Adam Peters has said from the start of his tenure as the Washington Commanders' general manager that he wants to build the team through the draft to provide a sustainable, winning foundation for the future.
But when premier players at premium positions become available, it tends to adjust one's long-term strategy.
That was the case for the Commanders this offseason when they acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and left tackle Laremy Tunsil in trades with the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, respectively. The moves seem to contradict Peters' original plan, as the Commanders had to move a combined five picks across the 2025 and 2026 drafts to get both players.
Peters' views on the draft haven't changed; he still believes it is the best way to build a roster. He also knows he needs to inject the team with players who possess elite talent to maximize quarterback Jayden Daniels. Both Samuel and Tunsil satisfy that need.
"You take each opportunity as they come," Peters said at the NFL owners' meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. "Understanding that we were able to get really good players at important positions, there's give and take to that."
Although their defensive needs were -- and still are -- the most obvious, the Commanders entered the 2025 offseason with exigencies at creating more explosive plays and protection for Daniels, who was sacked 47 times during his rookie season. The Commanders also ranked seventh in time of possession and had the highest plays per game average (66) last season, and while there are benefits to both stats, it also reflected a lack of explosiveness, particularly in the passing game, to flip the field in their favor.
Samuel, who has nearly 6,000 career scrimmage yards and 42 total touchdowns, provides an answer for the latter. Peters was part of the 49ers' front office when Samuel was drafted as a second-round pick in 2019, giving him a firsthand look at Samuel's skill set. Samuel set multiple records in 2021 with 1,770 yards and 14 total touchdowns, including eight rushing scores. His numbers since then, including 806 total yards in 2024, haven't been as gaudy but still reflect that he can be a versatile weapon.
It was an easy decision for Peters to make the move to acquire Samuel. He told NFL personality Kay Adams that "there's not too many guys that can lift a team on the field more than Deebo."
"I know what kind of competitor he is, what kind of playmaker he is," Peters said. "I've seen firsthand him take over games, and it's really infectious throughout the team."
Samuel is determined to prove the Commanders were right to invest in him.
"I'm just ready to get back to work," Samuel said. "Just ready to get around a group of guys, meet with the players and we just go from there."
While Washington was listed as a possible destination when Samuel was permitted to seek a trade, the team's attempts to acquire Tunsil came as more of a surprise. It was clear that the Commanders needed to strengthen their left tackle position, but as one starting caliber free agent after the other was signed by other teams, it looked as if they would wait until the draft to take the best player who fell to them at No. 29.
Instead, the team made an aggressive move to get Tunsil, one of the best players at his position with six Pro Bowls in his career. Tunsil's presence instantly raises the talent level of the Commanders' offensive line and provides Daniels with a proven protector; since 2022, Tunsil has allowed a 3.1% pressure rate, which ranks third best among offensive tackles.
Peters believes the trade was worth it, despite the steep price, because premier left tackles "don't come on the market very often." The Commanders were too far down in the first-round pecking order to draft one of the best prospects at the position, making a trade the most viable option.
"He's, in our opinion, one of the best," Peters said. "You could say he's...top two in pass protection. I think he's underrated as a run-blocker, too."
Peters added that there were people on the team who vouched for him, so they're confident he can be a good locker room fit -- a key requisite for Peters' and head coach Dan Quinn's culture.
"Early returns show he's been great," Peters said. "He's connected with a lot of our guys, and I think he's gonna be a great addition ... Those opportunities [acquiring a left tackle] are rare, so we thought it was right to pounce on it."
Tunsil can't wait to get to work with his new team.
"In my opinion, they traded for me for that reason, just to make a huge impact on the team," Tunsil said. "I'm down to do whatever they want me to do, especially at Year 10. If they need me to play quarterback and back up Jayden Daniels, then I can do that -- running back, whatever."
The trades for Samuel and Tunsil also increased the team's options in the draft. Although the Commanders' allotment of picks this year has decreased from seven to five, they have more freedom to pick the best player available, regardless of position.
And perhaps they have the option to trade back and rebuild their stockpile of picks.
"Everything's an option," Peters said. "Just depending on the value."
