The Washington Commanders took a leap of faith with Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. And the promising offensive tackle wasted no time in making his intentions clear upon joining this historic franchise.
Washington made one massive splash on their protection this offseason by trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Most analysts thought the Commanders might turn their attention to an edge rusher, cornerback, or perhaps even a running back, depending on how the board shook out in front of them in the first round. Adam Peters had other ideas, taking his conviction guy, who was highly regarded by those in the building.
One only has to look at Kliff Kingsbury's not-so-subtle message to Peters before the draft as proof of that.
Conerly isn't taking his new responsibilities lightly. The Commanders are expecting him to form a bookend tackle tandem with Tunsil. They are expecting him to provide quarterback Jayden Daniels with the protection needed to take his game to even greater heights. They are expecting him to slot seamlessly into Washington's exceptional locker room culture under head coach Dan Quinn.
Josh Conerly Jr. aiming to make instant impact with the Commanders
This is a daunting proposition for most rookies. Conerly is embracing and relishing the challenge, especially considering how much he's admired Daniels from afar over the years.
"Honestly, was I expecting it? Yeah, because I was ready to go. But yeah—nah, it's not a given opportunity, man. It means the world to me. A Heisman Trophy winner, somebody I looked up to. Just someone that went from the Pac-12, went to the SEC, did big things… and I’m looking forward to the opportunity just to get out there and block for one of the best."Josh Conerly Jr. via SI
This is the right attitude to have. Conerly might be a first-round pick with lofty expectations on his shoulders, but he'll still need to prove himself like everyone else.
The rookie must win the respect of veteran teammates, take on coaching, and earn trust. It's a lot to ask, but most of Peters' 2024 class managed to accomplish this with minimal fuss during their respective transitions last summer.
Conerly has a strong work ethic and high character. His on-field development will center on being more technically sound, but these problems should be easily worked out with a little extra refinement.
Hopes are high regarding Conerly making his presence felt immediately. The Commanders are on the cusp of something special, and they have no room for passengers. Their investment in the edge force indicates they anticipate him to pick things up quickly en route to Day 1 starting involvement.
And judging by the player's intent to maintain clean pockets for Washington's franchise presence under center, he'll be going above and beyond to make this dream a reality.