Adam Peters only had five picks at his disposal heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Almost everyone expected the general manager to move back at some stage to bolster his assets. He opted to stand pat and go with quality over quantity instead.
The Washington Commanders put themselves in a fantastic position beforehand. Peters made some bombshell trades, signed veteran free agents ready to win now, and retained almost all of their major contributors from the previous campaign. This provided Peters with a sense of freedom to stick or switch as he saw fit.
Offers came along. Peters resisted, taking prospects high on his draft board who represented better value than accumulating additional wealth. And it was once again another outstanding haul from the front-office leader.
The Commanders missed out on filling one critical need, but it's how the board fell. That was the price Peters was willing to pay to find Pro Bowl-caliber performers in the trade market. Now, attention turns to preparing for the upcoming campaign as Washington looks to go one better next time around.
That's for the future. For now, we delved deeper and graded every Commanders pick from another eventful 2025 NFL Draft.
Grading every Commanders pick from the 2025 NFL Draft
Commanders drafted Josh Conerly Jr.
- Offensive Tackle | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 29
The Washington Commanders fanbase got another window into Adam Peters' philosophy with the No. 29 pick. There wasn't a great need for an offensive tackle early in the process after trading for Laremy Tunsil. That didn't stop the general manager from taking Josh Conerly Jr.
Peters had locked in on Conerly from a long way out. He revealed they had a nervous wait of about 20 picks before getting their guy. Kliff Kingsbury's pre-draft note to the front-office leader telling him to draft the former Oregon standout seemed to be a consensus in the building.
The Commanders have made a concerted effort to surround quarterback Jayden Daniels with the supporting cast needed to excel further. Tunsil and Conerly could be a bookend tackle tandem, although there will be an obvious adjustment period where the rookie is concerned.
It was a safe pick. It wasn't a sexy one, and some fans were clamoring for another edge rusher with the options available, but Peters is always thinking two steps ahead. And this was a selection for the present and the future.
- Draft grade: B+
There is some technical refinement needed from Conerly to go with his exceptional footwork. Once this gets polished, it's all systems go.
Commanders drafted Trey Amos
- Cornerback | Ole Miss Rebels
- Round No. 2 | Pick No. 61
Adam Peters had one more big chance to extract decent capital by moving back. That came with the No. 61 overall pick later in the second round.
Offers were made, but Peters stood pat again. He felt ending Trey Amos' draft slide would be much more beneficial to the Washington Commanders' short and long-term aspirations.
Amos was projected as a first-round pick be some analysts. The Commanders considered taking him at No. 29 before Josh Conerly Jr. fell into their lap. Just why he fell so far after that is anyone's guess, but this has all the makings of a potential steal if everything goes according to plan.
The former Ole Miss standout is a tall, physical cornerback who thrives in press coverage. This is the exact sort of presence Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. typically look for in their defensive backs. This is also a tremendous fit for the player, whose development will be aided by Washington's coaches and some experienced figures within the unit.
It's not about the journey, it's about the destination for Amos. There are far worse situations he could have landed in. And for the Commanders, it could allow them to move Mike Sainristil back to his specialist position in the nickel.
- Draft grade: A
That's a win-win for everybody.
Commanders drafted Jaylin Lane
- Wide Receiver | Virginia Tech Hokies
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 128
The Commanders wanted to make sure Jayden Daniels' rookie exploits could be sustained. Adam Peters prioritized every level of the offense around Washington's prized possession throughout the offseason, so it was no surprise to see him add another wide receiver into the mix during the draft.
Jaylin Lane is a local prospect from Virginia Tech with plenty of playmaking ability. He looks more than capable of filling the void left by Olamide Zaccheaus, although the likes of Luke McCaffrey and Michael Gallup will also be striving for important roles on the rotation.
There are concerns about whether Lane's small stature will cause complications in the pros. Scheming things up effectively is paramount, which is where Kliff Kingsbury comes into play.
The Commanders have a couple of receivers who can make things happen when the football comes out quickly. Deebo Samuel Sr. is one. Lane is the other, which isn't a bad problem to have by any stretch of the imagination.
- Draft grade: B
Another potential use for Lane comes on special teams. He's flashed real promise as a punt returner in college. Based on Larry Izzo's reaction to the pick in Washington's war room, it's something he plans to take advantage of right out of the gate.
Commanders drafted Kain Medrano
- Linebacker | UCLA Bruins
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 205
The Washington Commanders had a desperate need to rectify their edge-rushing woes during the draft. Adam Peters didn't think it was as pressing a need as most fans, opting to ignore the options available in Round 6 in favor of one of the strongest linebackers at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Kain Medrano was a six-year college player at UCLA with considerable starting experience over the last two seasons. While his production was sketchy and his tackling was inconsistent at best, the Commanders feel like his athleticism can be molded into something more under professional-caliber coaches.
Getting to learn from Bobby Wagner makes this an exceptional landing spot for Medrano. He's a perennial All-Pro and future Pro Football Hall of Famer. The rookie should be hanging on his every word in pursuit of making his presence felt sooner than expected.
This is probably a special team pick more than anything. Medrano lacks the positional sense or technical prowess to be tasked with significant rotational responsibilities, especially if Jordan Magee gets a full offseason without any injury problems.
- Draft grade: C+
The pick is fine. Peters has the full trust of fans, and Dan Quinn is a great judge of defensive players, which is another encouraging element of this equation.
Commanders drafted Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- Running Back | Arizona Wildcats
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 245
It took a long time, but the Commanders finally added a little extra spice to the running back room with their final selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. As far as storylines go, this will be one to watch once preparations for the upcoming campaign gather pace.
Adam Peters took Jacory Croskey-Merritt at No. 245 overall. The gifted backfield presence only played one game for the Arizona Wildcats in 2024 due to eligibility issues. But his 2023 production at New Mexico warranted further investigation from the Commanders' perspective.
Croskey-Merritt is an aggressive runner with the patience to wait if needed. He's a one-cut-and-go threat capable of gaining hard yards between the tackles. Although he doesn't possess an elite burst, the top-end speed is sufficient when he finally arrives at that point.
There is some work ahead. Croskey-Merritt's pass protection was non-existent and needs significant refinement. Adopting a lower pad level could also help upon joining the pro ranks, but there is a lot to like about his chances of shaking things up.
- Draft grade: B+
This was well worth a flyer from the Commanders. Croskey-Merritt's mere presence should raise urgency for others. After all, this was the adding competition regardless of need draft for Washington's fearless front-office leader.
