Everyone sees the same problem with the Commanders' draft class and it's an issue that can come back to haunt them
Even with just five picks, the Washington Commanders came away with a really good haul in the 2025 NFL Draft. Especially when it comes to the first three picks.But, there's one glaring issue that everyone notices: Adam Peters didn't draft the difference-making pass rusher Dan Quinn's defense currently needs.The defense is without a guy who […]
Even with just five picks, the Washington Commanders came away with a really good haul in the 2025 NFL Draft. Especially when it comes to the first three picks.
But, there's one glaring issue that everyone notices: Adam Peters didn't draft the difference-making pass rusher Dan Quinn's defense currently needs.
The defense is without a guy who can play Dante Fowler Jr.'s role – a versatile, athletic player who can rush standing up and/or with his hand in the dirt and can kick inside on obvious passing downs. Fowler Jr.'s role allows Quinn and Whitt Jr. to maximize the pass rush by creating mismatches when deploying exotic fronts. Without that, the pass rush undoubtedly takes a step back.
The Commanders passed over such a player in Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku at No. 29 and instead took Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. While the Conerly Jr. pick is a good one in both present and future context, one could easily argue the Ezeiruaku pick would've been just as good and no one would've thought twice about it.
The decision is universally heralded as the "sore thumb" of the Commanders' class and for good reason. Even Mel Kiper pointed it out in his draft grades article:
I liked what Peters did with his first three selections, but this is not quite an A because it's a small class and because he didn't address the hole at edge. Still, this is a team that should again challenge for the NFC East crown. – Mel Kiper, ESPN
There are veteran options out there on the market, but it's slim pickens, to say the least. The guy who makes the most sense is veteran Za'Darius Smith, but money will likely be an issue. The Lions released Smith for monetary reasons after he played well for them in 2024 and the Commanders couldn't reach an agreement with Fowler Jr. because they weren't willing to pay him what he thought he was worth. Therefore, that could easily be a barrier between the two parties and hell, it could have already put things in a spot where they won't join forces, for all we know.
Either way, the Commanders are aware they still have a big need and they'll do what's needed in order to figure out what's best for the team. How that comes to fruition remains to be seen, however, and this is something that could easily come back to haunt them when the season rolls around.
Because if you don't have that guy who can simply win a 1-on-1 matchup when you're trying to close out a game then nothing is guaranteed in terms of who will come up with the stop. And that's not a situation you want to be in when you're trying to build off the type of season the Commanders had in 2024.
