Adam Peters and his front-office staff are busy finalizing their shortlist heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The Washington Commanders only have five picks after some frantic trade activity over the offseason. That piles extra pressure on those in power to make the moves needed in pursuit of enhancing the team's playoff hopes.
Clues are starting to emerge. Peters keeps things close to his chest with very few (if any) legitimate leaks emerging from the football operation. Even so, the all-important "30" visits before the draft provide subtle hints about who could be on Washington's radar.
One recent report, in particular, is something to monitor from a fan perspective.
Commanders reportedly showing interest in Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley
According to Tony Pauline from Sportskeeda, the Commanders have scheduled a 30-visit with Quincy Riley. The Louisville cornerback is going relatively under the radar compared to others in this class, but Washington — along with the Carolina Panthers — is eager to find out more about what the defensive back could potentially bring to the franchise.
Cornerback Quincy Riley, presently graded as a fourth-round prospect on my board, sat on his combine 40, but he did position drills. He looked smooth as well as explosive, and Riley himself told me he felt good. Since Louisville had five defensive backs working out Tuesday and most of the scouts in attendance had to catch flights to Columbus for Ohio State pro day Wednesday, the position drills were limited, and Riley told me he only had seven reps on the day. He has official 30 visits set with the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers.Tony Pauline
Riley plays with the sort of competitive fire Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. will love. He never backs down from a challenge and thrives on the biggest stages. This is similar — albeit with less high-caliber college production attached — to Mike Sainristil's pre-draft outlook before the Commanders took him at No. 50 overall last spring.
There is a lot to like about the way Riley goes about his business. He's an explosive, instinctive cornerback capable of turning opportunities into takeaways. He's a fluid mover who mirrors routes well with enough speed to go downfield with opposing wide receivers. The prospect is also a willing contributor against the run, although adding some extra muscle mass to cope with the physical rigors of the NFL is essential.
The Commanders have a decent cornerback quartet heading into the draft. Marshon Lattimore and Sainristl are the cornerstone pieces. Noah Igbinoghene got a deserved one-year extension after flashing in the nickel spot last season. Washington also added two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones to provide another assured presence with proven production deep into the postseason.
That will help enormously. It shouldn't stop the Commanders from adding another athletic prospect from the college ranks with longer-term potential attached. Riley ticks those boxes, but several others are also worthy of consideration higher up the board.
This is a deep draft class across multiple positions. Peters will be eager to move back from either his first or second-round pick for more assets if the right offer comes along. Whether that arrives hasn't been determined, but Riley represents a dream Day 3 option in the fourth round regardless.
