Commanders drafted Kain Medrano
- Linebacker | UCLA Bruins
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 205
Despite the Washington Commanders desperately needing a developmental edge rusher at some stage during the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Adam Peters resisted the temptation. That blew up in his face, so it wouldn't be surprising to see his first-round pick this year go on the position.
Kain Medrano was the strangest pick of Washington's draft. The linebacker tested extremely well at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was incredibly raw technically, but linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. worked with him at UCLA and vouched for his qualities. Nobody was expecting miracles right away. Even so, it's hard to look at his rookie exploits with anything other than disappointment.
Medrano made the roster but was a healthy scratch for the most part. He was active much more down the stretch. However, this came on special teams rather than on defensive rotation.
- Original draft grade: C+
- Regrade after one season: C-
The Commanders still don't know what they have in Medrano. Not giving him valuable reps late in the season was a damning indictment of Dan Quinn's approach and of how the player's development is perceived. Unless substantial growth arrives this offseason, he's in danger of suffering a similar fate to Dominique Hampton, who was released before his second campaign.
Commanders drafted Jaylin Lane
- Wide Receiver | Virginia Tech Hokies
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 128
Jaylin Lane was viewed as a steal in the fourth round. The wide receiver was projected as a second-rounder entering his final season at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, not being used correctly within the Hokies' offensive scheme hurt his stock considerably.
The Commanders thought they might have something in Lane. Even though he didn't quite make the desired adjustments to impact the passing attack consistently, the wideout found another way to make a lasting contribution as a rookie before getting hurt.
Lane won the starting punt returner job over the summer. He finished eighth in punt return yards league-wide despite missing two games. He was one of only five players who returned two punts for touchdowns. His electrifying elusiveness and speed in the open field became a revelation, and the receiver may have even entered the Pro Bowl discussion before an injury took hold.
While Lane remains a work in progress on offense, he is an exceptional special-teams performer. That's a solid foundation from which to build, but whether he can become anything more remains to be seen.
- Original draft grade: B
- Regrade after one season: B+
If Lane can soak up more information from Terry McLaurin this offseason and learn how to create separation more effectively, he could make a much bigger impression.