Where were the Commanders exactly one year ago?

Washington Commanders fans, think back to one year ago.

What were the Commanders doing at this time one year ago? It was two-thirds of the way through June 2025, and Washington had just completed its mandatory minicamp. The players were essentially ‘off’ until they would report for the annual Commanders training camp in the last third of July.

The top Washington Commanders news story? Well, that was receiver Terry McLaurin not yet agreeing to a contract extension. What transpired last June was that McLaurin did not report to the team’s minicamp. McLaurin wanted to extend his contract, with one year remaining.

You may also recall how some local media members and many more in the Commanders’ fan base basically and repeatedly called for Washington GM Adam Peters to simply “pay the man.” Oh, that refrain was repeated often and so often condescendingly toward Peters. In the eyes of too many, Peters didn’t have his act together, didn’t know what he was doing, and was going to cost this team the damage he was causing.

While Peters was being painted as aloof and uncaring towards the team’s best receiver, suddenly news came that Washington had re-signed reserve safety and special team captain, Jeremy Reaves, to another one-year extension worth $3.4M. Consequently, Peters was actually busy.

Additionally, Peters was being caricatured as a general manager who simply didn’t care enough to try to improve this team because he hadn’t yet locked up McLaurin to a long-term extension. That was convenient for those wishing to continue to throw darts at Peters, all the while ignoring that Peters had drafted an offensive tackle in the first round (Josh Conerly Jr.), looking to better protect his franchise quarterback. If that wasn’t enough, Peters had also traded multiple draft choices to the Houston Texans earlier in last year’s offseason for one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL in Laremy Tunsil. Again, working to improve the protection of Daniels from the edges of opponents’ pass rushers.

Maybe, Sam Cosmi thinks, with the additions of Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr., the Commanders can have The Hogs 2.0? pic.twitter.com/84fQwCJBpO

— The Team 980 (@team980) April 26, 2025

Head coach Dan Quinn had just informed the media that right guard Sam Cosmi was recovering well from his ACL tear and surgery following the playoff win in Detroit that past January. Quinn declared, “Sam is doing excellent. He has really put the work in. He’s hitting all the markers that he’s supposed to. We’re not gonna miss one step along the process. But it starts with him, man, like just the, the everyday intensity that goes with it.”

Cosmi had attended the previous week’s minicamp and was seen jogging on the sideline during the team’s final minicamp practice. Things were looking encouraging for Cosmi’s return, hopefully by early in the 2025 season.

It was also June of 2025 that the Commanders unveiled the Bobby Beathard Draft Room. Beathard had been hired by the Redskins to succeed previous GM George Allen in preparation for the 1978 season. Beathard would make numerous trades, sign many undrafted free agents, and build a deeper roster. But his most important choice came after a disappointing 6-10 season in 1980. He chose to part ways with the then-head coach, Jack Pardee, and hire an offensive coordinator who had never been a head coach at any level. That man was Joe Jackson Gibbs. The Beathard/Gibbs duo then turned Washington into an NFL perennial contender and three-time Super Bowl Champion (1981-1992). The Beathard room in June of 2026 was named after the most successful general manager in Washington’s history and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That’s where the Commanders were one year ago, following their mandatory minicamp in June of 2025. Things feel different this year.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Where were they one year ago?