NFL Draft Preview: Evaluating Commanders GM Adam Peters' QB History From 49ers Tenure

Adam Peters was with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2023 before becoming the Washington Commanders general manager.

The San Francisco 49ers have become the juggernaut of the NFC since 2019, as they've made the playoffs and NFC Championship game four times and they reached the Super Bowl twice. 

The team's ability to be a consistent force has been backed by the team's ability to get the most out of players who were there before the current regime and the ability to draft and develop players. One person who has had a keen eye and played an important role in the team's ability to land the right players is current Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters. 

August 19, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters before the game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 33-14 / Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Peters was San Francisco's vice president of player personnel from 2017-2020, then was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021. Peters held that role until Washington hired him in January. Now, Peters will be tasked with rebuilding a Commanders team that went 4-13 in 2023 and hasn't finished over .500 since 2016 ... more specifically finding a quarterback.

San Francisco endured similar struggles, as they were 25-47 from 2015-2018 and finished in last place in three of those four seasons before reaching the Super Bowl in the 2019 season. While the 49ers' path to where they are now could mean there are more struggles in store for Washington before it turns things around, that's a price worth paying if Peters can build the Commanders similarly to San Francisco. 

Here's a more in-depth look at the 49ers' drafted quarterbacks during Peters' tenure.   

2017: C.J. Beathard - 3rd round (104)

2021: Trey Lance - 1st round (3)

2022: Brock Purdy - 7th round (262)

After whiffing on Beathard and Lance, the 49ers ran into their franchise quarterback with the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft when they drafted Purdy. 

The 49ers' pursuit of Lance may give the best insight into what Peters is looking for in a franchise quarterback and what he'd be willing to do to ensure the Commanders land him. San Francisco gave up three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins to move from the No. 12 pick to No. 3. 

In Lance, the 49ers were betting on his traits and ceiling once he was fully developed and gained the valuable playing experience he missed out on from his final two seasons at North Dakota State. A gruesome injury halted any progress Lance could potentially make during his run as the 49ers starting quarterback, and with Purdy cementing his spot, things never panned out for the former No. 3 overall pick in the Bay Area.

Who Is Lance Newmark? Meet 'Phenomenal' Assistant GM

San Francisco going all-in on Lance could mean Peters is looking for a quarterback who can carve a team with his arm and legs. That'd point to USC's Caleb Williams and LSU's Jayden Daniels being atop Peters' board if a quarterback is what he's eyeing with the No. 2 overall pick. Williams and Daniels have much more experience than Lance when he entered the NFL Draft, making them much less of a projection. 

If Purdy's ability to dice a defense up from the pocket has affected Peters' view of quarterbacks, then that could point toward UNC's Drake Maye potentially being the guy, though, it's fair to question how he would fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Regardless of Peters' outlook on what he wants from a quarterback, the one clear thing is if he's smitten with a prospect, he'll likely be willing to do whatever it takes to land them.