The Washington Commanders are licking their wounds following defeat at the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. For general manager Adam Peters and his staff, attention immediately turns to the offseason.
This is the best position Washington's once-downtrodden franchise has been in for decades. They have stability and hope for the future. Peters has almost $100 million in available salary-cap space that could increase further once extensions, restructures, and early sacrifices are confirmed. The Commanders also boast seven draft selections to strengthen the ranks with long-term options from the college ranks.
Peters got some good returns from his first draft class. He found two bona fide superstars in quarterback Jayden Daniels and cornerback Mike Sainristil. Johnny Newton and Brandon Coleman look like solid starters for years to come. Others such as Luke McCaffrey, Ben Sinnott, and Jordan Magee have the athletic profile to improve with additional experience.
Finding a quarterback was everything. Peters now has a franchise-caliber presence to build around. The Commanders' loss at Lincoln Financial Field provides the front-office leader with clarity about which prospects could be considered in the first round.
Where are the Commanders picking in the 2025 NFL Draft?
According to Tankathon, the Commanders are locked in at No. 29 overall. This is a lot lower than they've picked in recent years. It shifts the landscape slightly and is an unfamiliar feeling for fans more used to examining the blue-chip prospects atop the order.
That's not the case with Peters. He's been around winning franchises previously. He was with the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers before arriving in Washington. This brings knowledge of how to approach things lower down the pecking order he can put to good use this spring.
First-round 2025 NFL Draft order for non-playoff teams
Draft number | Team |
---|---|
1. | Tennessee Titans |
2. | Cleveland Browns |
3. | New York Giants |
4. | New England Patriots |
5. | Jacksonville Jaguars |
6. | Las Vegas Raiders |
7. | New York Jets |
8. | Carolina Panthers |
9. | New Orleans Saints |
10. | Chicago Bears |
11. | San Francisco 49ers |
12. | Dallas Cowboys |
13. | Miami Dolphins |
14. | Indianapolis Colts |
15. | Atlanta Falcons |
16. | Arizona Cardinals |
17. | Cincinnati Bengals |
18. | Seattle Seahawks |
19. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
20. | Denver Broncos |
21. | Pittsburgh Steelers |
22. | Los Angeles Chargers |
23. | Green Bay Packers |
24. | Minnesota Vikings |
25. | Houston Texans |
26. | Los Angeles Rams |
27. | Baltimore Ravens |
28. | Detroit Lions |
29. | Washington Commanders |
Possible first-round Commanders draft targets in 2025
Depending on what reinforcements arrive in free agency, Peters could have the luxury of picking the best prospect available regardless of need. There are obvious holes to be filled, but the Commanders could go down several avenues with their first-rounder in 2025.
If there's a need to find Daniels more weapons in the passing game, tight end Colston Loveland could be targeted if available by this point. Adding another long-term offensive tackle such as Jonah Savaiinaea or someone else is another possibility. And we all know how badly wide receiver Luther Burden III wants to play with Washington's dynamic signal-caller based on his social media activity.
Adding to the defensive unit couldn't be completely dismissed. Edge rusher Mike Green, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, or interior lineman Tyleik Williams seem like realistic options. But a lot can and will change during the all-important evaluation process.
Fans have complete confidence in Peters. They trust him fully to make the right decisions and do what's best for this team while also keeping flexibility for the future. It's been a long time since there were genuine expectations for a brighter future.
That moment has arrived.