I don’t like to sugar-coat things. If something looks FANTASTIC, I like to point it out. If something looks BAD, I will bring that to the forefront.

In this series, “The Cold, Hard Truth”, I will give my analysis on various parts of the team in an effort to allow healthy discussions on the specific topics at hand.

The Commanders have missed on more top 100 draft picks than they have hit on

Top 100 picks are very valuable in the NFL. In the last decade, over 70 percent of All-Pro first- and second-teamers were comprised of former top 100 draft picks. Now of course there are outliers, but as it stands, successful teams hit on the majority of their top 100 picks.

When Adam Peters arrived in Washington, he said during his opening press conference that he would build through the draft, and supplement through free agency. Now, it’s not for a lack of trying, as in his first two seasons as general manager he’s had eight top 100 draft picks. It’s what he’s done with those top 100 draft picks that leaves a bit of uncertainty.

Commanders Updated Roster

WR: Treylon Burks/Jaylin Lane

S: Quan Martin/Will Harris

Overall, Peters has had eight top 100 picks in two years. Of those picks, I feel he flat-out missed on three, and when you factor in who he COULD have had, I will say he hit on just two – Daniels and Amos. Now, I know this second part will be open for discussion and I did that intentionally so the dialogue could get flowing, as I don’t necessarily feel in the context of what really happened that Connerly, and maybe even McCaffrey were “misses”.

Regardless of the above, or how you feel personally about the previous picks, Adam Peters has a lot of work to do this offseason and only two top 100 picks to work with in the 2026 NFL draft. It’s possible he finds some gems like Bill Croskey-Merritt or Javontae Jean-Baptiste in later rounds but the misses on top 100 picks over the last two drafts could come back to haunt him – especially when you look at some of the talent Washington passed over.

Free agency, another area where Adam Peters hasn’t exactly knocked the ball out of the park these past two years, will be even more important this season as Washington looks to climb back into contention.