Sources: Commanders turn to Niners for new GM

John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterJan 12, 2024, 11:53 AM ET
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ASHBURN, Va., — The Washington Commanders are hiring Adam Peters as their new general manager, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s the first step in revamping their front office under new owner Josh Harris.

Washington interviewed a handful of candidates for the position, including Ian Cunningham, Glenn Cook, Alec Halaby and Will McClay. Cunningham, an assistant general manager with Chicago, was the other finalist along with Peters.

Peters will be the lead football executive under Harris and play a key role in hiring Washington’s next coach. He’ll also evaluate the current front office, including Martin Mayhew, who served as the general manager the past three years. Mayhew worked with Peters for four years in San Francisco. Mayhew was a vice president of player personnel his last two years with the 49ers.

Former Washington coach Ron Rivera, who held the top power on the football side, hired Mayhew as well as assistant general manager Marty Hurney in 2021.

Peters declined requests to interview with Tennessee and Arizona last offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers both had requested interviews with him this offseason.

Peters won Super Bowls while working in New England and Denver, spending the first 11 years of his career as a scout. After one season as Denver’s director of college scouting, he joined the 49ers in 2017 as the vice president of player personnel.

He played a key role in building one of the NFL’s top rosters.

Peters was the first major front office hire made by 49ers general manager John Lynch when he was hired in 2017. Now Peters becomes the first major front office hire made by Washington as it enters a new era.

In November, Harris hired Eugene Shen as their senior vice president of football strategy.

The Commanders expressed interest in meeting with Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay. But a source told ESPN’s Todd Archer that McClay is not accepting meetings or interviews with other teams, preferring to stay with the Cowboys.

Washington will now turn its attention to hiring Rivera’s replacement. The Commanders already have virtually interviewed Baltimore associate head coach/defensive line Anthony Weaver. They also have put in requests to interview Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

Washington went 4-13 this past season and has not finished with a winning record since 2016. But the Commanders currently have the most available cap space for 2024 — the exact amount will be determined later this offseason — as well as the No. 2 pick in the draft and five picks in the top 100.