When the Washington Commanders hired Adam Peters as general manager last offseason, there was a collective groan from New York Giants fans. Not because Peters was an unknown, but because he was one of the finalists for the Giants’ general manager job in 2022—before ownership handed the keys to Joe Schoen.
Fast forward to today, and Washington is fresh off an NFC Championship appearance with a franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Meanwhile, the Giants just suffered through a 3-14 disaster, their front office is in shambles, and they couldn’t attract a promising young football mind if their lives depended on it.
The Athletic just released its Top 50 Under 40 list, highlighting the brightest young coaches and executives across the NFL. Washington had three inclusions—David Blough (assistant quarterbacks coach), Brian Johnson (assistant head coach/offense), and Brandon Sosna (senior VP of football operations). The Giants? Not a single name. Just another brutal reminder of the talent gap that exists between these two franchises, and why the Commanders might be a massive problem for Big Blue for years to come.
The worst part? This isn’t just a flash in the pan. The Commanders’ success is sustainable. They have a young franchise quarterback, a smart front office, and a new owner willing to invest in football minds. The Giants, on the other hand, are stuck in limbo, and the longer this goes on, the further they’ll fall behind.
The Commanders could just be getting started...
It wasn’t that long ago that the Commanders were a complete mess. Dan Snyder’s incompetence had them stuck in perpetual mediocrity, with no long-term direction. Now? They’re building a machine.
Peters wasted no time reshaping the organization. He cleaned house, brought in Dan Quinn as head coach, and made the frustrating move of drafting Jayden Daniels second overall. The result? A 12-win season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game in Year 1. Oh, and they’re just getting started.
Blough, Johnson, and Sosna aren’t just promising young minds—they’re pieces of a well-oiled machine that’s only going to get better. Blough helped develop Daniels into the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Johnson played a major role in Washington’s offensive explosion. Sosna is handling contracts, analytics, and performance management. These are the types of rising stars that successful franchises cultivate.
And the Giants? They’re sitting on the sidelines, watching their division rival lap them.
The Giants had a chance to hire Peters in 2022. They passed. Now, he’s assembling one of the sharpest front offices in the NFL while Joe Schoen is drowning in his own mistakes.
New York’s complete lack of representation on The Athletic’s Top 50 Under 40 list is embarrassing. It’s not just about missing out on Peters—it’s a reflection of a larger problem. The Giants don’t attract, develop, or retain innovative young minds. Instead, they cling to uninspiring philosophies and ride the same old carousel of head-scratching hires.
What’s the long-term plan here? The Giants still don’t have a quarterback. The roster is filled with holes. The culture is deteriorating. Meanwhile, Washington has built a sustainable powerhouse, and they aren’t going anywhere.
It’s a brutal reality check for Giants fans: the Commanders are no longer a joke. They’re a threat. And as long as New York keeps making the same mistakes, they'll fall further and further into the abyss.