The 2025 NFL Draft took place from April 24-26, as many college players will take the next steps to the pros. The Washington Commanders made five selections in this year’s draft. Here is a grading of each pick.
Grading the 2025 Washington Commanders Draft Picks
No. 29, 1st Round: Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Many had speculated that Commanders general manager Adam Peters would select an edge rusher or cornerback in the first round. However, it seems that Washington really wants to protect the face of the franchise, Jayden Daniels. Not a bad idea. Conerly may not be one of the young offensive linemen Commanders fans thought they would get, but Peters seems to know what he’s doing. During this offseason, the biggest move the Commanders made was trading for Laremy Tunsil, who will line up at left tackle. Conerly will most likely line up on the right side, making this offensive line one of the more elite in the NFL.
Conerly Jr. started every game at left tackle in his past two seasons as an Oregon Duck. As a junior, he allowed just one sack in 494 opportunities while surrendering just nine total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Those stats earned him Third-team Associated Press All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors. With both Conerly and Tunsil in the trenches, Dan Quinn’s offense will once again be must-see football in 2025.
Grade: A+
Josh Conerly Jr. Draft Profile
No. 61, 2nd Round: Ole Miss CB Trey Amos
The second round is where the Peters went the defensive route, primarily on the secondary. The selection of Amos certainly adds much-needed depth to Washington’s cornerback room. The team already has Mike Sainristil, Marshon Lattimore, and Jonathan Jones, as Amos will most likely line up on the outside. He also has quick feet and can play in press coverage. Amos also stood out in the combine with a 4.43 40-yard dash, 32.5-inch vertical, and 10-foot-6 vertical jump.
Amos played three seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette and one at Alabama before transferring to Ole Miss, where he truly shined. The new Commanders corner ranked fifth on the Rebels with 50 tackles and excelled at preventing explosive passes. Amos allowed a sub-19 percent completion rate on throws with at least 20 air yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
Grade: A
No. 128, 4th Round: Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane
The Commanders gave Daniels another weapon. Lane joins an already-stacked WR room with Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, and the newly-added Deebo Samuel. The former Hokie was a highlight at the combine, showcasing a 1.5 10-yard split, 4.34 40-yard dash, and 40-inch vertical jump. Lane is also speedy and can make defenders miss, break tackles, and follow his blocks. He showed his abilities for three years at Middle Tennessee State before doing the same at Virginia Tech. With those attributes, Lane could be a steal as a slot receiver for Washington.
Grade: A-
No. 209, 6th Round: UCLA LB Kain Medrano
Medrano could be another steal, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds) of all linebackers at the combine. He made 11 tackles for loss for UCLA in 2024. Medrano is quick and has long arms to help break up passes. The former Bruin could possibly start at outside linebacker if he proves himself worthy. If he does, he’ll join Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu as a linebacker tandem to be feared in 2025.
Final Grade: B+
No. 245, 7th Round: Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
The final pick for the Commanders was another running back. Croskey-Merritt appeared in one game before he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA last season. But he did rush for 1,191 yards for New Mexico in 2023. The 7th-rounder also ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, the fastest among all running backs. Croskey-Merritt now joins fellow Commanders running backs Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr., and Jeremy McNichols. All three will be free agents after this coming season, so Washington did need a young back for the future.
Final Grade: B
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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