Commanders draft Ted Hurst
- Wide Receiver | Georgia State Panthers
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 71
Even though the Washington Commanders need to prioritize defensive reinforcements this offseason, general manager Adam Peters must also do whatever it takes to surround quarterback Jayden Daniels with the weapons needed to excel. After all, this will be Year 3 of his rookie deal, so it won't be much longer before it gets much more expensive to keep him around.
There is obvious urgency to maximize this window. The Commanders could be aggressive in free agency, especially if wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. doesn't get another deal. Either way, adding to the wideout room with a dynamic option in the third round is something that will no doubt enter the team's thought process.
Ted Hurst offers something the Commanders don't have right now. He's a big-bodied option with a wide catch radius. The Georgia State prospect is a smooth mover with long strides that can stretch the field effortlessly. And looking at the pass-catcher's trajectory, he could be just scratching the surface of what he's truly capable of.
If Hurst can improve his play strength once he gets to the pros, in addition to enhancing his route tree under the guidance of Washington's staff, there is a lot to like about his ability to make an immediate impact within David Blough's projected offensive system.
Commanders draft Michael Taaffe
- Safety | Texas Longhorns
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 145
New Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones singled out almost every safety on the roster during his introductory press conference, praising their versatility and potential fit within his schematic concepts. However, fans are not entirely convinced Washington will run it back.
Nor should they. Nobody on the safety unit shone with any meaningful consistency last season. Quan Martin's breakout fell way short. Will Harris didn't perform well even when healthy. Jeremy Reaves has obvious limitations. Tyler Owens and Percy Butler were nothing more than special-teams assets.
A major rethink is needed. Speculation around Ohio State prospect Caleb Downs remains rife with the No. 7 overall pick. But if the Commanders acquire an upgrade in free agency, waiting a little lower down the order is something to consider.
That's where Michael Taaffe comes in. The Texas prospect earned All-American honors in 2024 and performed well for the Longhorns in 2025. While his size is only average, he's got the instinctiveness and short-area quickness needed to carve out an immediate role for himself.
Taaffe is also technically sound. He rarely missed tackles in college, which was an obvious problem across Washington's secondary last season. He goes about his business quietly, but the defensive back is a well-rounded option at this stage of the draft.