Burgundy & Gold Reaction: Daniels/Maye Factions and Adam Peters is Hard to Read

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March 29, 2024

by David Earl

The Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye Factions in Lock Step

It is not only that time of the year when the news outlets covering the draft are riddled with confusion and deception; it’s also the time of year that the lines are drawn among the fans, whether it’s the idea that Eric Bieniemy was going to be great taking Sam Howell to glorious heights or he was going to fall flat on his face to the RG3 vs Kirk Cousins feud among the fans. Whatever you aligned with, or any other examples you came up with, this fanbase continued to find a reason to be fractured and be firm in their position. Blame either the toxicity of Dan Snyder’s ownership bleeding into the fan base or just typical fan behavior around the league, this time of year is always entertaining for many while stressful for others. So what is the problem?

At the start of this draft evaluation process, Jayden Daniels was mostly the consensus number two quarterback, but then the rise of Drake Maye came. While the evaluators were studying film and breaking down these young quarterbacks, this fanbase’s “general managers” had already decided who was the most talented quarterback. Through their great qualifications and masterful breakdown of every snap these young kids took, each faction became 100% firm in their belief. So when the time came for those who actually broke down every snap of these young quarterbacks and posted their results, the wolves were ready to attack anything negative mentioned about their guy. To be fair, it doesn’t apply to every fan, as some looked at either player as a talented option while having a preference but simply got annoyed at perceived targeted attacks with an agenda about either one of the players. So what have been these hot topics that incensed these factions, even though the evaluation itself was either fair or just a matter of perspective?

These are a few examples but keep in mind I am excluding those who evaluate film or even some level of evaluation that produces an honest assessment. Even if I may disagree, criticizing those who put in the long hours to make these assessments just never made much sense. However, the armchair general managers are a fascinating breed of fan. Their position on a favorite quarterback prospect drives a level of pettiness that surely is not exclusive to the Washington fanbase. They will isolate negativity in various ways such as:

  • Highlighting a specific poor throw or interception
  • Finding when the quarterback in question took a terrible sack
  • Calling out a single terrible season and ignoring the others
  • Showing terrible mechanics or decision-making early in their career while ignoring growth.

Loyalty to a level where hypocrisy and pettiness are acceptable traits is the kind of commitment that must be admired. The idea that you also want to actively route against the guy they draft just to prove a point is something with which I just cannot align. With that said, this comes as no surprise. Fans typically become married to a player, such as when RG3 and Kirk Cousins were here many years ago. Whether you blame this mentality on the 20 plus years of the toxic ownership of Dan Snyder or cross it off as typical league fandom behavior, this behavior has contributed to a significant about of negative dialogue. Considering the past reputation of this fanbase, buckle up people; post-draft drama is about to get heated in the toxic world of social media.

Tight-Lipped Front Office

The one refreshing and common theme of this offseason has been the realization of just how much the people who think they know are grasping at straws. Take the coaching search: the idea of Dan Quinn being an option was consistently laughed off, with Ben Johnson being the top choice, Mike McDonald becoming a real possibility, and Bobby Slowik being a dark horse candidate from Kyle Shannahan’s tree. The thought of Dan Quinn was brushed off as just a chance to speak to a former head coach and league veteran just to pick his brain. Well, after multiple interviews prior to flying out to Detroit and after Johnson removed his name entirely, Quinn was the next head coach for Washington. The reactions from the fans and media alike ranged greatly, but mostly everyone had the “Wait! What just happened?” reaction after Adam Peters’ decision.

Now, heading into the draft everyone is still in the same state of wonder about which quarterback they will take or whether they will trade the pick. Jayden Daniels was the logical choice because Kliff Kingsbury is the offensive coordinator. Drake Maye comes into play off apparent NFL combine intel, giving an insider the idea to mock him to Washington. Of course, much of this can be associated with normal projections and assumptions this time of year, but there is a difference. Like in Washington in days of old, information is leaked and many insiders were able to narrow down a decision with good efficiency. We are familiar with how they aired out their laundry each year, especially this close to the draft, yet now everyone is still throwing darts. Just recently NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero spoke about a belief among NFL executives that JJ McCarthy has become a favorite for Washington. The idea of drafting him at number 2 overall solicited some very interesting reactions.

First of all, just the idea fans are ready to give up on Adam Peters or just to get drunk is a dramatic reaction rooted in decades of disappointment. Under prior ownership, these were the types of decisions that would continue to haunt fans year after year, and selecting JJ McCarthy would be perceived as evidence that nothing has changed even under this new regime. Granted, McCarthy could very well surprise the world and end up being the best quarterback in this draft. Fans would be stir-crazy if they stayed at 2 and made that selection when a trade back would have been more advantageous. While that trade-back would have still driven a dagger into many hearts, at least it would have shown a good draft-day strategy. Just staying at the current selection and making the McCarthy pick would be the kind of idiocy the previous regime would have done.

Rhe current from office is fairly tight-lipped. It is understood that Adam Peters and Josh Harris will not allow leaks from this organization. It is refreshing to see such a thorough approach to the draft that keeps all the information secured within the ranks. While more speculation will ramp up after the ongoing pro days, I’m confident to say that the majority of these “insider reports” are merely people grasping at straws. This is one draft that feels like Christmas day as a kid having zero clue what awaits you under the tree and in your stocking. The level of anxiety and excitement this draft season may very well be unmatched by any of the drafts in the last 24 years.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are part of one of these factions or have prejudged Adam Peters based on baseless reports, many fans truly need to recenter themselves and simply relax. Having a  favorite quarterback is fine, but allow the professionals in the building, which Washington lacked for decades, to simply do their job. Don’t react negatively to drafting “the other guy.” This idea some have that Peters was responsible for the Trey Lance trade-up, which in turn is why some don’t trust him is simply a flawed reality. That decision was solely made by general manager John Lynch and 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan. How much input did Adam Peters have? Did he attempt to talk them out of this trade or did he 100% support the move? These are questions for which we should not assume an answer. Allow this man to build his legacy through his works going forward.

In the end, the last 24 years of misery and painful embarrassment are over. Today we all should show, at minimum, cautious optimism and keep hope alive that this current regime is everything the fans have been waiting for all these years. Don’t enter this new era by allowing the tainted past to forge an early irrational conclusion on Adam Peters. Not to say he is above reproach or that fans must agree with every decision but the decisions made by Peters need to be supported until time warrants a different approach. Take a deep breath people – just enjoy the fact the Tiny Tyrant is gone and that adults are now running Washington.