The Washington Commanders have a superstar on their hands. Jayden Daniels is everything they thought he would be, and so much more. Adam Peters has stopped at nothing to surround the quarterback with everything needed to thrive this offseason.
Winning 12 regular-season games and reaching the NFC Championship game opened the Commanders' Super Bowl window for the first time in decades. Peters knew he needed to maximize Daniels' rookie contract. This saw the front-office leader deviate from his original strategy in pursuit of keeping momentum high.
The Commanders traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. They enhanced their defense to make things more balanced. It's not perfect yet, but Peters could adopt the same Daniels-centric philosophy during the draft to further strengthen the options at his disposal.
With this in mind, here are eight prospects who could help Daniels cement his place among the NFL's elite in 2025.
NFL Draft prospects to help Commanders QB Jayden Daniels cement superstar status in 2025
Commanders could draft Josh Conerly Jr.
- Offensive Tackle | Oregon Ducks
What's the best way to help Jayden Daniels? They could add to the skill positions. The Washington Commanders could address the backfield conundrum. We'll get to both later, but the best way to assist the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is to keep his pocket clean more effectively.
Peters recognized this, striking a bombshell trade with the Houston Texans for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. That solves one major problem, but it hasn't stopped the Commanders from examining some of the premier edge protectors emerging from the college ranks this year.
According to reports, the Commanders are hosting Josh Conerly Jr. for a private visit this week. The Oregon prospect is physically imposing, plays with an athletic mean streak, and is only scratching the surface of what he could be capable of.
Conerly is a little raw technically, but the Commanders could bring him along gradually with Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie also on the right-hand side.
Commanders could draft Mason Taylor
- Tight End | LSU Tigers
Mason Taylor and Jayden Daniels have a previously developed connection. They played together at LSU during the 2023 campaign, with the tight end catching 36 balls for 348 receiving yards and one touchdown from the Heisman Trophy winner.
The son of former Washington edge rusher and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor is rising fast up draft boards. Several teams are showing interest in Taylor, which is no surprise considering his route development, assured hands, and ability to come through on the biggest stages.
Washington doesn't have a great need at the tight end spot. They re-signed Zach Ertz and John Bates to go alongside last year's second-round pick Ben Sinnott. But if Daniels gives Taylor his seal of approval, it couldn't be completely ruled out.
Commanders could draft Luther Burden III
- Wide Receiver | Missouri Tigers
The Washington Commanders could use another dynamic wide receiver to put them over the top. It might not be a pressing need compared to adding an edge rusher or cornerback, but Adam Peters won't hesitate to pull the trigger if he feels like it will help Jayden Daniels flourish.
If Luther Burden III is still around when Washington goes on the clock at No. 29 overall, a discussion must be had. The Missouri prospect is reportedly slipping down draft boards despite the obvious talent at his disposal. This could work to the Commanders' advantage when it's all said and done.
Burden had a down year by his typically high standards in 2024. Even so, his ability to stretch the field and make things happen with the football in his hands is always a highly coveted trait. There's also a lot to like about his willingness as a blocker on running plays, which is an overlooked but important aspect of the game.
Improving Burden's route tree and concentration are the first objectives for the team that drafts him. If these issues get some early polish, an immediate contribution won't be too far behind.
Adding Burden to a receiving room that also consists of Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Luke McCaffrey, and Noah Brown is a mouthwatering proposition.
Commanders could draft Omarion Hampton
- Running Back | North Carolina Tar Heels
The Commanders haven't done much to fortify their running back room this offseason. That's led to speculation around the Commanders potentially targeting one of the blue-chip prospects early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Only Ashton Jeanty is projected to be gone before the Commanders go on the clock. If there was one more prospect who could be unavailable, it's Omarion Hampton.
That's to be determined. What cannot be disputed is Hampton's talent, which would be a significant addition to the Commanders' backfield alongside Jayden Daniels long term.
Hampton is a powerful runner with supreme agility and exceptional contact balance. He's capable of gaining hard yards between the tackles and bouncing to the outside for big gains. There's plenty to encourage about his receiving skills, and the North Carolina prospect's pass protection is also coming along nicely.
Some could deem this as a luxury pick for the Commanders. They have other needs to fill, but the running back position is right up there, too. If Hampton can enhance his creativity in space and develop his route tree out of the backfield, someone is going to have an incredible player on their hands.
It'll be interesting to see what the Commanders do if Hampton is there for the taking.
Commanders could draft Emeka Egbuka
- Wide Receiver | Ohio State Buckeyes
Trading for Deebo Samuel Sr. represented a significant early offseason statement from the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters knows the wide receiver well from their time together on the San Francisco 49ers. He knows what a motivated player he's getting, so all signs point to a bounce-back campaign from the All-Pro in 2025.
Terry McLaurin is the alpha. Luke McCaffrey has promise, and Noah Brown's flashes in his first season with the Commanders suggest more could be on the way next time around. Even so, providing Jayden Daniels with another explosive pass-catcher wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
The Commanders would be wise to consider Emeka Egbuka if he's still available at No. 29 overall. Trading out of the pick should be high on the agenda, with Peters only having five picks at his disposal. But quality over quantity could be the priority this year.
Egbuka is a tremendous prospect. He's got the size, physicality, and dynamic traits that should fit seamlessly into Kliff Kingsbury's system. The Ohio State prospect is a route technician with the speed to take the top off defensive coverages. That's something the Commanders lacked at times during the previous campaign.
The wideout is projected to go from the mid-teens to the end of the first round. Washington doesn't boast the capital to move up, so it's a waiting game.
Commanders could draft Ollie Gordon III
- Running Back | Oklahoma State Cowboys
As previously mentioned, the Commanders could use an injection of energy in their running back room. Adam Peters stood pat in free agency, which indicates he might identify an incoming draft prospect from a deep class at some stage.
If the Commanders spend their early selections on other position groups, Peters must find a diamond in the rough. One prospect gaining more interest than most represents exactly that, a little further down the pecking order.
The Commanders have reportedly met several times with Ollie Gordon II throughout their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. He's an imposing physical runner, which allows him to blow through contact and break tackles with relative comfort.
Gordon lacks genuine top-end speed, which will hurt his stock when push comes to shove. What the Commanders must figure out is whether this represents a long-term upgrade over Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, who are both in the final year of their respective deals.
Washington would benefit from his red zone prowess. The Oklahoma State prospect has 34 touchdowns in the last two seasons, but the athletic limitations make this an intriguing yet risky proposition to help quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders are interested. Whether it becomes something more remains to be seen.
Commanders could draft Jayden Higgins
- Wide Receiver | Iowa State Cyclones
With the Washington Commanders already having Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Luke McCaffrey, and Noah Brown, general manager Adam Peters could be looking for a more physically imposing wide receiver during the 2025 NFL Draft. While this class doesn't have the elite-level stars of previous years, it's another deep group with potentially prolific performers aplenty.
At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, Jayden Higgins ticks those boxes. He could also be available for Washington in the second round, depending on how things shake out. The Iowa State prospect isn't just an athletic specimen. The tape matched it, which is the most important thing above all else.
Higgins' body control sets him apart from most wide receivers in this class. The wideout uses his large wingspan to get in front of opposing cornerbacks. This also makes him a contested catch threat, especially in crucial red-zone situations.
Once Higgins improves his release, it's all systems go. He's got the versatility to play anywhere along the line of scrimmage, and the player is also ultra-dependable when targets come his way. This looks like the sort of talent who could thrive with an elite-level quarterback like Jayden Daniels providing distribution.
It would be surprising to see Higgins make it down to No. 61 overall, but there's no telling for definite right now.
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Commanders could draft TreVeyon Henderson
- Running Back | Ohio State Buckeyes
The Commanders could find a pass-catching specialist at the running back position to take the pressure off aging veteran Austin Ekeler. They could add a power option back with Brian Robinson Jr.'s long-term future under a cloud. Adam Peters might also look for someone who can do it all.
That brings TreVeyon Henderson firmly under the microscope. The Ohio State prospect is among the best running backs in this year's class despite splitting starting reps last season with the Buckeyes. He's got everything one looks for in a productive NFL backfield weapon, which would make quarterback Jayden Daniels' life easier if expectations are met.
Henderson averaged a whopping 7.1 yards per carry during Ohio State's run to the college football national championship. He's elusive and strong in equal measure, making him a difficult proposition to stop once early momentum is generated. This is matched by superb acceleration to exploit gaps in the open field.
There were durability issues during his early college days that need further investigation. Henderson must also be more decisive in the pros when the margins get finer. Aside from that, there isn't much to turn the Commanders off this prospect.
If Henderson is around at No. 29 overall, he might be the pick when push comes to shove.