ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters quickly dispensed an apparent fact at Tuesday’s pre-draft news conference.
“The first round last year, we went quarterback,” said the man who had the final say in selecting eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels second overall in 2024. “I don’t think we’ll do that this year.”
That might be the only certainty for Peters and his staff this cycle.
Washington’s stunning 12-win campaign, culminating in the franchise’s first NFC Championship Game appearance since the 1991 season, reenergized the previously apathetic fan base. The success also means the Commanders are not slated to make a selection in the 2025 NFL Draft until the 29th pick on Thursday night. Projecting possible options that deep is challenging any year, but at least there’s a likely bucket of prospects teams can anticipate choosing from. Not this time.
“This draft is interesting,” said Peters, seated next to assistant general manager Lance Newmark. “Very little certainty after the first 10 picks or so. Who’s going to go where, and why, and what’s going to happen and all that. So we have to be ready for a lot of different guys to fall to us, to not fall to us.”
Washington has only five selections entering the three-day draft, further complicating its planning. The work in free agency and the trade market effectively addressed or papered over various holes.
“We put ourselves in a position not to force something,” Peters said. The second-year general manager is also not limiting his team’s potential paths.
“You’re really open to everything,” he said.
“Open to everything” pic.twitter.com/NnYEIyVyyW
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 22, 2025
Barring a high-rated prospect sliding into the 20s, trading up is unrealistic for Washington, considering the limited number of picks. No position room screams deficient, but several could use an upgrade in talent. Determining the order of prospects and when they’re selected is the confounding part for front offices league-wide due to a wide-ranging assessment of pros and cons. One position lacking consensus, fine, but nearly every prospect group has a 52 pickup quality.
None of this snuck up on Peters, of course. The Commanders’ scouts have been on campuses for months to take a closer look. Front-office executives join them — director of player personnel David Blackburn was among Washington’s contingent last month at Maryland’s pro day — and pore over tape searching for any edge.
Offseason trades for wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, on top of last season’s move for cornerback Marshon Lattimore, added Pro Bowl-level talent — and shrunk Washington’s draft capital this year and next. The Commanders made nine picks in 2024 but have only 10 for the next two years.
Peters wants more. Tell him how, assuming it’s a fair price and no must-take player is available, and it’s a done deal, whether in the first or a later round. Washington currently holds selections in the first (29), second (61), fourth (128), sixth (205) and seventh (245) rounds.
Nearly every general manager has the same mentality, especially in a draft where the value sweet spot is in the third-to-fifth-round range. Washington is making calls this week to gauge potential movement now that teams have set their draft boards.
“If there’s a great player that we want to sit and pick, we’ll do that,” Peters said. “But if there’s an opportunity to move back, we’ll certainly do that too.”
However many picks the Commanders make, it would be stunning if at least one, an early choice at that, weren’t for a pass rusher or edge setter.
Defensive end is the closest to a spinach-in-the-teeth eyesore, mainly due to the group’s minimal upside. None of Washington’s current pieces, including projected starters Dorance Armstrong and free-agent signee Deatrich Wise Jr., had more than five sacks last season, and only 2024 seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste is under 25 years old.
The Commanders must also improve their run defense, which ranked 30th last season. Peters sees a “deep class” of edge rushers with diversity in body types and skill sets to fit various schemes. At least six will go off the board in Round 1, and nobody would be shocked if the total rises to seven or eight.
Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton are touted prospects who could be available late in Round 1. Or not. UCLA’s Femi Oladejo, Central Arkansas’ David Walker and Alabama’s Que Robinson are names to know should that edge defender pick come beyond the first round.
Good fortune with quarterback availability late in the first round would put Washington at the center of a seller’s market. That’s assuming teams needing passers would want to trade up for one of these polarizing quarterbacks, headlined by Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
Teams might also look to jump into the first round for offensive and defensive linemen, or specific help at skill positions, such as Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka or his Buckeyes teammate, running back TreVeyon Henderson. Both, especially Henderson, also project as those possible stick-and-pick targets Peters referenced.
Washington selected college captains with seven of its nine picks last year. The search for team leaders and quality locker room presences continues this draft — Ezeiruaku, Scourton, Henderson, Egbuka and Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison all check that box. Same for later-round targets such as linebacker Kain Medrano (UCLA) and running backs Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), Devin Neal (Kansas) and Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech).
The culture upgrades since the new regime took over are apparent.
“We have a great foundation here in terms of getting people into this building,” Newmark said. “I do think it’s a really good environment for people to develop.”
No argument exists otherwise, given last season’s overall success and with the player under center. Growth from others in the 2024 class, including defensive tackle Johnny Newton and tight end Ben Sinnott, both second-round selections, would help offset the lack of picks this year. Having Daniels opens up Washington’s draft plans. Peters can take the Commanders in myriad directions in a draft year where navigating the scouting terrain requires a sharp and agile mind.
“We don’t have to look for a quarterback anymore, which is cool,” Peters said. “(Now), just looking for ways to support him and the rest of the team to make them better.”
(Photo of Adam Peters: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)