As the 2025 NFL draft came to a close on Saturday April 26th, teams were left scrambling to sign priority UDFAs to help fill out their 90 man rosters. For GMs and scouts, both college and pro, roster building is a 365 day a year process of information gathering in order to make their team the best it can to achieve the ultimate goal. Sometimes they hit on players, sometimes they don’t.
Most fans don’t realize that only 56% of players drafted in the first round become significant contributors to their teams and only 33% of second round draft picks hit. Those numbers are mind blowing, I know. But trust me, they’re correct, I Googled it!
So, remember that as we sit in our lazyboy chairs either celebrating the steal of the draft, cussing out the GM because you think the pick is a massive reach or, if you’re me, pissed off because we didn’t trade back when we had an opportunity to, the professionals get it wrong half the time so what the hell do we know? Nothing…….
To actually give a fair assessment of whether draft class was good or not you have to give it three years for development. Last year, Washington Commanders fans were ecstatic about the draft class after Adam Peters landed QB Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the first round, DT Johnny Newton in the second round even though it was a surprise at pick #36, along with CB Mike Sainristil and TE Ben Sinnott with picks #50 and #53. The third round included Brandon Coleman which started at left tackle at pick #67 and WR Luke McCaffery at #100. All these players played a significant role in last years 12 win season so you’d think this draft class deserves an A++ and yet I hear fans call into radio stations already labeling Ben Sinnott and Luke McCaffery busts because “Jayden didn’t throw them the ball much” and they want Peters to draft better “contributor”. Fans are stupid, all of us are. To give a fair assessment of the 2024 draft class we should wait until 2027.
But since I’m a stupid fan, I’m going to get comfortable in my lazyboy, put my GM hat on and give my thoughts on the newly minted 2025 draft class.
Round 1, pick 29
LT- Josh Conerly Jr,, Oregon
Third-team All American, First-team All Big Ten and finalist for the Joe Moore award (nations top lineman) Conerly Jr is a massive mountain of a man, standing at 6’5 and 311 lbs and looks to be an anchor of the offensive line for a long, long time being only 21 years of age. Starter in the ‘23 and the ‘24 seasons with positive progression in both seasons. What he lacks is play strength and struggles against speed to power rushers according to Lance Zierlein of NFL Network. With the passrushers in the NFC East that can be concerning.
Many applaud this pick which is understandable, Conerly is a great prospect. I absolutely love the player even though he’s a bit of “work in progress”. But I think Peters and Co. missed the boat here. More on that later.
Player Grade: B
Round 2, pick 61
CB- Trey Amos, Ole Miss
First-team All SEC in ‘24. Amos is a press man corner who is long and physical. At 6’1 and 195 lbs Adam Peters found some much needed help for a defense that had a terrible time in coverage. By most draft boards, Amos had a first round grade on him, it was a no brainer that Adam Peters ran the card to the table. Now they can move Mikey Sainristil inside, his natural position and Lattimore and Amos will lock up the outside.
Player Grade: A-
Round 4, pick 128
WR/KR- Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Versatile slot receiver with the ability to get plenty of YAC. At 5’9, 190 lbs Jaylin Lane isn’t the big outside WR Commanders fans were hoping for but definitely a player Kliff Kingsbury can use around the line of scrimmage and Lane has breakaway speed (4.3 40) any team would covet. Think a Deebo light. Will definitely be in the mix for kick and punt returns
Player Grade: B
Round 6, pick 205
LB- Kain Medrano, UCLA
Third-team All Big Ten. Led team with 3 FFs, had 11 TFLs and 1.5 sacks in 2024. Commanders LBs coach Ken Norton Jr spent time with Medrano as his coach at UCLA. Will develop into a key special teamer. Excels covering TEs. Will have some trouble in the box due to his frame, hes built like a safety. Also had trouble with missed tackles.
Player Grade: B-
Round 7, pick 245
RB- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
“Bill” as he likes to be called is a contact seeker. At 5’10, 205 he delivers has much as he takes. Has “Outstanding stop, cut and accelerate mechanisms to elude in tight spaces”- Lance Zierlein. Croskey-Merritt was only able to play in one game last season due to eligibility issues but that didn’t stop Peters from drafting a 24 year old back at the end of the draft. I expect Jacory will compete for playing time immediately.
Player Grade: A+
The Commanders came into the draft with only five picks because they traded for Laremy Tunsil this offseason Deebo Samuel and they also traded for Marshawn Lattimore They gave up a 2025 3rd and 7th and a 2026 2nd and 4th for Tunsil and for Lattimore they gave up a 3rd, 4th and 6th for 2025, along with a 2025 5th for Deebo. That’s a lot of assets. That’s eight picks for three players! So yea, I thought their first priority was to trade and get some assets back. That seemed like the consensus before the draft started.
Defensive End was the Commanders number one need this offseason and even though they added Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin in free agency they are more edge setters than pass rushes. Stopping the run was a major weakness last year, so Peter’s bringing in those veterans along with Jevon Kinlaw at DT was a necessity. But last year’s leading sack man, Dante Fowler Jr, was not re-signed and allowed to walk leaving a glaring hole on the defensive line. Everyone was sure they would come out of this draft with an edge rusher since this class was full of them. But that just didn’t happen.
I feel the Commanders had a golden opportunity to not only add multiple draft picks, but to fill glaring holes on the roster with quality players. Some may say the offensive line was a glaring need, but with the Tunsil trade and some shuffling of players already under contract. The line would have been a major upgrade from last year.
In his press conference, Adam Peters said they had multiple teams calling, wanting to trade back into the first round. With the amount of quality edge rushers still available, the Commanders could have easily landed one and would still be able to get Trey Amos at pick 61 with an extra 4th round pick in the back pocket.
To be fair, I actually like every single pick as players themselves. All five can certainly produce and play a roll on this Commanders team. But I feel we are going to have to build a wheelchair ramp for Von Miller’s old ass when we sign him because the free agent pass rusher market is dried up.
Adam Peters deserves the benefit of the doubt though. He’s struck gold everywhere he digs, but he’s not above reproach. But hey, this is coming from a guy who maintains football fields, not one who manages a team.
TEAM DRAFT GRADE: C+
Remember, we fans are STUPID
