of the week. You’ll see Brandon this week really ramping up the contact and that kind of stuff.”

“You will see more running with Johnny. So, those are two guys that are on the arrow up, but I don’t have an official game timeline for them yet.”

“There’s next week’s practices (following game vs Patriots), and the following week. I think I’ll have a better assessment once I go through a few days with him (Coleman) this week and see if we have a realistic shot for him to play Sunday night or not. He is certainly trending in that way. We’re just going to use all the caution we can with him and Johnny to make sure there’s no setbacks.”

Commanders need Brandon Coleman to develop at offensive tackle

Watch highlights of new Commanders OT Brandon Coleman

The Commanders entered April’s 2024 NFL draft fully aware they needed to obtain an offensive tackle.

In fairness to Commanders general manager Adam Peters, the Commanders were reported to have attempted to trade back up into the latter first round to select an offensive tackle. However, no trade compensation could be agreed upon, and thus, a deal was never finalized.

Peters, in the draft, took quarterback Jayden Daniels (2 overall), defensive tackle Johnny Newton (36), defensive back Mike Sainristil (50), and tight end Ben Sinnott (53), and when it was their turn at 67, Peters selected TCU guard / tackle Brandon Coleman.

Interestingly, at the Senior Bowl, Coleman was asked if there was a position he would prefer for the NFL. He replied that he would be willing to do whatever his new NFL team wanted to do. Yet, he did point out that he had a lot of experience at left tackle.

Right tackle Andrew Wiley returns and left tackle Charles Leno was released. Thus, left tackle would seem to be a place the Commanders might be hoping Coleman can develop enough in the offseason to be prepared to play often this season.

Of course, Jayden Daniels needs to be a hit. But for 2024, the second choice that might be most important to play well might just be Coleman at tackle. Just as true, Coleman’s level of play will also affect Daniels’ performance as well. Think how much better it will be for Daniels if Coleman can improve the running game and keep Daniels’ blind side clear for him.

Thus far in early offseason Commanders’ workouts, Coleman has been working some at left tackle and also some at right tackle.

Pro Football Focus posted these stats on Coleman’s time at TCU.

 

Why did the Commanders sign QB Jeff Driskel?

Why did the Commanders choose Driskel?

Recent days revealed many Commanders fans unimpressed with the Commanders signing veteran quarterback Jeff Driskel.

But a second look reveals the move by general manager Adam Peters makes good sense.

Yes, the Commanders will draft a quarterback in the first round of April’s NFL draft, increasing the total to four quarterbacks on the roster.

Why be surprised? Didn’t Peters publicly inform the media and fans recently he was going to add two more quarterbacks to the roster?

Not all signings are equal. They never have been, and they never will be. Peters knows his starter is going to be either Marcus Mariota or his rookie drafted in the first round.

Driskel is 31 and has had plenty of time to display and grow into an NFL starter. It is most likely not going to happen. Again, not all signings are equal because not all roster spots are equal.

This is true in the NFL, it’s true in college, even in high schools. You have your starters. Some might develop and challenge for a starting spot. Some are going to play special teams, and yes, some are there to fill out your roster, allowing you to scrimmage in practice and scrimmage other teams.

Consequently, the signing of Driskel is for two basic reasons. Driskel was not signed to come in and challenge for the starting job. He was also not brought in to challenge for the backup role.

It is perfectly reasonable to conclude that Driskel was brought in to compete with Jake Fromm to determine who will be the third quarterback next season.

And it is not out of the realm of possibility, that Driskel was brought in to be an “arm”, a “camp arm.” Your top two quarterbacks simply cannot be passing every workout, rep after rep, in training camp. That is an easy way for your quarterbacks to develop elbow or shoulder fatigue/inflammation.

Therefore, there are many reps and much extra work for receivers in the passing game. Fromm and now also Driskel are going to be there to get those players the reps they need in training camp and to fill out three preseason games of reps as well.

Peters signing Driskel to have four quarterbacks from now until the final cut day just prior to the regular season is wise.