The views and opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of the team.
Thanks to moves in free agency, Washington went into the 2025 Draft knowing it had the flexibility take best player available or address specific needs. The best-case scenario? Hit both of those with one pick. That’s exactly what happened for the Commanders on Night 1.
**With the No. 29 overall pick, Washington selected an exciting young tackle with a ton of upside in Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr.** A two-year starter for the Ducks, the 21-year-old Conerly was considered the “total package” in the eyes of Commanders general manager Adam Peters. He’s a “super talented” big man with great athleticism who has proven himself against the best of the best of in college. Just as important to the Commanders brass is what a player is like outside the white lines, and Washington was “really, really impressed” with Conerly the person.
The rookie will step into a unit that can take Commanders to the next level in 2025 with Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels behind them and the run game increasingly an important part of Washington’s offensive identity.
Here’s how draft pundits graded the move: