Commanders will avoid a headache during the NFL Draft thanks to one of their biggest offseason trades
The Washington Commanders still have some work to do ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, but one position they won't have to worry about is tackle. On both sides of the offensive line, at that.The team is set with Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Brandon Coleman at right tackle, and then Andrew Wylie at swing. […]
The Washington Commanders still have some work to do ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, but one position they won't have to worry about is tackle. On both sides of the offensive line, at that.
The team is set with Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Brandon Coleman at right tackle, and then Andrew Wylie at swing. If Coleman can even provide average snaps on a consistent basis, this trio will rank among the top-10 in the NFL.
Tackle was a major need heading into the offseason and not only did the Commanders address it – they brought in a top-5 player at the position. To make the deal even better, Tunsil is getting paid $21.350 million in each of the next two years. That's a bargain for a player of his caliber at his position.
It doesn't stop there, either. A new layer has been added over time and it comes in the form of this year's draft class. Specifically, at tackle, where it's been deemed a "good but not great" class that could force teams to make an early run on the position in the first round, mostly because the drop off after the first few guys is a steep one.
We’ve mentioned the dynamics the offensive line class should benefit from Thursday night—it’s a good-not-great group, with players likely to be pushed up because there isn’t a ton of Day 2–quality depth either at tackle or on the interior. – Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated
So, not only did the Commanders acquire one of the best left tackles in the game at a bargain, but they also avoided having to potentially overspend in the draft. Sure, Tunsil didn't come cheaply via third- and seventh-round picks in 2025 and second- and fourth-round picks in 2026, but it's well worth the price to attain an elite, proven player as opposed to spending a high draft pick on a player that doesn't have the same ceiling or track record.
Unless Tunsil surprisingly doesn't live up to expectations, this is a trade that will continue to make Adam Peters and Co. look good in both the short and long run.
