Adam Peters and Josh Conerly Jr talk to the media after the first round
The Washington Commanders were talking to other teams about potentially trading down, but they weren’t making a deal if the highest player on their board was still available. Josh Conerly Jr was that guy and he’s now the newest member of the Commanders. General manager Adam Peters said the team fell in love with him as they got to know him as a person and his play on the field. This was a building-wide decision, and Conerly will get a chance to compete for a spot on the offensive line, just not LT which is locked down by Laremy Tunsil after last month’s trade.
Adam Peters
LIVE: GM Adam Peters speaks to the media after Round 1 of the #NFLDraft https://t.co/qJhaDaVU2i
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 25, 2025
Falling in love with Josh Conerly Jr:
Adam Peters on Josh Conerly: This was an easy pick for the whole building…We were thrilled he was there. pic.twitter.com/6LtblsX3Xr
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025
Adam Peters on selecting Oregon LT Josh Conerly. Said the “easy pick” was a no-brainer, but there were nerves about other teams snagging him. Added later that Conerly can play guard and tackle. pic.twitter.com/hGtH5wAUFm
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 25, 2025
“Total package”
-Adam Peters on Oregon OL Josh Conerly Jr, drafted 29th overall by the #Commanders@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/2J8Qp89xAb
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) April 25, 2025
Adam Peters addressing the media. Said they fell more in love with Conerly the more they got to know him. Said it was “really the total package” that stood out about Conerly
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Adam Peters on Josh Conerly: “This was a pick from the entire building.” Peters said their West Coast scout stood on table early for him. “Everybody was really pumped. It was an easy pick to make.”
Peters says he’s fired up to “add another Commander” @team980
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) April 25, 2025
Conerly’s pros:
Adam Peters on some of the things they liked about Josh Conerly:
“Great feet, bend, great lower body structure.”#Commanders @team980
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) April 25, 2025
Maturity:
Peters said Conerly’s maturity really stands out. He’s young but already has a professional approach
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Peters said Conerly was routine oriented and had really good feet. Said it was an easy pick at 29
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Competition:
Peters talked about competition when asked about Conerly’s role. He can play guard and tackle, Peters said. The only guarantee is that Laremy Tunsil will be at left tackle
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Conerly’s role on the team:
“LT is going to be LT,” Adam Peters said of the plan for Conerly.
Peters wouldn’t commit to playing Conerly at right tackle or guard. Just simply that Laremy Tunsil will start at left tackle.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 25, 2025
Not trading back with Conerly on the board:
Adam Peters said Conerly can play G or T… Said Conerly was a guy they loved so the pick was easy. Peters said they got a “ton of calls” but said if he was on the board they weren’t going to trade back. “It was not worth risking missing on him,” Peters said.
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 25, 2025
GM Adam Peters on the pick: “what we had discussed beforehand is if he was on the board, we weren’t going to trade back. And so, there was an opportunity to trade back with a few other teams and wasn’t very far, but in our minds it was not worth even risking missing on him.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 25, 2025
Peters said the Commanders got a ton of calls throughout the week and on draft night. They discussed that if Conerly was still on the board, they were not going to trade back. The offers weren’t far down the board, but they didn’t feel it was worth it
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Highest player on their board:
“He was the highest player on our board.”
Picking Conerly was an easy decision for GM Adam Peters, adding he is the “total package.” pic.twitter.com/ltcloR1Bmo
— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) April 25, 2025
Building around Jayden Daniels:
Adam Peters on Washington’s offseason moves to get Deebo, Tunsil and now Conerly trying to build around Jayden Daniels: “every move we make we’re trying to maximize him.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025
Not picking a defensive player:
Adam Peters says there’s no pressure to take defensive players going forward in the draft, the Commanders will stick to their draft board. AP then jokes that he “feels bad” for Joe Whitt pic.twitter.com/TaFaUhLHtK
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025
Playing against Abdul Carter:
Peters said Conerly went toe to toe with Abdul Carter, which stands out a lot.
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Day 2:
Peters on Day 2: “It’s just looking at our board and picking the highest player on our board. So I don’t think there’s any pressure to pick a defensive guy except I feel bad for [Defensive Coordinator] Joe Whitt a little bit but, he was extremely supportive of this pick too.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 25, 2025
Josh Conerly Jr
Meet the newest member of the Burgundy & Gold!
Hear from 29th pick, OL Josh Conerly Jr on:
-Being drafted by Washington
-Blocking for Jayden Daniels (“it mean the world to me”) -Impressions of the Commanders (“high energy”)
-What he brings to the team@JPFinlayNBCS#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/bx2B5zmk4V— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) April 25, 2025
Ready to go:
Josh Conerly: “Was I expecting it? Yeah. I was ready to go.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025
Protecting Jayden Daniels:
Josh Conerly addressing the media. Said it means the world to block for Jayden Daniels. Looking forward to an opportunity to “block for one of the best.”
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Josh Conerly on blocking for Jayden Daniels: “It means the world to me. Heisman Trophy winner, somebody I look up to, just someone that went from Pac 12, went to SEC, did big things and I’m looking forward to the opportunity just to get out there and block for one of the best.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 25, 2025
Role on the team:
Conerly hasn’t heard about his role, but he’s ready to do whatever he’s asked to do, including playing on the right side
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 25, 2025
Josh Conerly, a two-year left tackle starter at Oregon, said he’s ready to switch sides if that’s the plan.
Spoiler: it is.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 25, 2025
What he adds to the team:
Conerly on what he adds to the team: “I mean, unbelievable person, great teammate for anything, an amazing player on the field, someone that’s going to make sure their quarterback stays upright and opens up lanes for anybody else.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) April 25, 2025
Pre-draft meetings with the Commanders:
Conerly said he met with the Commanders at the Combine and then again on the Top 30 visit
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025
Josh Conerly was here on a top-30 visit and calls the #Commanders a “great place to be” …
“It was high emotions in my draft room and theirs” – Conerly says to reporters on @Commanders
Keeps mentioning the energy in building. @team980
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) April 25, 2025
Joining the Commanders:
What stood out for Josh Conerly on his visit to Washington: “The energy was high in the building…You could tell they were building something.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2025