Key Takeaways:
– Washington Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters consulted NFC rivals before selecting LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
– The drafting decision marks an important milestone in Peters’ tenure, which began in January 2024.
– Peters’ previous drafting decisions with the San Francisco 49ers drew criticism, particularly for skipping a chance to scout Patrick Mahomes.
– The Commanders’ history of selecting quarterbacks in the first round is less than stellar, with Robert Griffin III and Dwayne Haskins performing below expectations.
Consulting the Rivals to Craft a Winning Strategem
Adam Peters, Washington Commanders general manager, made the unconventional move of consulting long-time rival NFC’s head coach in deciding to select Jayden Daniels as the No. 2 draft pick in the 2024 NFL draft. ESPN reported that Peters sought external opinion, a strategic move away from his routine internal consultations.
In favorable endorsements, former Arizona State coach, Herm Edwards who previously recruited and worked with Daniels backed him as a promising pick for Washington Commanders. Further, San Francisco receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and Peters’ former co-worker and current San Francisco coach, Kyle Shanahan also recommended Daniels enthusiastically.
Peters’ Journey from 49ers to Commanders
Peters, who served in various executive roles at the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2023, joined the Commanders in January 2024. During his time in San Francisco, Peters and then-colleague Shanahan faced scrutiny for their contentious draft decisions, including the presumably misguided decision of not scouting Patrick Mahomes, who later became a three-time Super Bowl champion.
A Checkered History with Quarterbacks
The 49ers, hopeful about acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2017, surprisingly side-stepped the scouting process in the 2017 NFL draft. They subsequently drafted Stanford defensive tackle Solomon Thomas and traded for New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. However, Garoppolo failed to meet expectations, leading the 49ers to eventually trade him. Trey Lance, chosen by the 49ers as a substitute for Garoppolo, struggled to hold his position and was later traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
Peters and the Commanders History of Quarterback Picks
The drafting of Daniels brings back memories of the Commanders’ past first-round quarterback picks. In 2012, the team gambled on Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick. However, RG3’s inconsistent performance led to his release. Later in 2019, the Commanders selected Dwayne Haskins, who also couldn’t make a significant impact on the team’s performance.
Can Daniels Break the Cycle?
The Washington Commanders look to their recent first-round draft pick, Jayden Daniels, to break the cycle of underperforming quarterbacks. The LSU quarterback, backed by strong endorsements from NFL veterans, is expected to turn around the team’s fortunes and offer fans something to cheer about in the coming seasons.
Meta description: “Discover how Washington Commanders’ GM, Adam Peters, makes a daring move to secure Jayden Daniels as the No. 2 NFL draft pick. Delve into the Commanders’ quarterback history and expectations for Daniels. Read more now.”