The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is nearly here, which means scouts, general managers and media members will converge in Indianapolis to evaluate this year's crop of college prospects.
That includes the Washington Commanders, who are slated to pick 29th in the first round. GM Adam Peters is tasked with improving a roster that finished 12-5 in the regular season and advanced to the NFC Championship last season. Peters and his staff did a good job of injecting the team with talent during his first season, but multiple needs still need to be addressed on both sides of the ball.
In preparation for the combine, Commanders.com will be looking at some of the top prospects on offense and defense. We'll start on the offensive side of the ball.
Top prospects available (according to Daniels Jeremiah's Top 50)
QB: Cam Ward (10th overall)
Ward ended his college career on a high note with 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns while leading the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record. Ward is only 6-foot-2 but has a 223-pound frame with a strong arm. He can make plays with his legs but is more of a playmaker with his arm and can be aggressive downfield.
RB: Ashton Jeanty (3rd overall)
Jeanty was Boise State's workhorse in 2024 with nearly 2,800 total yards and 30 touchdowns. He is a smaller back at 5-foot-9 but is rarely brought down by one defender and has a good feel for running lanes.
WR: Tetairoa McMillan* (15th overall)
Labeled as one of the best contested catchers in the draft, McMillan makes up for his lack of separation with strong route running and a good catch radius. He might not be the most explosive weapon in the draft, but teams will fall in love with his play strength and catch radius.
*Travis Hunter is listed as Jeremiah's top wide receiver but has since entered the combine listed as a cornerback.
TE: Tyler Warren (5th overall)
While he's not the generational talent that Brock Bowers was last year, Warren is a massive target standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 257 pounds. Warren had a big jump in production in 2024 with 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. There's nothing pretty about his skill set, but there's no doubt that he's one of the best playmakers in the draft.
OT: Will Campbell (8th overall)
Campbell has the size (6-foot-6) and weight (320 pounds) that teams look for in NFL left tackles. He made strong contact in the run game and kept up with the SEC's best pass-rusher while at LSU. He'll need to fix some of his mechanical issues to have similar success at the professional level, but he has the ideal tools to do so.
IOL: Tyler Booker (14th overall)
Another lineman with prototypical size, Booker was a leader for Alabama's offensive line in 2024. He's solid in pass protection and has the strength to move interior defensive linemen in the run game. As long as he has a strong combine performance, Booker should be one of the first players taken off the board.
Washington's positions of need: WR, RB, OL
Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey are the only two receivers guaranteed to return to the roster in 2025. Washington will certainly try to bring in new faces and possibly re-sign some of their wideouts from a year ago, but it could still do with adding another player through the draft. The Commanders tried to find a big-bodied deep threat last season and had some success with Noah Brown and Dyami Brown. Both are slated to be free agents, so perhaps Washington could find a long-term answer with the 29th pick or wait until Day 2 to do so.
Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are both under contract for 2025, so there isn't an immediate need for the Commanders to address the top of the depth chart at the position. However, with Jeremy McNichols set to leave the roster in March, there is room for the team to find a No. 3 option. Fortunately, this year's draft class is deep at running back. There could be a change-of-pace player as late as Day 3 who could be an immediate contributor.
The Commanders have an obvious need at guard with Sam Cosmi set to miss at least a portion of the regular season while recovering from his ACL injury. Even if that weren't the case, though, it would be beneficial to find more depth in the interior. That doesn't necessarily mean finding a Day 1 starter; they could also find a player in the second or third rounds who may turn into a regular in the lineup after developing for a season or two.
One player to watch: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Harris put up at least 900 yards in his final three seasons at Ole Miss while also scoring 25 touchdowns for the Rebels. He's tall (6-foot-3) and has good size (210 pounds) to be a successful NFL receiver and knows how to get behind coverage with his speed. He's had a history of injuries over the last two seasons, though, so he'll need to prove that he can remain healthy for the length of an NFL season.
