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. **We’ll start by looking at a mock draft from NFL.com’s Deputy Editor of written content** **Gennaro** **Filice,** who has the Commanders address a need on the offensive line.
Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon
The Commanders found their quarterback; now they need to protect him.
That's what Filice said when he put out his first mock draft last week. Daniels, who was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year for putting up over 5,000 total yards in the regular and postseason, proved that he can thrive under pressure and avoid pass-rushers with ease. Still, Daniels was sacked 47 times -- the sixth-highest number in the league and far too often for an offense that ranked seventh in yards per game.
So, Filice has the Commanders taking one of the best offensive tackles in the draft to bolster Daniels' protection up front.
"PROTECT JAYDEN DANIELS AT ALL COSTS," Filice wrote. "Third-round pick Brandon Coleman acquitted himself quite well as a rookie left tackle, but Washington would be wise to keep building a wall around the exhilarating new face of the franchise."
Conerly, a former five-star recruit from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, is a young player with the tools to be a prototypical starting tackle at some point in his career. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Conerly is a physical blocker in the run game who knows how to finish. In his first year as a starter, He posted a run-block grade of 66 on 317 running plays.
Where Conerly thrives the most, however, is as a pass-blocker. Back in 2023, he was part of an offensive line that allowed just five sacks all season. He allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits, which helped him post a 76.9 pass-blocking grade.
"He sees twists and blitzes developing and recovers with athleticism when beaten," **wrote NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein.**
Conerly was even more effective in 2024. He allowed just one sack and five pressures -- nine fewer than he did in 2023. That sack came in Week 2 against Boise State. He kept quarterback Dillon Gabriel off the ground for the rest of the season, allowing only two quarterback hits.
Conerly showed the most potential during the Big Ten Championship, which pitted him against edge rusher Abdul Carter, who many consider to be the best prospect in this year's draft class. On 35 pass-blocking snaps, Conerly allowed zero sacks or pressures with an efficiency grade of 100.
**For The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs,** Conerly is an "easy prospect to like."
"His athleticism will be his greatest asset early on as he continues to refine the technical portions of his game, but he appears to have already established healthy techniques in several ways," Crabbs wrote. "Conerly Jr. showcases good posture and balance in protection, illustrating active and sudden feet that allow him to mirror effectively on the edges of the pocket."
As Filice mentioned in his mock draft, the Commanders had an answer at left tackle when they drafted Coleman out of TCU. Coleman stood out in training camp for his athleticism and size, which helped him earn the starting job during the regular season. Peters asserted when the Commanders drafted him that Coleman could be a good NFL tackle, and while he did show he needs to improve his skill set at times, he also succeeded in several areas and held his own against experienced pass-rushers.
But Coleman also has the size to move to another position if Washington needed him to do so. In addition to having quick feet, he's also strong and physical. Both qualities would be helpful to him if he did need to move down to guard (a position that needs a solid player until Sam Cosmi comes back from his ACL injury).
The Commanders must protect Daniels with the best players possible to ensure he continues to develop on a smooth path. Conerly is raw, but he has the tools to possibly be an option for the Burgundy & Gold.
