Adam Peters reveals part of his plan for one of the Commanders' most dynamic draft picks with a simple phone call
Wide receiver Jaylin Lane is one helluva player and he's going to have a bunch of opportunities to make big plays for the Washington Commanders in 2025 and beyond.It won't just be limited to the passing attack, either. Lane should a knack for returning punts in college and he put out enough impressive tape (as […]
Wide receiver Jaylin Lane is one helluva player and he's going to have a bunch of opportunities to make big plays for the Washington Commanders in 2025 and beyond.
It won't just be limited to the passing attack, either. Lane should a knack for returning punts in college and he put out enough impressive tape (as well as measureables) to where Adam Peters and Co. had him as the draft's top-rated punt returner. Peters told Lane as much when he made the call to let him know he was getting drafted with the 128th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
"Turn around and tell them you're going to be a true Commander, man," Peters told Lane via the Commanders' X account. "You're a 'BMF' [and] you're exactly what we're looking for. You're a Commander on our board [and] the top punt returner on our board. We were thrilled that you were here, man. Congratulations."
Lane finished his college career averaging 10.9 yards per punt return and he took two of his 67 career returns to the house. He led the FBS with 295 punt return yards in 2021 that also included an FBS-leading 15.1 yards per return and one touchdown. He also led the FBS with 245 punt return yards and one touchdown in 2024.
It makes sense, as Lane is as fast and shifty as they come. He logged a 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine, as well as elite marks basically across the board. He's fast, explosive, shifty, and has excellent vision when it comes to reading blocks in the return and screen games.
Overall, Lane gives the Commanders exactly what they were missing in the passing attack and in the return game. If things pan out as expected, he could easily become an immediate impact player that also plays a big role in the team's future.
