The Front Office: Adam Peters and Roster Construction

[Chris]

Great response. Maybe we should have put a gun to his head.

Considering the Colts and all…

 

[burgold]

Would be great if it was BTJ. Who knows if that’s even a possibility. Hopefully AP knows.

I'd be really excited about that.

 

[Riggo44]

I disagree by and large with Riggo, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world. We’re engaged and having convos on a forum. To me, that’s the best part of all of this.

Everyone agreeing all the time would be boring. And disagreement doesn't mean disrespect (admittedly, there are several I don't). You're definitely one of the ones I pay most attention to in the draft threads--mostly because I don't have that coaches/scouts eye many have here, nor the time and patience to go through the hours of film many do here to provide analysis and feedback.

 

[Riggo44]

Considering the Colts and all…

Pierce wanting to stay in Indy is odd. He does know Daniel Jones is going to suck again right?

 

[KDawg]

Everyone agreeing all the time would be boring. And disagreement doesn't mean disrespect (admittedly, there are several I don't). You're definitely one of the ones I pay most attention to in the draft threads--mostly because I don't have that coaches/scouts eye many have here, nor the time and patience to go through the hours of film many do here to provide analysis and feedback.

I’ve always thought highly of you as a poster since the other forum days - none of this is personal. I think it’s good to remind ourselves at that but I’d be alarmed if you started agreeing with me on Peters LOL

 

[ES1974]

Given that Pierce stayed in Indy, despite us offering more per reports, how do you know we didn't do that?

Same reason you don’t know, personal opinion/perspective on things. Popular opinion is that AP has a line he won’t cross.

 

[Discobob]

Would be great if it was BTJ. Who knows if that’s even a possibility. Hopefully AP knows.

I know you're spitballin' but that would be awesome. In this hypothetical world, it would be great to know that this was an option prior to our pick at #7 I'd be in the tank for Delane, Downs, Styles, Love if this situation were true!

 

[ES1974]

We can't be critical of a move that hasn't happened yet.

I don’t really agree with than logic so we’re just in a circular discussion.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I don’t really agree with than logic so we’re just in a circular discussion.

So Aiyuk is under contract so he literally cannot be signed, and you’re saying we have already messed up because we haven’t signed him yet?

 

[ES1974]

So Aiyuk is under contract so he literally cannot be signed, and you’re saying we have already messed up because we haven’t signed him yet?

No I’ve never said that at all. Trying to sign a player and them going elsewhere is a failed attempt.

No idea where your Aiyuk example comes from.

 

[Primus Porcus]

No I’ve never said that at all. Trying to sign a player and them going elsewhere is a failed attempt.

No idea where your Aiyuk example comes from

I kinda misread your post. You referenced Aiyuk in a sense that he was dragging his feet waiting for him. I misread it my bad

 

[Commander Wraith]

As I see it, we’ve got two sides of the ledger (I’m ignoring Jayden).

They used bandaids at receiver in 2024 and it sort of worked out, but no long term additions besides McCaffrey. They made a questionable (at best) trade for Lattimore, and our three 2nd round picks have underwhelmed. They also did a pretty poor job at DE in 2025.

On the other side of the ledger, they’ve invested in some youth at corner (and tried for Woolen), they traded for and extended Tunsil, Deebo on paper looked like a nice addition, they vastly improved the depth at DE this offseason, added quality players in Chenal and Cross, and signed (arguably) the top available pass catching TE and top 3rd down RB. After (seemingly) not doing much at receiver their first 2 years, they upped their aggressiveness in FA this year, but it didn’t work. I’m not giving them a pass on that last point, but it’s a step forward from 2024/2025.

So, all told, there’s some good things and bad things. The bright side is that, to an extent at least, they seem to be learning lessons along the way. We still have some significant question marks with the roster. Probably the 2 most glaring - corner and receiver - could get quality additions (Delane at 7 or maybe one with a trade back) and a draftee (or 2) and FA (or 2) for receiver.
The margins are pretty thin though with our lack of picks and no certainty we land a helpful receiver in FA.

All told, I’m ok with the roster construction to this point, sans receiver. Perhaps their dice rolls on McCaffrey and Lane as developmental guys works out, but I’m not holding my breath. If they manage a fix there, or at least substantial improvement, I’ll feel pretty good about our direction. Next year’s gonna be another big set of data points with so many players slated to leave and a post mortem on our corners/receivers and coordinators.

 

[Bulldog]

Paying Deebo $20M to average 9 or 10 yards a catch is ridiculous.

Besides those shorter and intermediate plays to the inside should now be going to Okonkwo, our pass receiving and RAC tight end.

We didn’t have that player in 2025 and so Deebo fit in a bit more with where the team was at that time.

You add in catches for White out of the backfield and I think we have doubled up on guys that make the same catches.

And Deebo most likely is going to want a 2 year deal.

Do we really want to have one of the oldest starting sets of receivers at a position where injuries for vets over 30 are more the rule than the exception?

 

[NickyJ]

Do we really want to have one of the oldest starting sets of receivers at a position where injuries for vets over 30 are more the rule than the exception?

We don't. Which is why it is so regrettable that the front office let the WR corps fail so badly for 3 years. At this point, the team's two greatest hopes are a 7th overall pick playing lights out and a WR who hasn't played in 2 years playing like he hasn't missed 2 years.

After that, the safety net is: Overpayng Jennings, which our fans have been praising the FO for not doing because it's unacceptable that free agents get more expensive each season. Ooooooooor.... signing an over 30 years old at a position where injuries for vets over 30 are more the rule than the exception.

Meh, maybe next season. And if the free agents get even more expensive next year, they can put it off another year. Time is on their side.

 

[burgold]

Well, that or the light suddenly goes off and shines like a star for Lane or McCaffrey

 

[Chris]

Shines like a star?

 

[Conn]

This is moving goalposts. No one is satisfied. No one is happy with the condition of the room. Like you said, we cannot force any one to sign, all we can do is make the best effort possible--I think they did that. There was an entirely different approach this year than to last, anyone who says otherwise is selling you something.

The point I made was us being passive. We were NOT passive--we were not successful. There is a massive difference. Pointing out our effort when someone states something factually incorrect and being satisfied with what we have are mutually exclusive.

I didn’t quote your arguments, or use the term satisfied or passive. Just thinking out loud in that post. I do agree with a lot of what KDawg (and Boone) are saying but I’m not really approaching it identically.

You’re by definition giving them credit for trying. Changing their approach. Okay, they tried really really hard! But some combination of their monetary offer, their pitch to the players, and their perception around the league from outside our building isn’t getting it done.

So, they tried really hard. Credit given.

But if the result is still failure, how long does that fly with people? Benefit of the doubt only lasts so long. That was what my musing was about. Some of us gave this FO + staff less benefit of the doubt to begin with, sure. Then that was buoyed by the unexpected year 1 miracle season, then last offseason took a big chunk out of that goodwill, and here we are. Others are starting to feel the same, but many still give them the benefit of the doubt, still think AP is the savior after so long without a real GM (whereas I’ve argued the real upside of Harris is that we no longer NEED a savior. If AP sucks we can fire him and hire the next attempt at AP, as we’re a regular organization now)

All that to say…I wasn’t responding to anything specific you or anyone else said, other than the generic idea of “but they tried before failing for reasons outside their control”, and wondering how far that continues to get them with fans if it causes Jayden Daniels to flail and not reach his potential.

 

[Conn]

Given that Pierce stayed in Indy, despite us offering more per reports, how do you know we didn't do that?

And how do you know that the reason for that isn’t directly the fault of this organization? How do you know that the perception of our inexperienced first time OC/playcaller, the perception of this coaching staff being on the hot seat, the perception of their inability to keep Daniels on the field making magic…how do we know this isn’t why Pierce stayed in Indy, Doubs chose NE, etc?

The point is we don’t know. So you’re choosing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they couldn’t have succeeded no matter what, because even though we allegedly offered more (though we have no details about structure/guarantees offered) Pierce decided to stay in Indy. But that’s just as much of a piece of speculation as what I said above is. It may very well be our organization’s fault and previous failures that is leading to them not winning over these guys in FA. You’re choosing to believe it’s all about the money and the money couldn’t pry them away. People don’t have to agree with that.

 

[Riggo44]

I didn’t quote your arguments, or use the term satisfied or passive. Just thinking out loud in that post. I do agree with a lot of what KDawg (and Boone) are saying but I’m not really approaching it identically.

You’re by definition giving them credit for trying. Changing their approach. Okay, they tried really really hard! But some combination of their monetary offer, their pitch to the players, and their perception around the league from outside our building isn’t getting it done.

So, they tried really hard. Credit given.

But if the result is still failure, how long does that fly with people? Benefit of the doubt only lasts so long. That was what my musing was about. Some of us gave this FO + staff less benefit of the doubt to begin with, sure. Then that was buoyed by the unexpected year 1 miracle season, then last offseason took a big chunk out of that goodwill, and here we are. Others are starting to feel the same, but many still give them the benefit of the doubt, still think AP is the savior after so long without a real GM (whereas I’ve argued the real upside of Harris is that we no longer NEED a savior. If AP sucks we can fire him and hire the next attempt at AP, as we’re a regular organization now)

All that to say…I wasn’t responding to anything specific you or anyone else said, other than the generic idea of “but they tried before failing for reasons outside their control”, and wondering how far that continues to get them with fans if it causes Jayden Daniels to flail and not reach his potential.

So what would have been acceptable?

I generally disagree with these type of posts, for the same reason I snarkily responded to someone about making someone give us a first for Payne. It's the same logic to me. Pierce stayed where he was comfortable--we offered more. What could we do there? It seems Dobbs saw Maye as a more viable QB. After last year, that's not unrealistic--he was a near MVP candidate--and went to the Super Bowl. No one signs every player they pursue.

We were still good enough for the top TE and top DE on the market. So something worked.

 

[Riggo44]

And how do you know that the reason for that isn’t directly the fault of this organization? How do you know that the perception of our inexperienced first time OC/playcaller, the perception of this coaching staff being on the hot seat, the perception of their inability to keep Daniels on the field making magic…how do we know this isn’t why Pierce stayed in Indy, Doubs chose NE, etc?

Because none of that was reported. I try to stick to what is reported from reliable people rather than opinion-passed-as-fact.