The Washington Commanders have the chance to add one of the top players in the 2025 draft with the 29th overall pick, but improving their roster will require more than just one good player.
As it currently stands, the Commanders will enter general manager Adam Peters' second draft with five picks. Peters, who drafted nine players in 2024, set a high standard for success moving forward, as the entire class -- plus two undrafted free agents -- made the 53-man roster last season. NFL.com's deputy editor of written content Gennaro Filice gave the Commanders' class the best grade in the league, saying "it's a brand new day for football in the nation's capital."
The Commanders will face different challenges in the 2025 draft, but their moves in free agency and trading for players like Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil gives them flexibility to take the best player available or address a need. Although Peters feels good about the current personnel on the roster, there are still plenty of positions to address, from edge rusher to cornerback and offensive line.
In preparation for the draft, Commanders.com will look at 10 players who the Commanders could draft in each round they have a pick. We'll start with the seventh round and move up to their first-round selection at No. 29.
- Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina: Sanders is not coming off his best season as a runner -- his career-high of 1,443 yards was two years ago -- but he did have nearly 1,200 scrimmage yards with 13 total touchdowns. He adds a level of versatility that could elevate Washington's backfield.
- Tai Felton, WR, Maryland: The Ashburn, Virginia, native has plenty of speed in his skill set. He ran a 4.37 at the combine, which might result in a team taking him in an earlier round. Still, if Felton falls to Washington in the seventh round, he could be an interesting piece to its receiver room.
- Eli Cox, C, Kentucky: Cox put on about 10 pounds since his college career ended, although 306 is still a little light for an NFL center. However, Cox is one of the most experienced players at the position in this year's class with four years of starting experience. He also held his own against SEC defensive linemen at 294 pounds, so that has to count for something.
- Dan Jackson, S, Florida: Jackson is on the smaller side (5-foot-11 and 194 pounds) but has a lot of traits that would make him a good core special teamer. He's physical, unafraid of contact and ran a 4.46 at Georgia's pro day. His competitiveness would fit in nicely with Washington's culture.
- Robbie Ouzts, TE, Alabama: Whichever team ends up signing Ouzts will not do so because of what he does as a pass-catcher. With Ouzts, it's all about blocking, and Alabama often used him as a lead blocker. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein also described him as being "built like an ironworker who has a squat rack in the garage."
- Eugene Asante, LB, Auburn: Asante racked up six years of experience at North Carolina and Auburn, recording 192 tackles. He'll need to work on his coverage skills, but he makes up for that in the run game -- something the Commanders have wanted to fix this offseason.
- Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota: As an experienced cornerback with two All-Big Ten selections at the end of his career, Walley can hold his own in coverage and knows how to break up contested catches. He's just 5-foot-10, though, which could lead to an NFL career as a slot player.
- Yahya Black, DT, Iowa: Black was a large presence in Iowa's defensive interior, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 336 pounds. He's not a dominant pass-rusher but knows how to occupy blockers and clog running lanes.
- RJ Oben, EDGE, Notre Dame: Although Oben's production dipped after transferring from Duke to Notre Dame, he does possess some athletic traits that a team could develop either at the back end of the roster or on the practice squad.
- Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas: Armstrong had his best college seasons in the SEC, as he transferred to Arkansas from East Texas A&M. He's 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds with large hands and good ball skills. He might not make an immediate impact in the NFL, but his size provides some optimism for his career.
