When Daniels played, he sometimes showed the skills that had set the league on fire the year before, throwing eight touchdowns for 1,262 yards and three interceptions, while rushing for 278 yards.
But much of the time, he was under attack, his ability severely hampered by injuries to his skill position players — average when healthy — and a defense that often left him handcuffed.
Playing with receivers that were sometimes picked off the street, Daniels often found himself in poor field position and playing from behind. The Commanders ranked 25th in the league in starting field position, while their opponents were fourth throughout the season.
Their defense was ranked 27th, with a league-worst minus-14 turnover margin.
Peters tried to level the playing field for Daniels by using free agency, signing seven defensive players, including a $100 million deal for edge rusher Odafe Oweh. But offensively, the spending spree — the Commanders had $90 million in available cap space, sixth in the NFL — was limited to tight end Chig Okonkwo and two backup running backs, Rachaad White and Jerome Ford.
The No. 7 pick in this year’s draft gives Peters a chance to draft an impact offensive player and significantly fill the need of helping his young quarterback, because, as his boss has said, “Times a-wasting.”
The clock is ticking for the Washington Commanders and general manager Adam Peters — and not just on Thursday night.
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