Rebuilding teams don’t often have older rosters. That’s not the case with the 2024 Washington Commanders. Of course, if you’d ask general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, this isn’t a rebuilding project; the Commanders are recalibrating.
Remember when Peters was introduced to the Washington media in January alongside owner Josh Harris? Someone asked Peters what he thought of the roster he inherited. He hesitated, saying he believed the Commanders had a “few cornerstone pieces on the roster,” but there was “a lot of work to do.”
The cornerstone pieces Peters referred to were Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Sam Cosmi. He didn’t say that, but it was fairly obvious.
In March, Peters showed everyone what he thought of the roster he inherited when he signed over 20 outside free agents. In April, the Commanders added nine draft picks and 12 undrafted free agents. Washington continued to add free agents in the offseason and, on Tuesday, finalized its initial 53-man roster.
In finalizing his 53-man roster, Peters gutted the 2023 draft class, leaving Washington with only two players from its seven-player class.
So, back to the age of Washington’s “recalibrating roster.” According to Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice, the Commanders have the NFL’s eighth-oldest roster at 26.64 years old.
No one should panic here. First, this will change daily. This was the average age of the initial roster for all 32 teams. This offseason, Peters signed numerous players to short-term deals to field a competitive team and build depth. The previous regime’s poor draft classes left the Commanders with little depth.
Washington added nine picks in the NFL draft and two undrafted free agents. They kept other UDFAs on the practice squad. If the Commanders’ rookie class is successful, that’s the future core of the franchise. Many of the players Peters signed in March likely will not be here in 2025. Peters built the roster in the short term with a long-term view. He didn’t commit to any long-term contracts that would hamper Washington’s salary cap in the future.
For the first time in years, the Commanders are surrounded by real optimism, thanks to numerous smart offseason moves.
