49ers rumors: Keep an eye on this potential Adam Peters replacement
By Peter Panacy
An obscure name within the 49ers organization might not become so obscure now that Adam Peters is off to the Commanders.
There's no getting around the fact that Adam Peters vacating an assistant general manager role to become the Washington Commanders' new general manager is a big blow to the San Francisco 49ers.
While the Niners' own general manager, John Lynch, receives plenty of credit for turning the team into a perennial Super Bowl contender, Peters did much of the grunt work.
And many have credited Peters with all that success San Francisco has had in the later rounds of the NFL Draft over the years.
He's gone, though. It'll be up to Lynch and his staff to somehow find a replacement.
And they could already have an in-house one, someone perhaps already groomed to step into the role Peters left behind.
Tariq Ahmad is a rising name within 49ers personnel circles, could take over for Adam Peters
There are plenty of directions in which Lynch could go, including bringing back Washington's former general manager, Martin Mayhew, should the Commanders part ways with him entirely after onboarding Peters.
Mayhew did serve under Lynch from 2017 through 2020.
But, if the 49ers promote from within, keep an eye on their director of college scouting, Tariq Ahmad.
Some tweets from those within Niners media coverage (you know these names) are touting Ahmad as a hot candidate:
Tariq Ahmad is the director of College Scouting & was sitting right next to Peters taking questions after the draft last year. He makes the most sense if we connect the dots for an in-house replacement. But if it was a collaborative process with Peters it'll be one without him.
— KP (@KP_Show) January 12, 2024
I don't think it's a coincidence that the #49ers had Director of College Scouting Tariq Ahmad do a post-draft press conference with Adam Peters after this past draft.
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 12, 2024
Ahmad's definitely gotten more visibility and I think the 49ers had to be preparing for this scenario.
Grooming the next good execs, the next assistant coaches is as important as having the good execs and coaches. 49ers have shown they can promote from within with little to no drop off.
— Steph Sanchez (@Steph49K) January 12, 2024
Also seems like they were showing Tariq Ahmad’s face a bit more last draft cycle…
If you don't remember that post-NFL Draft press conference with Peters and Ahmad, here you go.
Ahmad has been with the organization since 2014 and was an area scout from 2015 through 2019 before taking on an assistant director of college scouting role in 2020, according to his bio on the team's official website. He then moved into his current position the following year.
The increase in visibility over the last year, potentially paralleling the possibility that San Francisco knew Peters was likely out the door soon, points at Ahmad being a favorite to assume an assistant GM-kind of role under Lynch.
And he might be the next name to know within the 49ers front office.
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