ClutchPoints
There are major question marks for the Washington Commanders’ coaching staff heading into 2026. And there could be a big shakeup. But a bigger issue is the roster, and glaring problems signal a 2026 disaster for general manager Adam Peters.
After a brilliant start in 2024, Peters made bad choices for the 2025 roster. And when the injuries came, things went from shaky to worst-case scenario.
But how does Peters rebuild things? Will it take a major overhaul? Let’s dig in.
First, let’s address what Peters tried to do. The Commanders made it to the NFC Championship game in 2024. It was a magical season filled with miracles from rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.
In the NFL, having a standout quarterback on a rookie contract means you have a chance to build a Super Bowl roster. Understandably, Peters took this route.
But he took major gambles and none of them have seemed to pay off. His decision to draft an offensive lineman in the first round instead of an edge rusher may provide a starter for the long run. Josh Conerly Jr. started all 17 games for the Commanders, and perhaps he’s a long-term answer. But the support for that notion isn’t locked in place.
And Peters’ refusal to pick an edge rusher is the problem. There weren’t a lot of great options when the Commanders picked in the first round, but that’s not the point. It doesn’t take multiple options. It only takes the right one.
And that one should have been Nic Scourton. Yes, there is great value in hindsight. But let’s look at where Scourton ranked on the Pro Football Focus edge rusher board, heading into the draft. PFF put him at No. 5 for edge rushers with a big board rank of No. 29. No so coincidentally, the Commanders had the No. 29 pick. Hmmm.
Scourton stayed on the board until pick No. 51, when the Panthers grabbed him. And what did he do for the Panthers this season? Scourton started eight games with five sacks and nine quarterback hits. Also, he had 31 quarterback pressures, the highest number for a rookie since tracking began, according to wscotv.com.
The Commanders ranked No. 22 in the NFL in pressure rate, according to PFF.
But it’s not just the numbers. It’s the attitude and effort the Commanders missed out on by passing Scourton by in the draft. Scourton is that infectious team player, according to panthers.com.
“I love to run to the ball,” Scourton said before the season. “I like to call myself a high effort guy. (And) I mean, the play is still continuing. And I got to chase and have that motive.
“I mean, I love to get better. I love football, and I’m just excited for this challenge and this journey that I have ahead of me.”
And the bad thing is that the Commanders have very little to...
