Commanders' 2025 draft class officially gives Jayden Daniels and the offense a foundation for success
The sun has officially set on the 2025 NFL Draft and the Washington Commanders have five new draftees on the roster. While Adam Peters and Co. added to the defense, the biggest additions were on offense, where Jayden Daniels and crew have a complete foundation to work with in both the short and long term.The […]
The sun has officially set on the 2025 NFL Draft and the Washington Commanders have five new draftees on the roster. While Adam Peters and Co. added to the defense, the biggest additions were on offense, where Jayden Daniels and crew have a complete foundation to work with in both the short and long term.
The vision is clear for each pick, so now it's all about figuring out how to put it all together. Let's dive into the Commanders' official draft class for the 2025 offseason.
Round 1, No. 29 overall: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon Ducks
Conerly Jr. is a big, athletic tackle who the Commanders believe can play any position on the offensive line. There are a lot of scouts and evaluators that agree with that as well – it's not just Washington's perception.
Either way, he gives the offensive line an immediate boost and Pro Bowl potential down the line.
Conerly Jr. should come in and win the right tackle job, giving the Commanders a set foundation at tackle with the new rookie and established veteran Laremy Tunsil on the other side. The decision to draft Conerly Jr. should also kick Brandon Coleman inside, but it remains to be seen if he'll take over for Sam Cosmi until he returns or if he'll challenge Nick Allegretti at left guard. Veteran Andrew Wylie is in the mix as well and there's also Dan Quinn's comments about Coleman competing with Wylie at right tackle before the team makes a decision to move one of them inside or not.
In other words: The Commanders have some things to figure out when it comes to getting the right five guys up front, but they did a pretty good job of navigating things with far less available skill and talent last year, so one would be amiss to mistrust the process this year.
Round 2, No. 61 overall: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss Rebels
Amos made the most of his final year in college, racking up three interceptions and 16 pass deflections after recording just one interception and 19 pass deflections over the previous 48 games. He has good size at 6-foot, 194 pounds, long arms, and also recorded a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash at this year's combine.
He's aggressive and can play both man and zone coverages, which are two of the most important traits Dan Quinn looks for in his cornerbacks. He should allow Mike Sainristil to move back inside, which would help round out the Commanders' cornerback room when also accounting for Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene.
Round 4, No. 128 overall: Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech Hokies
Lane gives Jayden Daniels and the Commanders' passing attack a home-run threat that can score from anywhere on the field. He's also going to get a big opportunity to field punts, which Adam Peters made pretty clear when he spoke with him after the pick was made.
Lane has elite speed and athleticism, which he uses to blow by opponents and create space in the open field. He'll be key in the screen game, where he uses his shiftiness and vision to chew up yards.
Kliff Kingsbury has to be grinning from ear-to-ear after this pick and the Conerly Jr. pick. The Commanders offense is absolutely loaded at this point and has the potential to be the NFL's best offense if everything comes to fruition.
Round 6, No. 205 overall: Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA Bruins
Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. clearly have a type at linebacker and its guys that play fast and have do-it-all ability when it comes to playing the run, dropping into coverage, blitzing, and playing special teams.
Medrano certainly has his flaws, as do all sixth-rounders, but he has the tools this coaching staff covets at the position and they clearly think they can work with him, which is always a good sign. He's entering a crowded room behind Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, and Dominique Hampton, so he'll have to hit the ground running once he arrives in Ashburn.
Round 7, No. 245 overall: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona Wildcats
The Commanders showed a lot of interest in Croskey-Merritt throughout the pre-draft process and that came to fruition in the final round.
Croskey-Merritt joins a crowded running back room that saw each individual have their bit of success in 2024, so making the roster won't be easy. However, Croskey-Merritt has the game-breaking ability the rest of the room is missing and if he can show that he can translate that part of his game early-on then all bets are off when it comes to making the final 53-man roster.
He's not much of a receiver and he has to improve in pass protection, but JCM has the talent and skillset to carve out a specialized role as a rookie while he continues to develop the rest of his game.
- Round 1, No. 29 overall: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon Ducks
- Round 2, No. 61 overall: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss Rebels
- Round 4, No. 128 overall: Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech Hokies
- Round 6, No. 205 overall: Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA Bruins
- Round 7, No. 245 overall: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona Wildcats
Final Word
The only complaint about the Commanders' draft class is the fact they didn't find a player to replace the role of Dante Fowler Jr. They had a chance to do it at No. 29, too, in the form of Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku. He's a polished pass rusher who would've filled the versatile, two-point role that helped Fowler Jr. record 10.5 sacks last year.
Outside of that, it's hard to argue against any of the decisions and the potential is obvious. If this class turns out to even be as close as impactful as last year's, then it's easy to foresee the Commanders making another deep playoff run in 2025.
Commanders have set themselves up for trouble during the draft that can come back to bite them in 2025
The Washington Commanders came into the draft needing a guy who could reliably replace Dante Fowler Jr. in terms of both role and production. Or at least get close enough to where the pass rush productivity doesn't take a sizable dip in 2025. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. need an athletic, quick stand-up pass […]
