The Washington Commanders have invested heavily in their pass-rush this offseason. Nobody was moaning about that, but as all fans know, you can never have too many.
General manager Adam Peters wanted to find another, and he struck with conviction when Joshua Josephs began to slide. The Commanders didn't have any spare capital to jump the queue, but not for the first time during the 2026 NFL Draft, they got lucky.
Peters felt Josephs was too good to turn down at No. 147 overall. And one Tennessee expert believes the Commanders may have a steal of epic proportions on their hands if they put him in the right packages to flourish.
Commanders may have struck gold with edge rusher Joshua Josephs on Day 3
Conner Linsner from All For Tennessee thought the Commanders were getting high value with Josephs. While the edge force may not be the biggest, the expert believes he can make his presence felt immediately in obvious pass-rushing situations.
"[Joshua] Josephs has the arm length and explosiveness off the edge to be a Day 2 pick. He may not have elite size, hindering his ability to be effective in the run game, but he’s a great fit for a team that needs pass-rush help on passing downs."
The end of the first sentence is telling. Linser thought Josephs had the talent to be a Day 2 selection. The Commanders got him midway through Day 3, so it was well worth the risk from Peters' perspective.
Josephs won't be under any immediate pressure to contribute. The Commanders spent big money on Odafe Oweh in free agency. Peters also secured the signings of K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu. Dorance Armstrong Jr. is reportedly making good progress from a serious knee injury, so the incoming rookie's presence should round out the room nicely.
If Josephs is used on the rotation as a pass-rush specialist while also honing other areas of his game to make him a well-rounded asset, this could be a shrewd piece of business.
Peters is not interested in drafting for need. He wants to take the best prospects available, and Josephs was clearly the highest prospect on his board when Washington went on the clock in Round 5. This is the correct way to build a competitive roster, and it should also enable the Commanders to bring the former Volunteers' standout along at his own pace.
Josephs represents a disruptive option for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones to utilize. And if the ceiling is reached, this could be among the draft's biggest heists when it's all said and done.
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