"Adam Peters faces some honest soul-searching this offseason. His grand plans to propel this ambitious project after the Washington Commanders reached the NFC Championship game have blown up spectacularly. Now, it's time to take stock and make the necessary changes as the 2026 recruitment period begins. Some harsh truths are needed. The Commanders can point to injuries as a prominent factor in their demise, but this roster looks old and off the pace."
"One such example was one of Peters' first high-end draft picks upon taking the job. The Commanders thought they were getting a steal when defensive lineman Johnny Newton slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 36 overall in 2024. He was touted by almost every expert as a first-round lock, but health problems and questions about whether he could become a three-down force caused him to slide much lower than expected."
"Newton's lowly 48.1 grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 103rd out of 128 qualifying interior defensive linemen with two games remaining. His snap count has plummeted from 51 percent as a rookie to 34% this season. He's still young enough to grow at 23 years old, but the increased urgency to accomplish this feat heading into the offseason cannot be overstated."
Adam Peters must reassess roster and strategy after the Washington Commanders' ambitions collapsed despite reaching the NFC Championship the previous season. Injuries contributed, but roster age and underperforming young players drove the decline. Johnny Newton, a high draft pick viewed as a steal at No. 36 in 2024, has failed to develop into a three-down force due to early foot surgeries and inconsistency. Newton struggles against the run, has decreased snap counts and low performance grades, and faces pressing expectations to improve during the offseason. The 2026 recruiting period increases urgency to make roster changes and demand clearer development from young core pieces.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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