The Washington Commanders strengthened their cornerback room this offseason. That didn't stop one NFL Draft analyst from doubling down on his opinion about who should be the pick at No. 29 overall.
Adam Peters made slight tweaks to Washington's roster rather than going for a complete overhaul once again. He retained a lot of the players who made solid contributions in 2024. There were a couple of blockbuster trades for Pro Bowl-caliber performers and eye-catching veteran signings who should assist in the short-term.
One of those was Jonathan Jones. The talented cornerback jumped at the chance to join Washington's ambitious project after a prolific spell with the New England Patriots. The Commandera also re-signed Noah Igbinoghene to a one-year deal after the former first-round pick impressed from the slot when tasked with significant responsibilities.
This looks like a productive cornerback quartet given the presence of Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil if everyone gets a clear run of luck on the health front. The Commanders might look to acquire another dependable presence — potentially from the college ranks — to give them an insurance police with long-term potential.
Commanders take Maxwell Hairston (again) in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft
Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN, not for the first time during the assessment process, thinks the Commanders should seriously consider Maxwell Hairston at No. 29 overall. The respected analyst mocked the cornerback to Washington for the second straight time, which could allow Sainristil to move back into the slot with a smooth transiton.
"[Maxwell] Hairston also was my projected pick for the Commanders before the combine. It makes sense. Washington is in win-now mode, and cornerback remains a question mark even after the team traded for Marshon Lattimore at the deadline last year. The Commanders signed Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene to replace Benjamin St-Juste, but Hairston could still work his way into a starter role on the outside. He can create takeaways (six INTs over the past two seasons). And he ran a 4.28 at the combine, the fastest 40-yard dash across all positions this year. Figuring out the outside corner spots would allow Mike Sainristil to settle back into the slot, where he's at his best."Mel Kiper Jr.
Hairston is a speedster with natural instincts. He's an opportunistic defensive back with a sound football IQ. This might bring back memories of Emmanuel Forbes Jr. give he's another undersized defensive back, but there wouldn't be much pressure on the player to immediatedly contribute with Washington's other options on the depth chart.
This would be a tremendous landing spot for Hairston. Getting the chance to develop under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is only going to help. Having experienced figures like Lattimore and Jones to lean on for extra advice is something the Kentucky prospect would be wise to exploit.
The Commanders arguably need a dynamic edge rusher more. There's also a good chance Peters trades out of the first round entirely considering Washington only has five picks right now. And there's always the chance he takes the best prospect available regardless of need.
Hairston is a good prospect. Whether he ends up in the famous burgundy and gold remains to be seen.