Commanders GM Adam Peters (right) and AGM Lance Newmark spoke with the local media ahead of next week’s NFL Draft.
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters met with the local media Thursday, along with assistant GM Lance Newmark. This annual pre-draft gathering is typically light on specifics, but heavy on eyebrow-raising clues.
Peters fielded questions about the roster, draft strategy, and the potential for a trade down. As expected, his responses revealed little. Still, Washington’s needs are clear enough to add context to the front office leader’s intentionally vague answers.
Among realistic options at No. 7: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and the Ohio State trio of linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, and wide receiver Carnell Tate. In certain ways, they fit the profile of players who could debut in Washington’s modernized throwback uniforms.
From my seat, Washington’s top need isn’t wide receiver, cornerback, or the offensive line — it’s more picks.
Washington enters the seven-round draft with six selections, but only two inside the top 100. After Nos. 7 and 71, the Commanders are not scheduled to pick again until 147.
Peters can do damage with those first two picks, whether that’s giving quarterback Jayden Daniels needed playmakers, adding depth along the lines, or selecting a difference-maker for the defensive back seven.
With only those two early selections, there is no margin for error.
Here’s my read on what Peters said — and what it could mean when the first round begins April 23.
AP: “It’s hard to really understand or figure out where everything’s going to go, where everybody’s going to go. Man, you hear something new every day, right? Really, everybody, nobody is telling the truth. But what we do is we trust our board, trust our evaluations, and be ready to pick or do whatever we need to do with that pick. And so, I do know this, like, if we’re sitting there at seven and we do pick, I know we’ll get a good player .”
Takeaway: Lying season is in full swing.
That’s not about Peters or Washington — it’s the entire league. The subterfuge is real.
This is a peculiar draft to project because the top options lack the usual blue-chip clarity. The uncertainty begins immediately after the Raiders’ anticipated selection of quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. The Jets may choose between pass rushers David Bailey and Arvell Reese, a decision that could create a domino effect for the Cardinals at three, the Titans at four, and the Giants at five.
Tennessee, New York, and Washington are popular mock draft landing spots for Love and Styles. There’s a world where both are gone before seven, or one is waiting. That’s not including possible trades ahead of Washington’s pick.
The Commanders chase elite athletes. It’s the clearest clue to pick No. 7
AP: “Yeah, certainly have to be ready to do that. I would say more likely than not that would happen. But you never know. It’ll depend on who’s on the board, if a team wants to move up, and then we have to decide if we want to do that. But I would say more likely than not, we’d stay and pick. I don’t foresee us moving up, but moving back just depends on the circumstances.”
The GM continued.
“I don’t want to say we’re not actively trying to move back. We’re always assessing our options and making sure we’re ready, and then understanding who’s going to be there at certain positions and certain spots towards the middle to the later part of the first round. But just being prepared for that, but not really actively trying to get out of that at all.”
Takeaway: Every year, the pre-draft cycle produces countless rumored trade scenarios — most never materialize. The odds still favor teams in the top 10 staying put.
However, Peters’ tone on trading down felt more intentional than perfunctory. This wasn’t just due diligence — it sounded like a real consideration.
Beyond the return, the key question is how far down Washington is willing to move. This draft is light on first-round grades. Some league sources put the number at 10–12 players — roughly half of a typical class.
I’ve run countless mock drafts. Every time, the top tier ends around Miami at 11.
There’s a reason Dallas, holding picks 12 and 20, is reportedly looking to move into the top 10 — it’s not just about targeting Bailey or Styles. They see the drop-off coming — and want to get ahead of it.
The trade-down blueprint: Mapping Commanders’ targets through the early rounds
AP: “I think sometimes you overthink that, especially when you’re picking a seven, (if) you’re trying to worry about the next pick. Just kind of get that right and then see what comes next. It is a long wait. It really sucks because all these good players go off the board and you’re like, come on. It takes forever, but we want to get that pick right, so I don’t want to overthink it and try to play like 3D chess because you never know what’s going to happen.”
Takeaway: Based on positional depth, wide receiver and safety are two spots where patience could pay off, given the expected options when Washington picks again early in the third round.
NFL mock draft 8.0: The board breaks two ways for Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs
AP: “I think it makes you kind of do a little more work on the front end. So, talking to other GM’s on the front end, if there is a deal, which you might not ever make, but at least getting the parameters so you’re not hemming and hawing in those eight minutes trying to work out a deal. You kind of have the parameters ahead of time if that is something you would do, and then very well may say, no, we’re not going to do it at that time. But at least you know, so you’re not starting from scratch.”
Takeaway: Every team explores options. His point about increased pre-draft groundwork makes sense. More conversations early could mean more noise — and more rumors — leading up to draft night.
AP: “I’m not really good at predicting those types of things, but I don’t think there’s going to be a ton right around where we pick. I would probably think there’d be more towards the end of the first round, middle to the end. But it just kind of depends on how the board falls, but people start getting antsy and they want to do some things and so you just have to be ready for everything.”
Takeaway: See above: most trade buzz fizzles. Unless Peters is playing the long game with us. I kid… mostly.
AP: “I mean, you always try to pick the best athletes. I think that’s a big part of it for sure. I think everybody’s trying to do that. You don’t want to get a bunch of guys like me running around there. But really that’s part of it. But part of it’s the fit, part of it’s the fit in the building, the fit with the scheme, just how we talk about being Commanders and a lot of those guys. Obviously, the better players hopefully are better athletes, and they have some more upside, I think too.”
Last but not least — my question for Peters.
I’ve previously outlined Washington’s draft trend: all 14 players selected under this regime have landed in the top athletic tier based on the “Relative Athletic Score” metric. Individually and collectively, those classes graded among the league’s best.
This matters at No. 7. For the trend to continue, Washington would have to choose from Bailey, Reese, Love, Styles, or Delane. I’m excluding offensive linemen here, given the Commanders’ current tackle situation.
Some players did not receive a RAS due to limited or no Combine participation. Based on available data and game tape, Downs, Tate, and Miami DE Rueben Bain — despite their talent — likely fall outside that top athletic threshold.
At some point, Washington will select a player outside that elite athletic tier.
Maybe that moment comes at No. 7.
We’ll soon find out.