One of the more active teams this offseason has undoubtedly been the Washington Commanders.
Going out and making a pair of big trades for players like Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel prove the organization is fully behind the rapid ascension of quarterback Jayden Daniels. This is a team that wants to take advantage of having a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract, and with the 2025 NFL Draft coming up, they'll have a few more chances to continue the momentum.
Specifically speaking on behalf of helping Daniels reach his ceiling, let's look at a couple of offensive prospects who aren't necessarily getting Round 1 buzz but could still become immediate-impact types.
In conjunction, we've got a fan favorite to assess on the defensive side.
Commanders draft target Jalen Royals has shades of Deebo Samuel in his game
Washington may have traded for Deebo Samuel, but that doesn't mean the Commanders are set at wide receiver. In fact, Samuel is a bit of a risk with his injury history. So, why not go after somebody with similar traits on Day 2?
Utah State's Jalen Royals is one of the best run-after-catch wide receivers in this class. He has the strength and hard-nosed style to take the ball extra yardage after securing the grab. Not only does he work hard for extra yards, it sometimes comes with ease. His speed after the catch is eye-popping. He gets up the field in a hurry.
Giving Kliff Kingsbury another weapon like Royals could be lethal.
Josh Conerly Jr. is the offensive line depth the Commanders need
Depending on how the cards fall, Oregon offensive lineman Josh Conerly might just be there in the middle of Round 2. It's unlikely he lasts until the end of the round, so the Commanders may have to trade up if they want him.
But, Conerly's size (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) could push him inside to guard which may give Washington some positional versatility right off the bat. His shorter arms make him a candidate to play guard, and the athleticism is there for an active guard that can reach the second level with ease.
Even after the Laremy Tunsil trade, Washington cannot rest until they feel overly confident about their depth up front.
The Commanders would hit a home run drafting Azareye'h Thomas in Round 1
Fans would love to see Washington go after some help in the secondary even though Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore currently occupy the outside. If the Commanders got their hands on Azareye'h Thomas at pick 29, maybe the smaller Sainristil slides to the slot. And, on another note, Lattimore has a lot to prove in 2025, so cornerback is absolutely not out of the question here.
Thomas is a bigger defensive back at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds. Although he isn't often looked at as the top corner in this class, he has a lot to love which makes his ceiling fairly high. His length, hands, strength and ability to read the quarterback are all atop his attribute list.
With Thomas in the fold, Washington's cornerback room is flipped upside down and becomes an even bigger strength.
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