Commanders secure potentially prolific CB trio with 2025 mock draft pick
By Dean Jones
Adam Peters is getting good returns from his first draft class as Washington Commanders general manager. The shrewd front office leader made calculated moves throughout the selection process, finding talented prospects who could fit into the team's new way of thinking under head coach Dan Quinn's exceptional guidance.
The Commanders need this to continue next spring and into the future. Fans can relax safely knowing they have the right man at the helm in Peters. There is also a more collaborative approach within the decision-making process, which represents a refreshing shift given the way previous ownership handled the football operation throughout a disastrous two-decade reign of terror.
This is far from the finished product. The Commanders might be further ahead than most anticipated in Year 1 of their comprehensive rebuild, but getting complacent is simply not an option. Fortunately for Peters, he's in a profitable position regarding his ambition to strengthen the squad further during the 2025 recruitment period.
Needs are becoming clearer for the Commanders. There is an urgent need to surround rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels with the weapons and protection needed to thrive. One couldn't dismiss Peters finding some prominent defensive reinforcements despite the unit's gradual improvements this season under coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
Commanders select CB Benjamin Morrison in ESPN's mock draft
This was a topic discussed by Matt Miller of ESPN in his latest 2025 mock draft. Instead of finding a prominent playmaker for Daniels, the respected analyst went defense with the Commanders' first-round pick. Specifically, cornerback Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame.
"The Commanders picked up veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline but should continue to remake their secondary to fit coach Dan Quinn's schemes, especially with three of their current corners (Michael Davis, Benjamin St-Juste and Noah Igbinoghene) becoming free agents after the season. [Benjamin] Morrison, my second-ranked CB, was sidelined for the season in mid-October because of a hip injury, but he has good size (6-foot, 196 pounds), speed and instincts playing the ball, as evidenced by nine interceptions over his first two seasons."
- Matt Miller, ESPN
This would give the Commanders a potentially prolific cornerback trio. There's a lot of football left and draft stocks will rise or fall when the college football playoffs arrive. Even so, the combination of Morrison, Mike Sainristil, and recently acquired shutdown presence Marshon Lattimore represents a mouth-watering proposition in 2025 and beyond.
Some medical red flags need to be addressed before NFL teams can feel confident about spending a first-round pick on Morrison. Hip injuries can be complicated for cornerbacks given their need for quick-twitch movements. If everything checks out on the health front, the Commanders could do far worse than go in this direction.
Washington needs to find a decent wide receiver if they avoid the temptation to spend big on someone like Tee Higgins in free agency. Bolstering the pass-rush wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, either. However, cornerback is a legitimate need if Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Michael Davis, and Noah Igbinoghene aren't part of Peters' future plans for this sleeping giant.
Time will tell on all fronts…