Washington Commanders fans will finally get the chance to see their 2025 rookie class in action this weekend, as rookie minicamp is set to begin May 9. Here are some things to watch over the next few days.
The first-round pick in action
The offensive line is not normally the main attraction during an NFL practice, but most of the media’s attention will be focused on No. 29 overall pick Josh Conerly Jr. and how the rookie looks learning the Commanders’ offensive scheme.
General manager Adam Peters did a good job of hyping Conerly up in his press conference at the end of the first round. The Commanders could have traded back and acquired more picks — something many analysts predicted they would do — but passed on those opportunities because they believed Conerly was too good of a prospect. Although not a perfect prospect, he excelled in pass protection and only allowed two sacks over the last two seasons. They viewed him as an ideal protector for quarterback Jayden Daniels, their most valuable asset.
The Commanders haven’t clarified exactly where Conerly will play, other than to say that he will not play left tackle since five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil will be at that position. It’s reasonable to assume, however, that they will start him at right tackle and see how he performs. They also believe he can play guard and aren’t ruling out a future position switch for him.
Conerly was praised for his athleticism and quickness in the predraft process. We won’t get a comprehensive look at his skill set until padded practices in training camp — it can be difficult to fully evaluate offensive linemen at this point in the year due to league rules around the offseason workout program — but it will be good to get a glimpse of the talent that Peters and the Commanders fell in love with.