Commanders depth chart analysis: How did the NFL Draft help shape the roster?

Sports

add

The monthslong obsession with free agency and the NFL Draft was about how the Washington Commanders’ decision-makers would bolster the roster. Let’s review how general manager Adam Peters and his staff performed and tackle any remaining questions ahead of the offseason on-field program.

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota

Others: Josh Johnson, Sam Hartman

The intrigue: Signing Johnson, a soon-to-be 39-year-old journeyman, didn’t reshape the NFC title chase or become a weekly topic locally. Yet the reason for the depth addition illustrates how Washington factored in available free agents into its draft plan.

We knew Washington wasn’t in the first-round conversation here because of the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Re-signing Mariota meant no need for an aggressive QB2 selection in Rounds 2-4. The Commanders could skip drafting one altogether if they accepted Hartman, a 2024 undrafted free-agent signing and beer-chugging hero, as the likely third-stringer.

With a standard draft of seven picks or a surplus like last year’s nine, maybe a Day 3 quarterback is picked with an eye toward grooming Daniels’ future primary backup. Instead, the staff went proactive by signing Johnson, the definition of a short-term player after being part of 14 teams (Washington twice) ahead of a potential 18th season. With only five picks, Washington didn’t pretend that any “best on our board” pretense mattered.

Marcus Mariota was re-signed in March to continue backing up Jayden Daniels in 2025. (Peter Casey / Imagn Images)

Running back

Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Others: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Michael Wiley, Kazmeir Allen, Demetric Felton

The intrigue: Pick No. 245 was the final chance for a running back addition before the central part of the offseason closed. Retaining last year’s top trio would be fine — unless Washington emphasized adding a potentially big-play element.

The scouting department conducted this process throughout the pre-draft cycle, following a decent but inconsistent ground game the previous season, yet bypassed possible candidates until the final round.

Croskey-Merritt showed a spark when he scored 17 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6.3 yards on 189 carries in 2023 for New Mexico. The transfer only played one game for Arizona last season due to confusion over his eligibility. There won’t be seismic expectations attached to the forceful runner with an enticing one-cut burst. Finding a niche that lands Croskey-Merritt on the Week 1 53-player roster is a good start.

Weaving the projected fifth-round pick by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler into the rotation would be a fun outcome, especially since Robinson, Ekeler and McNichols are 2026 free agents. For this season, chunk plays will once again primarily come from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheming and Deebo Samuel’s cameo appearances, rather than relying on individual athletic strengths.

Wide receiver

Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane

Others: Michael Gallup, K.J. Osborn, Chris Moore, Lawrence Cager, Mike Strachan

The intrigue: Don’t consider Lane a reflection of how the staff views McCaffrey. However, there is now another mid-round pick who will compete with the 2024 third-rounder for snaps behind McLaurin, Samuel and Brown.

Lane, the incoming fourth-round pick, is a needed adrenaline rush for an offense lacking speed. The receiver who ran a 4.34 40-yard time at the combine was primarily a slot threat at Virginia Tech, where the goal was to get the ball to Lane quickly off the snap.

McCaffrey is a taller, more versatile target who often seemed on the verge of a breakout pass-catching performance that never materialized. Drafting Lane shrinks the possibility of both Gallup and Osborn on the 53-man roster or re-signing receiver/returner Jamison Crowder, unless the Commanders keep seven receivers.

Tight end

Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott

Others: Colson Yankoff, Cole Turner, Tyree Jackson

The intrigue: The stand-pat position. Ertz and Bates re-signed, thus maintaining Washington’s top pass catcher and blocker at tight end. Sinnott showing development in either capacity goes a long way toward how the staff feels about the 2026 plan. Yankoff remains a fun coaching project.

Offensive tackle

Laremy Tunsil, Josh Conerly Jr., Brandon Coleman, Andrew Wylie

Others: Foster Sarell, Anim Dankwah, Bobby Hart

The intrigue: This is where high-IQ teams look to improve. Investment payoffs benefit the entire offense, and the Commanders spent significantly on the tackle position. Three draft picks, including a 2026 second and fourth, went to the Houston Texans for one of the league’s elite (and highest-paid) pass blockers, Tunsil, before Washington used its first-rounder this year on Conerly.

This supplies the primary wave of protection against NFC East pass rushers, including Micah Parsons, Nolan Smith, Brian Burns and No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter. Conerly impressively tangled with his fellow Big Ten rookie last season. The athletic 311-pound Conerly won’t be handed the right tackle job. Still, the two-year left tackle starter at Oregon would have to endure a rough transition from college to pro and the left to right side, where he has minimal experience, for Coleman or Wylie to start.

Interior offensive linemen

Guards: Sam Cosmi, Nick Allegretti

Center: Tyler Biadasz

Others: Trent Scott, Nate Herbig, Chris Paul, Michael Deiter, Julian Good-Jones

The intrigue: Not only are last season’s starting tackles unlikely to hold that distinction in 2025, but there’s a strong chance Coleman and Wylie land in the guard mix either as: 1) the right guard fill-in until Cosmi’s return from ACL surgery, 2) competition for Allegretti at left guard or 3) depth options. The second scenario is the logical one for Coleman. If he’s going to take his power-packed frame inside, take it where he would likely land for more than a single season, rather than switching positions for a third time.

No player had a rougher offseason than Wylie in terms of depth chart changes. The two-year starter at right tackle may play inside following those two significant tackle acquisitions. Wylie could become part of the right tackle battle while also vying for the temporary right guard position with Herbig and Allegretti should Coleman excel at left guard. Scott’s emergency playoff duty at guard displayed his versatility.

That Herbig has a real shot at supplanting Deiter as the backup center is another indication that the Commanders’ offensive line depth is improved.

Defensive end

Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise Jr., Clelin Ferrell, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Jacob Martin, Jalyn Holmes

Others: Andre Jones Jr., Viliami Fehoko Jr.

These names were on the roster before the draft. That nobody else joined the list in the draft is surprising considering the group’s lack of youth and athletic upside. Washington choosing Conerly over edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku and others in the first round is readily justifiable, but Washington kept on grabbing help at other positions. Not intentionally, but assistant general manager Lance Newmark commented, “Every time we got to where we were picking, these players made the most sense for us. It wasn’t that we weren’t going to address edge at any point.”

Newmark acknowledged that Washington could supplement the defensive end room in the secondary free-agent market. Veterans Za’Darius Smith, Von Miller and Matthew Judon are among the recognizable names available. None of those graybeards help with the youth angle and, other than Smith (nine sacks in 2024), might not automatically get usual starter snaps at this stage of their careers.

The overall room is passable for the regular season. The postseason, when each opponent likely has a sharp quarterback, might be another story.

Defensive tackle

Daron Payne, Johnny Newton, Javon Kinlaw, Eddie Goldman, Sheldon Day

Others: Norell Pollard

The intrigue: Another example of how the Commanders attacked free agency to ensure they weren’t hungry for interior linemen in the draft. However, there is an opportunity cost, as defensive tackles and ends were among the deepest position groups in the 2025 class, and Washington chose not to select either. At least the tackle room has Newton’s disruptive upside, and the possibility that Payne saw Jonathan Allen’s salary-cap-related release as a sign of his future without a more impactful season.

Linebacker

Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Kain Medrano

Others: Dominique Hampton

The intrigue: Luvu remains the Commanders’ primary edge rusher. That’s more than acceptable, but questions about his help led to the free-agent conversation in the defensive end section. Wagner still scores high in instincts and leadership, but the future Hall of Famer needs greater interference from the linemen in the run game to offset his declining speed.

Injuries derailed Magee’s rookie season, so the potential Wagner succession plan is a bonus. Finding ways to utilize Medrano’s speed and instincts beyond special teams is required, while Hampton has a one-year professional head start on his fellow nickel linebacker.

Cornerback

Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sainristil, Jonathan Jones, Trey Amos, Noah Igbinoghene

Others: Kevon Seymour, Bobby Price, Allan George

Choosing Amos provided defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with a press corner with good size on the outside. If the second-round pick by Washington starts opposite Lattimore, then Sainristil moves to the slot. The savvy second-year corner will start somewhere. Yet Jones’ experience and toughness thrust him into the starting mix inside or outside. Igbinoghene would have a chance to remain the slot starter if Sainristil stays on the outside. These are good problems to have.

Safety

Quan Martin, Will Harris, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves

Others: Tyler Owens, Ben Nikkel

Martin revealed to reporters at the team’s draft day fan event that he had offseason surgery on both shoulders after playing through separations last season. That’s some toughness, and his play didn’t suffer as a result. Kudos. We’re aware of the strong safety swap — Jeremy Chinn out, Harris in. That’s your primary combo, with Butler joining in three-safety looks. Owens, a raw but freaky athlete who made the roster as an undrafted free agent last year, is the rotation wild card.

Specialists

Kicker: Zane Gonzalez

Punter: Tress Way

Long snapper: Tyler Ott

Designated special-teams ace: Nick Bellore

Washington did its homework with this kicker draft class, but no competition for Gonzalez yet. Expect another kicker to join the team this summer. On the returner front, Newmark said part of Lane’s appeal is his “unique instinct” with the ball in his hands. Expect Lane to enter training camp as the front-runner for punt and possibly kick return duties. Bellore is a linebacker by trade, but he’s here for special teams only (14 defensive snaps last season and 30 since 2018).

(Photo of cornerback Trey Amos: David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

Share on

email

Previous

trending_flat

Aston Villa objecting to Premier League over potential Tottenham game rescheduling

Sports

Next

trending_flat

Osmnáctku čeká poslední zápas ve skupině. Soupeřem bude Švédsko

Sports