The Front Office: Adam Peters and Roster Construction

[Faithful Fan]

The first major symptom of this was in the Championship game. Without the go-for-broke mentality, the team kept pace with the Eagles in the first half to a degree, but then the dam burst. They turtled in that game and for the first time it felt like they were playing not to make a mistake, playing not to lose, and got killed for it. The defense as constructed and led just could not be counted on to hold an opponent in check, especailly not one as dialed-in as the Eagles were that season.

I remember Quinn saying something to the team prior to the game about how they needed to play differently for this game because it mattered so much more. Something about the way he said it bothered me. It was like he was telling the team to play afraid and to be conservative.

I don’t think we stopped being aggressive in that NFC Championship game. We converted two 4th downs on our first possession and ran a successful fake punt on our third possession. Overall, we finished the game 4-6 on 4th down attempts.

The biggest problem in that game was turnovers. Dyami Brown fumbled on the second possession and we fumbled a first half kickoff. In the end, we lost the turnover battle 4-0. The other big problem is that the Eagles were just much better than us, especially their rushing attack which netted 229 yards and 7 touchdowns.

So while DQ may have said something stupid, I don’t think your memory that we kept pace with the Eagles or stopped being aggressive is accurate.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Quinn coached differently in 2024 as well. We forget that this was a team that went for it on 4th down a record number of times, and was highly successful in converting them primarily because Jayden thrives under that kind of pressure. In 2024 we played like we had nothing to lose - because we didn't. 2025 was the polar opposite of that approach. Yes - I'm aware of the injuries and that was a monumental factor. But the other big factor was Quinn coaching scared and abandoning the aggressive style that almost took us to a Super Bowl the year before.

I dunno. Quinn felt more confident in being aggressive in 2024 because they had their starting QB for most of the season, and a generally relatively healthy team, as you pointed out. Also, in 2025, it was the best bet in the way to win games. The offense was great, the defense stunk. It made all the sense in the world to try and win on offense.

In 2025, by week 3, you almost had to be more conservative. They had a backup QB, no Terry, no Noah Brown, no Ekler, etc. Hell, they even talked about changing the offense to being more run oriented to control the clock and play defense. If you're forced into a more conservative philosophy, then you really need to just go all in with it, and that means punting and playing defense.

One other thing: the offense really wasn't the reason we ended up 5-12. They ended the season middle of the pack, even with all the injuries. But I don't thin you could ask them to do much more.

The biggest issue is the defense was horrendous, and they eventually lost all of their DE's, starting CB, etc.

I'm not sure if Quinn wasn't damned if you do, damned if you don't with the players he could field starting basically in week 3.

I don't know if he coached scared, or was just trying to keep things close where he could. The problem is, he couldn't with that defense. But if they went for it more, and didn't make it, you're putting a crap defense in a worse position.

 

[Boone]

It’s a chicken vs egg argument. Team identity doesn’t change because you lose starters. Team identity is who you are, no matter who is in the game. And I would argue that Quinn should’ve stuck with the gambling aggressiveness because we have a backup who more than any other backup in the league was capable of executing a ballsy gambling offense.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

It’s a chicken vs egg argument. Team identity doesn’t change because you lose starters. Team identity is who you are, no matter who is in the game. And I would argue that Quinn should’ve stuck with the gambling aggressiveness because we have a backup who more than any other backup in the league was capable of executing a ballsy gambling offense.

I don't know that I agree that team identity doesn't change because you lose starters.

Necessity is the mother of invention. You might have to change your identity if you just can't do what you did before.

I'm absolutely not arguing Quinn did a good job last year. You go 5-12, that's one thing. But tey went 5-12 being blown the hell out week after week, and that's another. That shouldn't happen. Even if you lose guys, that shouldn't happen. Something was off on the coaching staff (clearly from the moves which were made) from the beginning of the season. And that responsibility lies with Quinn as the HC.

I just don't think he was coaching scared. I would argue he was just coaching badly. Maybe that's semantics, though.

 

[NoCalSkins]

In that NFCC game, details are a little fuzzy on the actual numbers & time it all took place, but after Terry scored the TD to close the gap to a one score game didn't a combination of turnovers and terrible defense basically put the game out of reach before the offense ever really had a decent drive again?

 

[DWinzit]

Commanders Add Demetrius Washington To Front Office; Scott Fitterer Exits​

By Connor Byrne | at July 7, 2026 5:57 pm
The Commanders have hired Demetrius Washington as a senior personnel executive, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. He will replace Scott Fitterer, who is leaving the Commanders to join Athletes First, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Washington spent the previous four years in Minnesota, where he worked under now-former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. After Washington served as the Vikings’ vice president of football operations from 2022-24, they promoted him to assistant GM last year. The team fired Adofo-Mensah this past January, however, and parted with Washington after hiring new GM Nolan Teasley in early June.
In joining the Commanders, Washington will reunite with general manager Adam Peters. The two worked together in
San Francisco’s front office for five years.

The Commanders hired Fitterer in 2024, Peters’ first year as their GM. They were the fifth NFL organization for Fitterer, who began as a scout with the Giants in 1998. The Seattle native caught on with the Seahawks as a scout in 2001 and climbed the organizational ladder over two decades. Fitterer won a Super Bowl as their director of college scouting to cap off the 2013 campaign. He topped out as the Seahawks’ vice president of football operations in 2020, his last year with the team.

Fitterer exited Seattle for a promotion in Carolina, which hired him as its GM in 2021. He held the job for just three years, during which the Panthers mustered a dismal 14-37 record. Fitterer’s Panthers tenure included the 2022 trade of star running back Christian McCaffrey, whom he sent to the 49ers for a package of draft picks. Several months later, Fitterer boldly acquired the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in a blockbuster swap with the Bears. Fitterer used the selection on former Alabama Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young, whose three-year career has been a mixed bag.

After almost three decades in the NFL, Fitterer will now take on a different role with Athletes First. He will work with the agency’s athletes and executives in his new position.

 

[RedWolf]

Commanders Add Demetrius Washington To Front Office; Scott Fitterer Exits​

By Connor Byrne | at July 7, 2026 5:57 pm
The Commanders have hired Demetrius Washington as a senior personnel executive, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. He will replace Scott Fitterer, who is leaving the Commanders to join Athletes First, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Washington spent the previous four years in Minnesota, where he worked under now-former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. After Washington served as the Vikings’ vice president of football operations from 2022-24, they promoted him to assistant GM last year. The team fired Adofo-Mensah this past January, however, and parted with Washington after hiring new GM Nolan Teasley in early June.
In joining the Commanders, Washington will reunite with general manager Adam Peters. The two worked together in
San Francisco’s front office for five years.

The Commanders hired Fitterer in 2024, Peters’ first year as their GM. They were the fifth NFL organization for Fitterer, who began as a scout with the Giants in 1998. The Seattle native caught on with the Seahawks as a scout in 2001 and climbed the organizational ladder over two decades. Fitterer won a Super Bowl as their director of college scouting to cap off the 2013 campaign. He topped out as the Seahawks’ vice president of football operations in 2020, his last year with the team.

Fitterer exited Seattle for a promotion in Carolina, which hired him as its GM in 2021. He held the job for just three years, during which the Panthers mustered a dismal 14-37 record. Fitterer’s Panthers tenure included the 2022 trade of star running back Christian McCaffrey, whom he sent to the 49ers for a package of draft picks. Several months later, Fitterer boldly acquired the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in a blockbuster swap with the Bears. Fitterer used the selection on former Alabama Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young, whose three-year career has been a mixed bag.

After almost three decades in the NFL, Fitterer will now take on a different role with Athletes First. He will work with the agency’s athletes and executives in his new position.

Is this a positive addition???

 

[DWinzit]

Is this a positive addition???

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
Who knows. It was a position becoming vacant so now it is filled by a qualified person AP is familiar with.

 

[RedWolf]

I don't see us getting to the Super Bowl or even deep into the playoffs this year. I feel like we will be lucky to get into the playoffs if at all. I still lack confidence in our roster and don't believe that we are a powerhouse (yet?). It's kind of sad because next year will be Jayden's fourth year. It's taking a while to correct the errors of the past, I'm getting kind of impatient after this year

 

[NoCalSkins]

I don't see us getting to the Super Bowl or even deep into the playoffs this year. I feel like we will be lucky to get into the playoffs if at all. I still lack confidence in our roster and don't believe that we are a powerhouse (yet?). It's kind of sad because next year will be Jayden's fourth year. It's taking a while to correct the errors of the past, I'm getting kind of impatient after this year

I think we are seeing the difference between drafting a QB before you have the team versus some other teams who were already years into their rebuild when they drafted their future QBs. JD5's first team seasons were basically on a roster that was only go as far as he could take them. I think the roster this year is overall better, but that includes a lot of young unproven players that are still going to be learning & developing. I feel similar to how I was going into 2024, which is too much unknown to get a good handle on what I think the team can be, but for some different reasons.

 

[HTTR]

I don't see us getting to the Super Bowl or even deep into the playoffs this year. I feel like we will be lucky to get into the playoffs if at all. I still lack confidence in our roster and don't believe that we are a powerhouse (yet?). It's kind of sad because next year will be Jayden's fourth year. It's taking a while to correct the errors of the past, I'm getting kind of impatient after this year

I’m comfortable and happy knowing that we have solid football professionals running the show. And if we have to replace them with other solid football professionals, we don’t have moron Dan making the hires. I’m really not expecting any miracles so soon, considering how thoroughly he destroyed the franchise. I’m confident that eventually our time will come. Admittedly though, it does feel like the curse of Snyder is still hanging over us a little bit. Getting rid of the name he stuck as with would’ve gone a long way to eradicating that in my mind, but I’m sure most would just look at that as silly superstition.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

In the FA thread, skinsinparadise has said a few times that I am essentially making up being concerned about CB because I'm not panicked about WR2, and therefore I have to come up with some reason to criticize Peters so I come off as not a homer, or whatever. So I thought I might put, in the Peters thread, my Peters thoughts.

The Good:

• His 2024 FA class was absolutely amazing. The guys he signed to more than 1 year contracts, Luvu, Biadasz, Allegretti and Armstrong, all played key roles in making the NFC Championship game. Most of the 1 yet vet guys worked out, none better than Zach Ertz. He did a masterful job of filling the roster with short term fixes at low money, paying good money to a few key folks. It was a master class. He got a lot of good players, they worked out, and he maintained cap flexibility.
• The pairing of the drafting strategy with the FA signings was fantastic. He drafted a prospect in a spot to replace almost every veteran he signed. (Skip to Ugly to see how the actual picks worked out.)
• His 2025 draft showed a lot of promise. Conerly looks like a really good prospect to be a top 10 starting RT, Amos was the #1 CB his rookie year, Lane was one of the best punt returners his rookie year, and Bill Croskey-Merritt showed flashes of being at least a competent back, and maybe more.
• The trade for Tunsil was perfect. You never turn down the opportunity to get a top 5 LT. Ever. Doing it without giving up a #1, masterful.
• The trade for Lattimore. Now, hear me out: We were on a run, and we needed help at CB, and he made an aggressive move to get one. It didn't work out. But I loved him going all in at the right time to take a gamble. Sometimes when you bet, you lose. He lost. The trade turned out to be a debacle.
• He didn't get bullied by Terry and give him a ridiculous contract "just 'cause." He gave him a fair market contract. This might have upset some folks, but it was a big win.
• Drafting Jayden Daniels. But I almost put an * by this. He was in the NFL circles the defacto #2 choice. Keim said that over and over. It might have not been so defacto to fans, but what was reported, the NFL was pretty squarely on Daniels side. I also think if he had drafted Maye, it would have been fine. Maye is a good player. His team in 2024 was atrocious. Would he have done better here? Maybe. As well? Probably not. It still goes on the good list but I kindof put it in the Bill Polin category of "you don't have to be super smart to draft Peyton Manning."

The Bad:

• The Lattimore Trade. I put this in both my good and bad lists because while I really loved the aggressiveness, it failed miserably. And that's on Peter's room bill.
• The treatment of all the skill positions on offense as a whole. Apart from Terry, there hasn't been another reliable, explosive playmaker. I know people are concerned with WR2. Ok, fine. But I think it's a larger issue. Arguably the two best skill position players they have had the last 2 years were Terry and Austin Ekler. And Ekler got hurt. Ertz was good for moving the chains and in the red zone, and that's great, but there was no explosiveness from that position at all. I'm not as concerned with WR2 as others. But I am concerned there isn't enough at RB this year to play the type of balanced 50/50 run/pass game they want to play. I think Terry, Slot and TE should be fine. I worry about RB more than WR2.
• The plan at CB this year had me completely panicked. That wasn't fake panic. That was real panic. The signing of Rasul Douglas at least means our 4th guy isn't a practice squad player. That removes some of the panic. But I still think it's the weakest position group on the team top to bottom. WR at least has Terry at the top. The CB group doesn't have anybody who has proven to be anywhere NEAR that level. Amos hasn't practiced yet this off-season. Sainristil had a bad year. Zone turns into man when the ball is in the air. We have undersized CBs, and none are proven at all. I wasn't the only one freaked about this. A number of the local media were. Frankly, I think the WR2 discussion covered up the much, much, much more glaring overall roster issue.

The Ugly:

• Not recognizing the entire defense needed an overhaul after 2024. He recognized it after 2025. Honestly, the defense wasn't THAT much worse in 2025 than 2024, and some of the slippage in 2025 is that they lost all of their DE's by week 6. It was bad in 2024. The offense just scored a lot more points so it wasn't quite as noticeable how putrid it was. It needed an entire overhaul then, and they waited a year to do it.
• The 2024 draft class has produced 1 sure-fire starter, and they had 6 picks in the top 100. Daniels is the only guy who you can look at and say, "yep, that's a starter." The next closest is Sainristil. And I'm not convinced he's not a starter because he has to be because there's nobody else. He might be good, he was off to a good start his rookie year. But there's no way of knowing. Newton is probably #3 or #4 in the rotation of DTs, Sinnott plays special teams and is now buried behind Chig and Bates, McCaffery is probably the 2nd or 3rd option at slot (I think they should give him a shot at Z), and Coleman got benched for Paul. I mean, wow. That's stinky bad. They all could rebound, but it's really not what you're looking for when you have 6 picks in the top 100.
• He didn't get his top choice of HC. We know based on reporting they offered the job to Macdonald. They might have wanted Ben Johnson ahead of Quinn also. Hell, they might have wanted Raheem Morris ahead of Quinn but he was hired before his second interview. We don't know. What has been reported is they offered the job to Macdonald, and he took the Seattle job. That means Quinn was at best #2. Maybe #3. Regardless of how it works out, not getting your guy in the most important hiring decision you can make, not great.

My overall thought on Peters is that he's learning. Some things he has done have worked out. He's made bad mistakes. He's learned from most of them. He's going to continue to learn. I can absolutely say that I think he's made big mistakes while also think that he's done really well in areas, and will continue to improve, and no, I personally don't think he should be on the hot seat. Quinn should be. But not Peters. not yet.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

You know, there is a scenario where the Commanders don't sign Diggs, have a great offense and the moves which were made work out. They aren't going to rely on Daniels to run 10 times a game, they have the weapons they need + the scheme they are implementing, and it's a good match. Essentially they know what they're doing.

There is also a scenario where the offense stalls, they can't get guys open, Daniels is running for his life, and things on offense fall apart.

Both scenarios actually exist. Along with a whole lot of scenarios in the middle. Those are probably the best and worst cases. However, I think for some, the presence of the first scenario doesn't even exist. Or is so fantastically unlikely, practically speaking, it doesn't exist. It's basically assumed everything is going to suck, or at least be significantly diminished by the lack of an outside WR2.

I have said over and over, I don't know if they are going to be proven right or wrong. I will withhold judgement until it plays out. Wherever they place their bet, they better be right about it one way or the other.

I personally think the plan was always to sign another WR. After they went after Pierce and Doubs, didn't get them, I don't think there was anybody they thought was a huge upgrade to what they have who was available. The backup plan was probably Aiyuk, but that plan has disintegrated. So now the plan might be Diggs. However, my guess is Diggs is trying to leverage them for either more money or years than they want to spend. Peters isn't going to cave on those negotiations. But if Diggs hasn't signed elsewhere, it means nobody is meeting his asking prices. In the end, it's likely a deal can get done.

However, what I'm a bit fascinated by is it took essentially one injury ravaged season to upend any trust that Peters and company know what they are doing. After getting to the NFC Championship game in year 1, I thought it would have taken more than that.

I think people forget Peters had essentially a magic touch with FAs coming into 2024:
- Ertz was completely washed up, they didn't know if he would make the team and he turned into the starting TE
- Allegretti was an average player on the Chiefs. I think he was a backup who ended up starting in the playoffs and SB because of injury. Turned into the starting LG.
- Biadasz was a center who Dallas was ok to part with.
- Ekler was not retained because he couldn't stay healthy
- OZ was coming off a 10 reception, 164 yard season with the Eagles
- Bobby Wagner was old as dirt, and there was question what he had left
- Dorance Armstrong started 1 game for Dallas, though had 7.5 sacks
- Noah Brown was signed after cutdown day

He signed guys to play roles. And literally all of them hit short term.

I think there at least exists the possibility that things could work out just fine. Last year might have worked out ok absent one of the worst sets of injury luck you can imagine.

It's also possible it doesn't work out at all.

 

[Conn]

It’s not about whether the best case scenario exists and is possible. That’s always the case, and yet the best teams stack talent and try to build in failsafes. Not doing something because the best case scenario is technically possible is a reckless way to build a team, and frankly it borders on disrespecting the fans after a certain number of attempts. You have the resources and the opportunity to improve the roster in a year where you really have to make the playoffs, and it’s not going to damage the future, you try to do it. Rationalizing it away is really just a coping mechanism because people so badly want a FO they can trust. I get that, but these guys have earned nothing from you.

It’s amazing how quickly people bounced back to being homers who accept less the moment we showed a flash of competency. Now instead of demanding more, some people almost feel beholden to the slapdash process that lead to the borderline miracle that was 2024, as if this staff has proven anything or earned any sort of benefit of the doubt.

It’s not about a player like Diggs being THE missing piece that we must have, it’s just purely about maximizing opportunities, and right now that unfortunately looks like adding the last remaining proven/productive WR on the market, pickings are slim at this point. It only feels like a ton of weight is being put on this one potential move because we’ve been watching the options fall through the sifter all offseason until really only this one is left, and is really only even an option at this point because the off-field concerns slowed down (and may still be slowing down) his market to this point

But I cannot stress enough that it’s not about Diggs being the guaranteed savior. I personally believe he raises our floor and ceiling, and reduces our risk, but if we sign him and he gets a high ankle sprain week 2 of preseason or something, or he hits a career wall and only has 400 yards, or Treylon Burks breaks out for a 900/10 season…it changes nothing about the process and my desires for it. He’s just a symptom of a larger situation that people are frankly (understandably) sick of talking about. So we can wait until the sample size is larger and see how it plays out. But signing Diggs now (if his legal situations check out) is still the most responsible move, even if it doesn’t work out. Not doing so because you’re worried you’ll have to cut one of Burks, Dyami, Van Jefferson, or because it means McCaffrey and Lane will have to earn their snaps…that’s malpractice.

 

[Boone]

I sort of hate that we do this… neither mindless homers nor harsh skeptics who want to gut the current regime really describe the vast majority of fans.

I really believe most of us simply want the team to do everything they can to give our young franchise QB and the team overall the best chance to succeed. Most hope the team surpasses all expectations but worry where they feel they haven’t done everything we could have. It’s rarely if ever one or the other end of the spectrum.

Fans hope and root for and worry. Some deal with their worry by ‘whistling past the graveyard’ and minimizing the weak areas. Others try to diminish the worries by expecting the worst, thus avoiding getting their hopes dashed. It’s all part of the same desire - for the team to be a consistent winner. And do we obsess no matter where we are on that spectrum? Yes. If you are here you are obsessed with this team. Hence the site name we chose in 2009.

There is no right or wrong in how you fan. It may annoy the fuck out of some when others don’t fan the way they do, but I believe if you are here you are almost undeniably a huge fan.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Bump.

I’m feeling better about roster construction now.

 

[Anselmheifer]

At this point, I’m mostly fine with Peters. Overall, I think this team is much more talented than the one he inherited. I’d feel better about him though if there weren’t some real head scratchers. Everyone makes mistakes in the draft and free agency. But when your mistakes seem like obvious mistakes, that an entire football forum can point out in real time, that makes me nervous.

Biadasz is the biggest one to me. If you don’t want him to start anymore, why not keep him as a backup? It makes no sense unless they were on a cash budget and needed the money.

I don’t really understand why they weren’t more aggressive in the secondary. There were good corners available early in free agency, and we appeared entirely disinterested. I think Cross was a very good signing, but free safety still worries me.

If the center position or the secondary are our downfall this year, everyone on BGO can say, “I told you so.”

Lastly, the lack of aggression the previous offseason. Why wasn’t Peters pushing hard to help us take the next step? Tunsil was a great move, but any of us could have seen that WR was going to be a problem, and it was very predictable that the defense would be a problem

 

[HTTR]

At this point, I’m mostly fine with Peters. Overall, I think this team is much more talented than the one he inherited. I’d feel better about him though if there weren’t some real head scratchers. Everyone makes mistakes in the draft and free agency. But when your mistakes seem like obvious mistakes, that an entire football forum can point out in real time, that makes me nervous.

Biadasz is the biggest one to me. If you don’t want him to start anymore, why not keep him as a backup? It makes no sense unless they were on a cash budget and needed the money.

I don’t really understand why they weren’t more aggressive in the secondary. There were good corners available early in free agency, and we appeared entirely disinterested. I think Cross was a very good signing, but free safety still worries me.

If the center position or the secondary are our downfall this year, everyone on BGO can say, “I told you so.”

Lastly, the lack of aggression the previous offseason. Why wasn’t Peters pushing hard to help us take the next step? Tunsil was a great move, but any of us could have seen that WR was going to be a problem, and it was very predictable that the defense would be a problem

I agree with this completely. I really wish we had been more aggressive last off-season as well, but the silver lining is it wouldn’t have mattered anyway with all the injuries and bad luck. The draft capital and salary cap space that we held onto will now serve us well going forward.
That said, if we get back to the point where we are close again I hope AP won’t be shy to shove his chips to the middle of the table and go for it. Just pick somebody a lot better than Lattimore to go after next time!

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Biadasz is the biggest one to me. If you don’t want him to start anymore, why not keep him as a backup? It makes no sense unless they were on a cash budget and needed the money.

He's too expensive to be a backup. They didn't want him to be a starter, that's fine. Releasing him is also fine. Chasing Lindy was fine. Not getting Lindy and default going with Allegretti as the starter was fine. Drafting a guy in the 6th round as depth was fine. Not bringing in another proven starter level C to compete was not fine.

That's the mistake. Peters really could have used one more reasonably priced FA to either be the backup to Allegretti or push him. Worst case JGG + New Guy compete for the backup spot.

I don’t really understand why they weren’t more aggressive in the secondary. There were good corners available early in free agency, and we appeared entirely disinterested. I think Cross was a very good signing, but free safety still worries me.

The CB spot is a terrifying nightmare at the moment. Now, one thing to note: There just weren't a lot of good CBs available. Alontae Taylor and Jaylen Watson both got pretty big money deals, but after that, there weren't really any sure fire upgrades. It was a really thing class. Hell, Amik Robertson, who we signed, was the 8th highest contract given to a CB. And he struggled last year playing outside.

So unless Peters wanted to go top of the market, there just wasn't a lot of mid-market available.

I still think he should have done SOMETHING more than just Robertson. Then he finally did with Douglas. Especially with Amos not practicing. (I didn't see if he practiced today or not. But hasn't up until now.)

At Safety, again, it was a really thin market. Bryan Cook, Coby Bryant, Jalen Thompson, Reed Blankenship and Alohi Gilman were the Safeties who got more money than Cross. Harris was a signing last year, and then he got hurt. They have some guys. We'll see how that all plays out.

If the center position or the secondary are our downfall this year, everyone on BGO can say, “I told you so.”

I mean, in fairness, no matter where the issue is, everyone on BGO is going to say "I told you so."

Lastly, the lack of aggression the previous offseason. Why wasn’t Peters pushing hard to help us take the next step? Tunsil was a great move, but any of us could have seen that WR was going to be a problem, and it was very predictable that the defense would be a problem

This is probably the most important point. They kindof took an offseason off. They were trying to walk a line: keep the veteran team they had which had just gotten to the NFC Championship Game intact, give it another run while shoring up a few critical spots.

They signed a couple plug-in DL to help with the run defense, traded for Tunsil to lock down the LT spot, which in turn the idea is they would upgrade the RT spot by flipping Coleman there, which didn't work out that way, trade for Deebo to be the "move/gadget" WR and run a lot of those WR screens and quick game Kliff liked, and let's go at it.

Each of those moves in a vacuum probably made sense. But where Peters got caught with his pants down is the overall team he put together was just old and slow. And then the injury bug hit. The '91 Redskins couldn't have survived the number of injuries the team had last year, that was basically the biggest reason the team stunk. With "normal" injuries they might still have contended for the playoffs.

But they were old and slow overall. They tried to walk the line of keeping the chemistry together and supplementing only where necessary and it blew up spectacularly.