The Washington Commanders will pick much lower in the 2025 NFL draft than many expected two months ago. At 7-4, Washington is one of the NFL’s most positive surprises, one year after finishing 4-13.
The Commanders’ strengths and weaknesses also look much different than previously imagined. Before the season, many wondered if Washington could make it through the season with its current group of offensive tackles. While rookie Brandon Coleman has yet to prove he’s the left tackle of the future, the Commanders’ offensive tackles are not the weakness many perceived ahead of the season.
However, Washington still must address two positions in the offseason: Cornerback and wide receiver. The good news is the cornerback position looks better than it did several weeks ago, thanks to rookie Mike Sainristil’s emergence and Marshon Lattimore’s acquisition via trade.
While Lattimore has yet to make his Washington debut, he is under contract for two more years. Still, with Washington looking likely to part with Emmanuel Forbes after the season and Benjamin St-Juste being a free agent, cornerback will be high on the Commanders’ priority list.
In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Matt Miller has the Commanders using a first-round pick on a cornerback for the second time in three years. This time, it’s Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison at No. 22 overall.
The Commanders picked up veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline but should continue to remake their secondary to fit coach Dan Quinn’s schemes, especially with three of their current corners (Michael Davis, Benjamin St-Juste and Noah Igbinoghene) becoming free agents after the season. Morrison, my second-ranked CB, was sidelined for the season in mid-October because of a hip injury, but he has good size (6-foot, 196 pounds), speed and instincts playing the ball, as evidenced by nine interceptions over his first two seasons.
Morrison’s size and ability to create turnovers would make him an excellent fit for Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt’s defense.