The Washington Commanders used their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, in the 2025 NFL draft to select Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Commanders chose Conerly without offensive tackle being their primary need. Washington needed additional help on the offensive line, but most believed an edge rusher or cornerback would be the pick.
General manager Adam Peters stuck by his board, choosing Conerly instead of trading the pick. Other teams were reportedly trying to trade up for Conerly, but Peters chose to add another young building block to Washington’s offensive line. The Commanders traded for five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, and he’ll play left tackle. Last season’s left tackle, Brandon Coleman, will likely compete with Conerly at right tackle or move inside to guard. Many believe guard was Coleman’s best long-term position coming out of college last year.
Conerly is viewed as a high-ceiling prospect who played his best football during the second half of last season, particularly during Oregon’s playoff run.
Here’s what some expert draft analysts had to say about Conerly during the pre-draft process and what Commanders fans can expect to see:
“A two-year starter at Oregon, Conerly manned the left tackle position in offensive coordinator Will Stein’s multiple run scheme with a lot of unbalanced looks. After transitioning to the offensive line as a high school sophomore, he made steady improvements each season, and he played his best ball over the second half of his final year in Eugene. A quick, fluid mover, Conerly has the range to reach his landmarks laterally in pass protection and on the move, at the second level and in the run game.
Because of the underdeveloped parts of his game, he will put himself in some compromised positions, especially against power rushers, but his recovery balance is exceptional. Overall, Conerly must continue refining his hands and core strength, but he is on the right trajectory and enters the NFL with a promising foundation based on athletic movements and body control. Currently a “bend, don’t break” blocker, he has the talent to become a solid starter early in his NFL career.”
“Two-year starter whose in-season improvement and performance against Penn State’s Abdul Carter make it easier to project his future. Conerly is proportionally built but lacks ideal play strength. He strains at the point of attack but needs to get his hips and hands synced to improve as a finisher. He moves easily in space and gets to his angles to help spring the run. Conerly sets with smooth slides and ready hands but gets caught over-setting. He has anchor troubles against power that might be challenging to correct. He sees twists and blitzes developing and recovers with athleticism when beaten. Conerly is young and needs more development, but he should become a good starter at tackle or guard.”
“Josh Conerly Jr. was a consensus five-star recruit from the state of Washington when he committed to play for the Oregon Ducks. Now, entering his third season with the Ducks, Conerly Jr. is draft-eligible and should demand considerable attention as one of the top offensive linemen in this class.
Watching Conerly Jr.’s growth from his sophomore year to now has been eye-opening. We always knew about his athleticism, but in his junior year, he showed improvement in virtually every area. His 2024 film is outstanding. Although Conerly Jr. is a smaller tackle at 6-foot-4, he plays with exceptional length through his hands. This is most evident in pass protection, where he consistently meets defenders with precise strikes, preventing them from getting into his chest.
Conerly Jr.’s approach to protection is impressive. He’s decisive in bringing the fight to his defenders, eager to throw his hands, but he also knows how to adjust his pass set to neutralize the rush. He undoubtedly possesses one of the best jump sets in the class, but more importantly, he has the footwork and strength to handle different types of rushers. He has multiple answers for how defenders attack him.
Conerly Jr. makes a concerted effort to play with leverage, something many tackles with his level of athleticism fail to do. He understands how to sink and drive into his blocks, winning with his center of gravity. In the run game, Conerly Jr. does a great job of attacking defenders with his hands and creating extension to displace them.
Given his smaller size, I would like to see Conerly Jr. fully embrace his identity as a finisher. He has the strength and athleticism to consistently deliver body blows and put defenders on the ground throughout a game. Improving his ability to generate power in the drive phase will help him achieve this.
All in all, Conerly Jr., despite being undersized, lacks nothing in terms of the tools necessary to play tackle at the professional level. He possesses the skill set of an NFL veteran, with precise, defensive hands, remarkable footwork in protection, and a strong understanding of leverage and pad level. Conerly Jr. will be an instant upgrade for teams looking to lock down a blindside tackle.”
“Josh Conerly Jr. is a two-year starter at left tackle inside Oregon’s 52-48 run-pass split, multiple run scheme. Conerly was a high school running back until moving to the offensive line as a sophomore before becoming the top-ranked offensive tackle recruit in the nation. Conerly has a lean, well-rounded build with good arm length, athletic ability and adequate play strength.
Conerly wins as a run blocker by quickly getting out of his stance and into fits on time with proper leverage on angle-drive blocks to wall off and secure rush lanes. He is light on his feet with good burst as a puller, on screens and climbs to intersect targets. While Conerly gets into place and can stay attached to blocks well, he shows below-average power that results in stalemates and being pried open gradually to allow penetration across his face.
In pass protection, Conerly is a loose, fluid mover with efficient footwork to his spot using angled or vertical sets with the redirect skills to mirror counter moves. Conerly uses his length well with solid placement to work inside the frame of rushers and keep them at his fingertips. He runs into trouble against rushers that can weaponize tempo, stutters and hesitations that get him broken down, flat-footed and leaning into contact. This can lead to a tardy anchor against speed to power, drifting and creating soft edges that force him into recovery mode.
Overall, Conerly has good athletic ability, recovery and zone run blocking skills with the range to protect the corner in pass protection against high-side, speed rushes. He shows erratic strike timing and mediocre play strength that saps his anchor, indicating a best fit inside a zone-based run scheme where he can earn a starting tackle job as a rookie and become a solid starter.”