The Washington Commanders won't be meeting with any more prospects before the 2025 NFL Draft. With the deadline passed, general manager Adam Peters and his staff will now begin finalizing their board and putting plans in place for every scenario ahead of the prominent selection event.
Washington hosted a plethora of prospects on a Top Golf session earlier this week. This was a method adopted with the quarterback prospects last year, leading to the Commanders taking Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. If it has a similar effect this time around, the better their chances are going to be.
A separate visit on the final day they were permitted went relatively unnoticed in comparison. However, it teased a possible draft approach that most Commanders fans are clamoring for.
Commanders examined Kaleb Johnson's credentials in greater detail on private visit
According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC 2 Houston, the Commanders brought in running back Kaleb Johnson for a private visit on Wednesday. The Iowa standout is expected to go at some stage in the second round. He also happens to fill a major need for Washington with preparations for the new season approaching.
The Commanders' ground attack started the 2024 season on the front foot. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler complemented each other well. One provided the ground-and-pound work between the tackles. The other emerged as a decent pass-catching option for Daniels out of the backfield.
That didn't last. Injuries took their toll, and performance levels dipped. The Commanders became far too reliant on Daniels to gain yards on the deck. Although the signal-caller is highly accomplished in this discipline, it's not sustainable to preserve his long-term outlook.
Adam Peters stood pat with the options already around this offseason. Chris Rodriguez Jr. had his exclusive rights tender activated, and Jeremy McNichols re-signed on a one-year deal. That maintains continuity, but the Commanders would be foolish to overlook a strong crop of prospects emerging from the college ranks.
Johnson is among the top tier. While he lacks elite-level explosiveness, his vision and improvisation are nothing short of extraordinary. He's got the burst needed to exploit gaps, and the contact balance he displays should ensure a smooth transition to the pro ranks.
This looks like a good fit. Johnson is battle-hardened, comes from a pro-pipeline college program, and boasts strong leadership credentials. It's no surprise to see the Commanders investigate his credentials in greater detail. There's a good chance they'll have been suitably impressed.
They aren't alone. Johnson was highly coveted throughout the assessment phase. No fewer than nine teams, including the Commanders, brought him in for a private visit. The backfield threat is projected as an early Day 2 selection, but Peters won't hesitate to take him at No. 29 overall if he feels like it's the right thing to do.
It would be surprising if Johnson was still on the board when Washington went on the clock at No. 61 overall. Whether it's the former Hawkeye or someone else, the Commanders have to emerge from the draft with another dynamic running back capable of playing a role from Day 1.
Anything else is organizational malpractice.
