Loser No. 3
Jonathan Jones - Commanders CB
Trey Amos is a strong, physical cornerback who looks tailor-made for Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s defensive scheme. The Washington Commanders needed more in their secondary, which became more glaring after Adam Peters failed to address the edge-rushing options during the draft.
This won't be good news for everybody. If Amos transitions well and Mike Sainristil goes into the nickel, two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones has an uncertain role from the outside looking in.
Jones was acquired on a one-year deal this offseason. Most expected the veteran to be deployed in the slot, although he's got the physical scope to play outside despite his advancing years. If the Commanders get a smooth transition from Amos, the free-agent signing could be a versatile No. 4 option when push comes to shove.
It's not a bad problem for the Commanders to have, especially considering they also have Noah Igbinoghene to call upon. The cornerback unit became an ongoing frustration throughout Ron Rivera's tenure. Things look much more promising now, but managing the dynamic effectively is crucial from Whitt's perspective.
There's no doubt Jones will get his fair share of reps. But if Amos, Sainristil, and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore firmly cement themselves as the starting trio, it could see the Auburn graduate go to the fringes.
Winner No. 4
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
The Commanders were widely expected to draft another wide receiver. Adam Peters accomplished this feat later in the process, ignoring some of the blue-chip pass-catchers higher up the food chain to find what he believed was good value in Jaylin Lane.
Lane has some useful traits to call upon. He's a smooth route runner over short-to-intermediate routes with the elusiveness to be a significant threat after the catch. The Virginia Tech product isn't a physically imposing option, which indicates a level of confidence in Noah Brown to become more influential in 2025.
Brown arrived late in the 2024 offseason. After getting some time to adjust, he became a decent threat downfield with the ability to generate defensive pass interference penalties with a wide wingspan and physicality at the catch point.
A serious internal injury that required kidney surgery ended his campaign ahead of time, but the Commanders gave him a one-year deal this spring to see if he could benefit from a full summer program with the squad. The fact that Washington avoided the temptation to draft someone with similar athletic traits spoke volumes.
This was the confidence boost Brown needed. If he benefits from scheme familiarity and continues his encouraging chemistry with Jayden Daniels, the former Ohio State standout will be heavily involved next time around.