What we heard from Commanders’ Adam Peters, Dan Quinn at annual league meeting

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PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Washington Commanders’ tone-setting, football decision-makers have spoken.

General manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn held court separately with media members at the annual league meeting. They fielded numerous questions about moves in free agency, options in the upcoming NFL Draft, quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels’ next steps and other topics following last season’s surprise appearance in the NFC Championship Game.

How they crafted specific responses said as much as the actual words used.

On potentially trading back (or up) from No. 29

Peters: “We’ll consider everything. Trading up, trading down. We always do. With trading down, you have to have somebody who wants to trade up. I’d love to trade down all the time, but it has to be somebody else that wants to trade up, and it has to be the right deal.”

You heard the man. Trade down for the win. That’s a general draft mindset from Peters, but Washington’s inventory circumstances put extra weight on those words this year. The Commanders hold five selections in the subsequent two drafts after bold trades for cornerback Marshon Lattimore, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil cost six picks.

Peters maintains his build-through-the-draft approach — “I feel that all the time” — but felt the opportunity to land a “premier” corner, receiver and left tackle was “the best move for us.” The best move now is recouping some of those traded picks. Several teams are in the quarterback market and could look to move into the back of the first round.

The Cleveland Browns have 10 selections, including four in the top 100, and would remain in the quarterback market should they pass on Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders with the second overall pick. The New Orleans Saints need a 2026 replacement plan for Derek Carr. Draft projections suggest comparable options at edge rusher, cornerback and offensive playmaker — Washington’s top need areas — in the 29 to 40 range.

“How far do you want to go back?” Peters asked rhetorically. “Who’s there on the board? Is there just one player on the board that you want? And if that’s the case, maybe think twice about trading back, but if you have five players on the board that you like, you can trade back a few picks and then pick one of those. With what we did in free agency and through the trades, we have the optionality to do anything at 29.”

On potentially trading away more picks after shipping out several selections in three deals since November

Peters: “Everything is an option, just depending on the value. The player and the value. So, you never want to close that door. It would be our preference to not do that, but it just depends on the situation.”

You never know what Peters might have cooking — nobody had an inkling that Tunsil was available until the trade announcement — but another bold move involving one or more high selections seems unlikely.

Cincinnati allowed defensive end Trey Hendrickson, last season’s league leader with 17 1/2 sacks, to seek a trade partner amid ongoing extension negotiations. Washington has previously shown interest. However, based on discussions at the league meeting, any potential for a Hendrickson trade with any team seemingly faded after the Bengals subsequently invested in wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with lucrative extensions.

Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has a total of 34 sacks over the last two seasons. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images)

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the team’s approach with Hendrickson, under contract for 2025, is “be patient.”

“I think he’s one of the premier pass rushers in this league,” Taylor said on Monday. “Teams have to devote much attention to him as they start their game plan each week. He is a guy who works his tail off, day in and day out, 365 days a year, which I respect and appreciate. So we’ll continue to work through the process with Trey.”

Washington’s transactions since the season ended solidified each position, so the front office won’t enter the draft starving for any spot.

“Our staff did a great job helping us fill in all those spots,” Peters said, “so we can go play today if we want to. And I think we’d be pretty good today, honestly. So, that gives us that flexibility to go kind of wherever we want to go.”

Next steps for Daniels

Quinn: “We call them work-ons. These are the things that we want to get better at. So, for him, some of the techniques that a lot of quarterbacks use are footwork and body position of where to go and where to throw. We thought he made a lot of improvement, extending plays early on in the season. They were extending to run, and then now they got extending to throw the ball down the field. So, having that balance of doing both of those, that’s a big deal.”

Last year, most questions directed at Peters and Quinn involved Daniels specifically, or at least Washington’s thoughts on solving the quarterback position. In this year’s banter, the quarterback feels like a secondary character. That’s false to the nth degree, of course, but there are few worries about the dual-threat playmaker other than how Peters and Quinn plan to build around him.

One mind-blowing aspect of Daniels’ Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign is realizing his growth potential going into his second season. Adjustments are coming from opposing defensive coordinators — and Washington. That’s play calling from Kliff Kingsbury, personnel upgrades (Samuel and Tunsil) and Daniels’ quarterback dynamics.

On Deebo Samuel

Quinn: “Coaching against him, this is an explosive player. Not just the scheme, but after he gets the ball in his hand, sometimes you can tell the toughness of a player with and without the ball. He has both of those and an explosive nature. To add a player of his caliber into a tough and strong group, we’re really pumped about it.”

No lies detected with Quinn’s praise, but let’s see Samuel’s explosiveness in training camp following a down 2024 campaign in San Francisco.

Signing defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw

Peters: “(Javon) had a major injury (knee reconstruction in 2021). To his credit, he fought back and came back even better, which was really impressive. How much he played two years ago in San Francisco and how much he played last year (with the New York Jets), those are like his first two (NFL) years, in essence. And he’s got the hunger to get better and better. His best football is in front of him.”

Peters is making a decent-sized bet that the hulking tackle’s upside will aid last season’s 30th-ranked rush defense.

Washington figured to acquire prominent help following last season’s NFC championship appearance, and the Tunsil and Samuel acquisitions came with pricey contracts. Signing ex-New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise and former Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Eddie Goldman addressed the ground-game issues, and Washington sees a deep and more well-rounded defensive line room. Kinlaw, 27, became the lone free-agent signing with an eight-figure average salary ($15 million over three years).

Notably, Kinlaw played in all 34 games — 23 starts — the previous two seasons after being limited to 10 from 2021 to 2022. Where he will play is among the offseason questions. Peters acknowledged that the 6-foot-5, 319-pounder would see work at defensive end, but, “I don’t think he’s going to be living on the edge.”

Kinlaw is also part of the replacement plan for Jonathan Allen, Washington’s best interior pass rusher for several years. Peters sees a playing weight of 320 pounds as ideal to collapse the pocket from the inside and provide strength on the edge. Kinlaw played his highest snap percentage (61) since his rookie year last season.

“He’s a freak, it’s unbelievable,” Peters said of Kinlaw’s imposing body frame. “I’ve seen him when he is as low as 275 in San Francisco and then as high as 330-plus last year with the Jets. He played 60 percent of the snaps at (319 pounds), which is impressive. If he loses 10 or 15 pounds, if that makes him feel better, he’s still going to be just as effective. He’s still a monster.”

On Tunsil’s impact on the line and the plan for Brandon Coleman 

Quinn: “The addition of Laremy … he’s had such experience and done it at a high level. And so, when you can add somebody of that caliber, that’s a big deal. We’re pumped to have him. … Adam and his staff did an excellent job. We were very specific about the Commanders and who we wanted to have as part of this. And so, Laremy, he’s an ideal fit for us.”

Quinn: “(Brandon will) go to the right side. But as far as tackle or guard, we’ll start at tackle. That’s where he’s got lots of experience, and we’ll go there first. So, that’s the plan.”

Hyping Tunsil as Daniels’ new blindside protector won’t require much energy. Peters and Quinn aren’t the ones citing the five-time Pro Bowler as one of the league’s better pass blockers. This is one of those transactions that creates ripple effects down the line.

The right tackle position is not Coleman’s to have, but he’ll enter the offseason workouts as the favorite over two-year starter Andrew Wylie, who did fine work in 2024. The line’s ceiling increases if Coleman takes over due to an imposing combination of athleticism and power. The non-right tackle starter will also compete with free-agent signing Nate Herbig to replace the injured Sam Cosmi until Washington’s right guard returns from ACL surgery.

On where the staff intends to use cornerback Jonathan Jones

Quinn: “I’d say we’re probably a little more inside than out, but that’s where I’m at today. But knowing that he has the flexibility, he and a couple of guys will probably play both spots. … It provides some insurance when you can move guys around in different locations. So, we’ll do that with him too.”

Position flex is here again. That versatility angle never left but became more muted since Quinn doesn’t repeatedly drill home the point with a specific two-word label. While Washington’s previous regime seemingly sought position flexibility, Quinn and Peters acquired players last season for particular duties and then gauged where else they could contribute.

Jones will enter his 10th season, so his scouting report is established, unlike second-year corner Mike Sainristil. For now, Quinn sees both in this outside-slot Venn diagram. Eventually, defined roles will emerge, knowing Lattimore primarily plays on the right side and Noah Igbinoghene handled the slot last season.

Washington could also select a cornerback at pick No. 29 or 61. Determining the better spot for Sainristil should be the eventual tiebreaker until further notice. Verstaility extends to projected strong safety starter Will Harris, who played across the secondary at his previous spots.

(Top photo of Dan Quinn: Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

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