Commanders' Adam Peters 'Really Excited', But Still 'Long Way to Go'

The Washington Commanders have quite the offseason already, but the real fun is just about to begin.

ORLANDO -- The Washington Commanders have signed over 20 new contracts this offseason and most of those have gone to players coming from outside the organization.

While free agent linebacker Bobby Wagner and running back Austin Ekeler stand out as the most notable additions, the Commanders have done enough to know this year's team will look vastly different from the previous version. The one that won just four games.

“Yeah, we've really done a lot in a short amount of time, in terms of where we need to be," Washington general manager Adam Peters said while attending the NFL's Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida this week. "We still got a long way to go, but we have some great pieces in place. We have a great coaching staff. Personnel staff (has) been awesome. So, so far so good. I've been really, really excited to work with everybody. It's been awesome.”

Adam Peters, Dan Quinn

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Excitement and awesome seem to be the themes of the offseason following explosive and physical play being the words that set the tone for it after coach Dan Quinn was brought in to lead this new look roster.

Quinn is getting his second chance to run a team after spending six seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons before working as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator for the last three.

His excitement stems from the work they've done, but also from getting to see Peters and his staff in action as they hammered out the details on nearly two dozen new contracts.

“I think over the last 50 or so days it's been fun being part of Adam's [process and all the way from the team first getting here, evaluating everybody, going through free agency and that process continues now," Quinn said. ”

Quinn also said he's looking forward to officially getting to work with his guys as the Commanders start their offseason program next week as a perk of having a new head coach in the building.

He says building those connections and working with players is why he coaches, so as fun as the roster building process has been, there's even more of it to have in the coming days.

Having the right players in place only adds to the joy. And it just so happens that a lot of them are guys Quinn has worked with in the past. Something the coach said was no done on purpose, but rather as a result of knowing those men fit what they're trying to accomplish in Washington.

“Number one, it was about our fit in terms of what we were looking for to add to (the team)," Quinn said. "I had a very clear vision of what those players can do and how we would fit. But I really am pumped man to get rolling with these guys on (April 2nd), seeing their interaction and their mix together and the faster the team does that the better we'll get. And so that'll be a number one top of the priority, the best of the best team they're good in the locker room first and setting standards and things so when these rookies do arrive after the draft, there's some processes and some standards already into place. This is how we'll do things, this is how it will go. And that mentoring will be a big piece of that.”

To use an old football cliche, Peters is bringing in the right groceries for Quinn to cook with, and the chef is excited to get into the kitchen.

But the excitement has just begun because Peters is about to head to the NFL Draft pantry and give Quinn some additional players who may just tie the whole thing together in what is likely to be an explosive and highly physical manner.