The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.

Another draft is on the horizon, which means the Washington Commanders have another chance to improve their roster and get closer to competing for a championship.

The Commanders put themselves among the best teams in the league last season, going from 4-13 in 2023 to earning an appearance in the NFC Championship in head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters' first year leading the franchise. Although their season ended against the Philadelphia Eagles, they now have a clear foundation for the future with former No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels in the backfield.

Now, the Commanders are picking on the opposite end of the first round with the No. 29 overall selection. They got the most important piece last year with Daniels, but there are still several positions they need to address before the 2025 season begins.

In anticipation of that selection, Commanders.com will highlight one mock draft from a draft expert each week to delve into how that player, or players, would fit with Washington. **This week, we're looking at a recent mock draft from CBS Sports' Garrett Podell,** who provided Washington with a talented, athletic edge rusher.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

The Washington Commanders entered their second offseason with general manager Adam Peters at the helm with several holes to fill, and one of the biggest was at edge rusher.

The need to find a player who can consistently disrupt quarterbacks increased since free agency began on March 12. Dante Fowler Jr., who led the team in sacks last year, is headed back to the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal. The team has focused on adding depth pieces and players with upside like Javon Kinlaw, but most of the top options have signed elsewhere. Though there are solid players still available, the Commanders appear to be lacking a true game-changer at the position.

However, the Commanders can still turn to the draft, and this year's class is considered to be heavy on pass-rushing talent. Even at 29th overall -- currently the team's first of five picks -- the expectations are for there to be impactful players, and Podell has given Washington one of this year's best in Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku.

"Donovan Ezeiruaku, the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year whose 16.5 sacks were the second most in the nation, could be a nice fit," Podell wrote. "He showcased a steady dose of explosion off the ball at the combine."

And Ezeiruaku can be explosive -- he put up decent numbers with a 35.5-inch vertical and a 9-foot-11 broad jump -- but his quickness and change of direction are what had people's attention in Indianapolis. He had the fastest three-cone drill (6.94 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.19 seconds) among all defensive linemen. That athleticism helps make up for Ezeiruaku's slightly undersized 6-foot-2 and a half and 248-pound frame.

Ezeiruaku's size did not stop him from being one of the most productive pass-rushers in college football. He bounced back from a dip in sack production in 2023 with two in 13 starts by leading the ACC and ranking second in the FBS with 16.5. He was also third with 20.5 tackles for loss and led Boston College with three forced fumbles.

Ezeiruaku relies on his athletic traits to get around bigger, more physical offensive tackles. He gave Florida State left tackle Darius Washington fits during the Eagles' season opener, spamming an inside swim move to get past the redshirt senior's inside shoulder and record four pressures, which earned him a 78.7 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus.

But the Week 1 game, which resulted in a 28-13 upset win for the Eagles, wasn't even Ezeiruaku's best game. He filled up the stat sheet in a Week 5 matchup against Western Kentucky with nine tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble, showing off an impressive spin move and ability to run down the line of scrimmage to stuff run plays.

Ezeiruaku saved his best performance for the season finale against Pittsburgh. He generated 14 total pressures, according to PFF, often working through double teams to get to quarterback Nate Yarnell. He got four sacks -- a season-high -- with six run stops.

Ezeiruaku finished with 60 total pressures and 42 run stops, both of which were second among edge defenders.

"He's quick off the snap, using bend and agility to win at the top of the rush or make stops in the backfield," **wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.** "His hands exploit small advantages to turn them into big ones and he has a variety of ways to challenge protection, though he's still learning to craft his plans."

The Commanders could use a player who knows how to step up against the run and pass on their roster in 2025. They were fine in sack production last year with 43 in 2024 -- in fairness, that's tied for the most they've recorded in a season since 2020 -- but there were moments when it was clear they still needed more from their defensive ends. The defense's performance against the run was troublesome all season, although it was most glaring when the Philadelphia Eagles rushed for 229 yards in the NFC Championship.

And Ezeiruaku would not provide a complete solution to Washington's defensive issues. He likes to cut under offensive tackles, which can result in him losing contain and providing an escape route for quarterbacks. Although he's found ways around his size, it's clear that it does hinder him at times in the run game.

The good news is that Ezeiruaku doesn't have to carry the burden of being Washington's only solution on the edge, especially as a rookie. The staff has shown a knack for finding what players do well and putting them in the best scenario to succeed. For Ezeiruaku, that's beating players around the edge and getting quarterbacks on the ground.

"Ezeiruaku's play demeanor, skill and athletic talent are the underpinnings of a productive starter with three-down value," Zierlein wrote.