Adam Peters helped the Commanders dodge a bullet that's been causing NFL teams a big headache over the last few years

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Adam Peters and the Commanders didn’t have a lot to work with in the NFL Draft and it definitely limited the group’s ceiling. However, there’s a small win when you break the impact down to a granular level.

The Washington Commanders didn’t have a ton of draft picks this offseason due to last year’s Laremy Tunsil trade.

Said trade included the second- and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving Washington with just six selections coming in. It definitely limited Adam Peters and co.’s ceiling, but at the same time, the Commanders gained a very good left tackle in Tunsil. He certainly helps offset the lack of picks.

And, the Commanders won’t have to deal with the new and upcoming headache that is negotiating a second-round rookie contract.

Adam Peters and the Commanders avoid the challenge of signing a second-round draft pick

Over the last few years, teams have had difficulty signing second-round picks to deal due to agents and players pressing for fully guaranteed contracts. For a while, only first-round contracts involved fully-guaranteed money, but that recently changed.

The situation hit a head last year when 30 second-round picks had yet to sign their deals as training camps opened. Ultimately, picks Nos. 33-40 received fully-guaranteed contracts and that’s expected to trickle down even more in 2026.

Adam Peters made Trey Amos the Commanders’ second-round pick, last year, and he hit a buzzer-beater at the deadline with the cornerback. Amos the day rookies were scheduled to report to training camp. $4,568,725, or 62.8% of it, was guaranteed.