Adam Peters was as surprised as anyone when the Washington Commanders got the chance to select cornerback Trey Amos at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. A new insider report pulled back the curtain on his dramatic slide.
The Commanders contemplated taking Amos with their first-round pick at No. 29 before offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. slipped through the cracks. When the former Ole Miss standout was available late in the second round, the opportunity was too good to turn down.
Just why Amos, who was seen as a late first-rounder, fell so far was bemusing to most. Jeremy Fowler from ESPN provided some clarity on the situation, which centered on a back issue that came up during his medical assessments.
Commanders weren't overly concerned by Trey Amos' pre-draft back issue
Although the Commanders and Amos didn't seem particularly concerned by the prognosis, the insider suggested it was enough for other teams to go in different directions. He also acknowledged that Washington got great value with a prospect many believe will be a plus starter sooner rather than later.
"Washington got a plus starter with second-round defensive back Trey Amos, who has size, speed and instincts. Selecting him at No. 61 was considered great value. One aspect that might have hurt his value slightly: Multiple teams discovered a back injury in the predraft process. This wasn't a major red flag for some teams, but it was at least a mild concern that "probably caused him to slide a bit," as one AFC exec said. However, people around Amos and the Commanders did not seem overly concerned by it."
Jeremy Fowler
This explains a lot. At the same time, Peters wouldn't have gone with Amos if there was even the slightest doubt about his long-term outlook on the health front.
The general manager's assessments are comprehensive. Peters turns over every stone and leaves nothing to chance. Others might have been hesitant, but the front-office leader had complete conviction in his evaluations and struck with conviction to end Amos' slide.
It's something to monitor, but no more than that. Amos is ready to form a potentially prolific outside coverage tandem with four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. He's got the size, length, and athleticism typically associated with productive NFL corners. Learning from accomplished coaches such as Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. makes this a tremendous landing spot to flourish as a player and a person.
Amos will be looking to alleviate these concerns quickly in pursuit of silencing his doubters. He comes into the Commanders with a big chip on his shoulder, which is all the motivation the gifted defensive back should need to hit the ground running.
If that scenario comes to fruition, those who overlooked Amos due to this supposed issue will regret it.
