Who is Washington picking in 2025?
The NFL Draft is two weeks away, and we’ve got a fresh roundup of mock drafts to check out. Mel Kiper Jr released his latest mock draft and he’s finally given up on giving Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston to the Washington Commanders with the 29th pick. He’s staying on defense and giving Joe Whitt Jr a new player by picking Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart for the Commanders. Defensive end is a need after Washington let last year’s sack-leader, Dante Fowler Jr, leave in free agency. They signed Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin in free agency, but Stewart gives them a young DE that can help with their run defense and develop as a pass rusher. Kiper still wants to give the Commanders a CB, and he does thanks to Kiper’s first two-round mock for this year’s draft.
EDGE/DE is still the most popular pick for the Washington Commanders by far, and we have six different options to choose from this week. Stewart and James Pearce Jr were Washington’s most popular picks this week with four different mock drafts having them going to Washington at No. 29. Both players are projected to get drafted before Washington currently picks, but the draft is unpredictable, and there are several DEs rated in the mid-late 1st round range this year.
We have less options at wide receiver this week, but Luther Burden III is just as popular as the top defensive players, getting four selections to Washington. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton continues to be a popular pick, going to the Commanders in three mocks.
In this week’s only first round trade for the Commanders, they trade out of Day 1 completely so Drake Maye can get a new weapon on offense. They pick up two extra picks, but there’s unfortunately no second round available to see who they would have picked at No. 38, and whether it was worth the nine-spot drop to pick up a 4th- and 7th-round pick.
Position breakdown:
EDGE/DE – 6
DL – 2
CB – 3
S – 2
WR – 3
RB – 2
OT – 1
Trade down – 1
Washington Commanders 2025 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1 – #29
Round 2 – #61
Round 4 (via HOU) – #128
Round 6 – #205
Round 7 (from DEN via PHI) – #245
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
E$PN+(Kiper)
Stewart’s draft stock is hard to predict. As I mentioned earlier, I considered him for Cincinnati at No. 17. He comes off the board here, 12 spots later. It’s the same dilemma that GMs will be struggling with on draft night. Stewart has all the talent in the world — speed, explosiveness and power. But he also had 4.5 sacks over three seasons. If an NFL coaching staff can help him put it all together, the upside is immense. I’m betting on Commanders coach Dan Quinn unlocking that potential. Dante Fowler Jr.’s departure in free agency means there’s a hole opposite Dorance Armstrong on the D-line.
Round 2: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
I’m intrigued by Porter as a Day 2 pick because there’s a lot of untapped potential. He’s a former receiver who is still learning the nuances of the cornerback position. He has 4.3 40 speed, plenty of length and the ball skills to create takeaways. Porter picked off three passes last season. The Commanders added Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene to replace Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (who was cut last season), but Porter could develop into a starter.
One other consideration: Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin would be an interesting addition to the linebacker corps. He is a fast riser late in the process.
CBS Sports(Wilson)
For an edge rusher Stewart is enormous. He’ll play too high at times but he can collapse the pocket with his size/power/strength. He’s got a quick first step, even for his size, with the power to shoot gaps. And when the bull rush doesn’t get home, his huge frame allows him to knock down passes. He has a hair-on-fire motor who consistently plays with power and athleticism.
Round 2: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Fantasy Life(Nystrom)
The Commanders are committed to fixing their run defense—they need an immediate EDGE starter, and want one who excels against the run … Stewart qualifies.
Round 2: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
The Huddle(Dorey)
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
USA Today(Middlehurst-Schwartz)
Two sexual assault allegations could complicate Green’s draft outlook. But if he’s available at this point – and there’s a chance that his range is closer to the teens – and the Commanders are comfortable with the selection, the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks could be a critical cornerstone for a pass rush that lacks a dynamic presence.
James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
CBS Sports (Trapasso)
Washington calls in this pick immediately. Maturity issues be damned, Pearce was a tremendously productive defensive end at Tennessee over the past two seasons.
Round 2: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Round 4: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Round 6: Kaimon Rucker, EDGE, North Carolina
Round 7: Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
The 33rd Team(Mosher)
Dan Quinn has had a lot of success with twitchy, undersized EDGE rushers, and Pearce certainly qualifies. He’s likely not an every-down player right away, as he needs to put on some weight.
Still, he can bend around the edge and create havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Pearce could fall further than this, but the Commanders are a good landing spot for him and his talent.
FTN Fantasy(Ratcliffe)
Like the Lions, Washington is favored to go defensive line/edge first (+170). Pearce offers an explosive presence along the edge.
Fantasy Life(Freedman)
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
NFL.com(Lewis)
Ezeiruaku fell just shy of Mike Green with 16.5 sacks last season; fittingly, the Boston College product comes off the board right behind his Marshall counterpart in this exercise, giving the Commanders a bona fide pass-rush presence. Ezeiruaku is on the smaller side for a true NFL defensive end, but Dan Quinn will get the most out of his abilities.
4 For 4(Allen)
Ezeiruaku is a fringe first-rounder but after recording 16.5 sacks his final season at Boston College will likely get a heavy look here.
Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M(Draft profile)
Bleacher Nation(Rooney)
The Commanders had a solid free agency period, but getting to the quarterback is still a need they must address. Nic Scourton was a monster at Texas A&M, and his all-around skill set would be a big addition for them up front.
NFL Draft Countdown(Bosarge)
Round 2: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Round 4: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Round 6: Dante Trader, S, Maryland
Round 7: Desmond Watson, DL, Florida
Fox Sports(Wright)
Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA(Draft profile)
Fantasy Pros(Erickson)
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
College Football Network(Evans)
Washington was the surprise team of the season after making it all the way to the NFC title game. Now, they look to build off that momentum. The offense was the catalyst for the Commanders last year and even buffed it up with the addition of Deebo Samuel. Now, they look to improve the defense, which was great against the pass, ranked third, but not so great against the run, ranked 29th.
What better way to plug up the line of scrimmage than 6’5”, 310-pound Derrick Harmon? The former Duck led the nation in pressures for an interior lineman in 2024, with 55. The next best had 43. He also has fast hands and can shed off blockers quickly, which is especially useful in the run game.
Round 2: Marcus Mbow, OT, Purdue
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
NBC Sports(Maiocco)
The Commanders decide to go big with their first-round selection to beef up the interior of their D-line.
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
USA Today(Ostly)
Washington needs an upgrade at cornerback in a division featuring A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers. Morrison excels in zone coverage thanks to his length and linear speed and had lots of ball production at Notre Dame.
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Draft Wire(Risdon)
Hairston is an aggressive ballhawk who also happens to be the fastest CB in the class from combine testing. He’s a high-energy personality that can help bring some sizzle to the Commanders backside defense.
Round 2: Jordan Burch, DT, Oregon
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
NFL.com(Jones-Drew)
The Commanders select a long, rangy cornerback who can disrupt the passing game. Thomas has plenty of room to grow, but he possesses the tools and physicality to thrive under Dan Quinn.
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
College Football Network(Lazarczyk)
Reaching the NFC championship was quite an accomplishment for the Commanders last season. However, the defense was a liability at times in 2024, and with receivers like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Devonta Smith, and Malik Nabers in the division, Washington needs to keep that in mind with this pick.
Washington traded multiple picks to the New Orleans Saints for Marshon Lattimore, but the back end of that defense is still a work in progress. Nick Emmanwori is primarily a strong safety who plays closer to the line of scrimmage.
In three years at South Carolina, the 6’3″, 220-pound defensive back had 88 tackles, including 57 solo tackles. Defending the pass is something he will have to work on at the next level, but his ability to stifle the run while guarding receivers underneath will prove to be more than effective.
Round 2: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Pro Football Network(Weissman)
Washington has holes all over the secondary, especially at safety. They’d be smart to add talent here in the first round to help solidify things in a pass-heavy league.
Malaki Starks is a top-tier safety prospect with athleticism and instincts. He has the range and ball skills to thrive in multiple coverage schemes.
Round 2: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Washington still needs pass-rush help, and Princely Umanmielen has the traits to be productive. He’s a little undersized but makes up for it with savvy and quickness.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
CBS Sports(Prisco)
They added Deebo Samuel, but they need more help than that. Egbuka is a smart receiver who runs better than he gets credit for doing. Jayden Daniels would come to love his game.
Walter Football(Campbell)
Deebo Samuel is nearing the end of his contract, and the Commanders could use more weapons for Jayden Daniels.
In 2023, Egbuka had 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder turned in 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. He emerged as a potential No. 1 receiver or really good No. 2 wideout. At other schools, Egbuka would have had an even bigger year, but he was the No. 2 receiver for Ohio State across from Marvin Harrison Jr. While injuries were a factor in 2023, Egbuka needs a bounce-back season in 2024 as he looked much faster in 2022 compared to his 2023 performance. Thus far in 2024, Egbuka has 70 catches for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Round 2: Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
Washington could use more right tackle talent.
Savaiinaea broke into the starting lineup at right tackle in 2022 and immediately was a solid contributor for the Wildcats. As a sophomore in 2023, Savaiinaea was even better teaming with Jordan Morgan to give Arizona an effective tackle tandem. Savaiinaea is not as good of an athlete as Morgan, but Savaiinaea is stronger, nastier, and looks to finish off defenders. Some area scouts are grading Savaiinaea on day two and think he should move inside to guard in the NFL. Other sources think he could be a late one and a good starting guard in the NFL. Thus, Savaiinaea is a bit of a love/hate prospect.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
FOX Sports(Rang)
The Commanders are most likely addressing a good (but aging) defense with their first pick, but if the draft were to fall as projected here, the galloping 6-4, 219-pound McMillan might offer too much upside to ignore. He’s regarded by some as a top-10 candidate, offering a unique blend of size, body control and ball skills.
Round 2: Bradyn Swinson, Edge, LSU
Dan Quinn is one of the NFL’s better teachers of defensive line play, and he might see a lot of untapped potential in Swinson.
Pro Football Network(Decker)
The Commanders struck gold with head coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels. Entering the offseason, it was clear they needed to add a weapon to complement Terry McLaurin. After acquiring Deebo Samuel via trade from the San Francisco 49ers, the Commanders get even richer with the 29th selection.
McMillan’s stock is dropping due to his average 40 time and recent comments that surfaced regarding his lack of love for the game and poor film-watching habits, which are concerning to some. Although these raise serious questions, there will be teams who feel comfortable with him, at least enough to take a chance.
At 6’5”, McMillan is the definition of a mismatch nightmare for defensive backs. He’s far more than a token red-zone weapon—he’s a smooth, polished receiver with excellent body control and the ability to transition in and out of breaks fluidly. He’s a physical player who craves the contested catch and is an elite tracker of the football.
McMillan is a plug-and-play receiver with legitimate upside. Placing him in an offense with McLaurin, Samuel, Ertz, and a strong running game gives the Commanders complete mismatches across the board, making life easier for everyone involved, most importantly their young franchise quarterback. This pick is a no-brainer.
Round 2: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Fantasy Pros(Fanelli)
While the Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel Sr. and signed Michael Gallup out of retirement, that won’t stop them from adding a wide receiver early in the NFL Draft. McMillan provides the team with the one element they lack at wide receiver – size.
Trade: New York Jets receive pick 61. Washington Commanders receive picks 73, 145, 2026 fourth-rounder.
2nd round: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri(Draft profile)
CBS Sports(Fornelli)
My gut tells me the shaky QB situation at Missouri in 2024 had an impact on Burden, and he’s much closer to the player we saw in 2023. If that’s true, this is an absolute steal for the Commanders, as Burden is a great YAC threat who could also be effective improvising when Jayden Daniels buys time with his legs.
NFL Spin Zone(Scataglia)
How about grabbing a younger and more explosive version of Deebo Samuel? After trading for the veteran WR this offseason, the Washington Commanders take Luther Burden III, who, like Samuel, is elite with the ball in his hands.
Roind 2: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Football Guys(Brown)
Burden is electric with the ball in his hands and could be a perfect pairing with Jayden Daniels. The Missouri offense didn’t do him many favors, but his tape shows elite movement skills and natural hands. His 2023 tape is phenomenal, particularly his game against LSU, where Daniels was on the opposing team. In Kliff Kingsbury’s system, Burden would be unleashed as a motion-heavy, yards-after-catch nightmare — exactly the type of modern weapon you want to build around a young QB.
Walter Football
Another weapon for Jayden Daniels. The Redskins traded for Deebo Samuel, but given his age and injury history, it would be foolish not to add another receiver.
Luther Burden is a shifty receiver who can be used as a ball-carrier.
Round 2: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
The Redskins have a hole in their secondary. They need a new safety to pair with Quan Martin.
Xavier Watts is a dangerous ballhawk who made lots of plays for Notre Dame.
Round 4: Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
The Redskins don’t have the best running game, so they could address this in the middle rounds.
Donovan Edwards has a great combination of size and speed.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State(Draft profile)
Pro Football Network
The Commanders wanted to land an edge rusher here, but GM Adam Peters looks elsewhere with all of the top prospects gone. Henderson fits the style of offense the Commanders run, and he is the type of player head coach Dan Quinn loves. In addition to being a game-breaker, he’s also not afraid to mix it up in pass protection. Henderson can help take this offense to another level, giving Jayden Daniels another weapon.
Stats & Insights Analysis: While not an obvious need for 2025, the Commanders don’t have a single running back under contract past this upcoming season. Drafting a running back in the first round would be a surprising outcome, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Washington draft its future starter in this class.
Henderson is also the type of rookie running back that a contending team would feel comfortable playing right away, given his advanced pass protection skills. Jayden Daniels averaged a middling 0.06 EPA per dropback targeting RBs in 2024 (16th-highest), so Henderson could provide a meaningful boost in the passing game as well.
NFL Spin Zone(Bedinger)
There are a handful of running backs who are going to generate first-round hype late in the process here, and if you’re taking the over on 2.5 backs in the first, TreVeyon Henderson is likely to be one of the three (or more) off the board. Henderson was a star prospect who proved he’s not afraid of big moments early on in his college career. He’s an asset on all three downs, has home run ability, and would be a great fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in Washington.
Round 2: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Fantasy Points(Gremminger)
Henderson landing in Washington would be a slam dunk for fantasy managers. Washington has the flexibility to swing for the fences with this pick. The Commanders addressed needs at wide receiver (Deebo Samuel), defensive tackle (Javon Kinlaw), and offensive tackle (Laremy Tunsil) this offseason, allowing them to take the best player available here. Henderson is an explosive runner who can also help Washington improve its yards after the catch as a receiver. He represents a clear talent upgrade over their current starter, Brian Robinson. Henderson would thrive alongside Jayden Daniels and carry RB1 potential in this offense.
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Yahoo Sports(Tice/Robinson)
This might feel like a luxury pick given the Commanders’ needs elsewhere, but they would have some serious horsepower on offense with the addition of Hampton. He has been a star of the draft process coming off the backs of a dominant season running the ball for UNC. Hampton paired with Jayden Daniels would give the Commanders a chance to repeat last season and cement themselves as an elite running team for years to come.
CBS Sports(Edwards)
Most projections have Omarion Hampton off the board long before this stage of the first round. While that is likely, there is the possibility that he is available later than expected. Hampton gives Washington a three-down back that will take some of the pressure off Jayden Daniels.
NBC Sports(Rogers)
With an immense run on pure pass rushers before this pick, I’ll simply go best player available in Omarion Hampton (who is in the top 15 on my big board). He’s extremely physical in everything he does from between the tackles running, to creating after the catch, down to pass protection. Good luck stopping this offense.
Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The 33rd Team(Valentino)
Acquiring Laremy Tunsil from Houston was massive for Washington, but its quest for improvement shouldn’t end there. Right tackle Andrew Wylie is merely a temporary solution, and finding a sustainable long-term option should be a top priority.
Kelvin Banks has shown promise even with his raw technique, and this draft position presents an excellent opportunity to land someone with significant potential.
Trade down
Sharp Football Analysis(Donahue)
Trade terms: New England sends picks 38, 106, and 237 to Washington for the 29th overall selection(Matthew Golden, WR, Texas).
With only five picks in the draft, Washington moves down nine spots and picks up two extra picks in this draft. The Patriots miss out on Travis Hunter with their first pick so they get aggressive and go after Golden who had the fastest 40 time amongst all WR’s who tested at the combine with a 4.29.