By all accounts general manager Adam Peters had a very solid draft last year. Much of that was boosted with the selection of Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall, however the draft class also saw major contributors in rookies Mike Sainristil (17 games, 16 starts), Brandon Coleman (16 games, 12 starts) and Jer’Zhan Newton (16 games, 11 starts). Ben Sinnott, Luke McCaffrey and Javontae Jean-Baptiste also saw time, although their impact was limited.
Washington will enter the 2025 offseason with significant cap space, six draft picks, and plenty of holes that need to be filled on the roster.
The trade for Deebo Samuel certainly helps fill a need at “playmaker” on offense and gives Kliff Kingsbury a new chess piece to move around the formation. That trade also saw a fifth-round draft choice get sent to San Francisco, so that is one less pick Peters will have to bolster this roster. As it currently stands, Washington’s draft picks are as follows:
- RD1 (29)
- RD2 (61)
- RD3 (79)
- RD6 (207)
- RD7 (238)
- RD7 (250)
It should be a high priority in free agency to add some much-needed talent to this roster, but although the Commanders have the third-most cap space in the league, that money can go quickly with a few big-name additions. Samuel’s $17.5M contract for 2025 significantly cuts into the available space, so that needs to be accounted for once the trade becomes official. Extending Terry McLaurin and/or trading Jonathan Allen could add more cap.
One thing that fans are not talking about is the assumed maturation of some of the young, second-year players we acquired last year. Let’s take a look and see who may be in for a bigger role in 2025 at some positions of need for Washington.
Current Team Needs:
- WR
- RB
- TE
- OL
- DL
- LB
- CB
- S
Wide Receiver – Despite the addition of Deebo Samuel, receiver still remains a need. It’s possible Washington can re-sign a guy like Dyami Brown to compete on the outside opposite McLaurin or go the route of the draft to land a true outside receiver. Second-year receiver Luke McCaffrey offers some value with inside/outside versatility and a ton of upside to develop. Although he’s not what many would view as a true outside field-stretcher, he could be a nice complementary piece to the corps.
Running Back – Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler are the top two at the moment, but I don’t think there is a person out there who wouldn’t mind an every-down upgrade. Michael Wiley impressed during the 2024 preseason as an undrafted free agent, however the staff should look to a loaded draft class to find a dynamic all-around runner.
Tight End – Many expect Zach Ertz to be re-signed this offseason, but Peters and Quinn could go with the in-house option in Ben Sinnott to be “the guy”. Sinnott is a good blocker and is a run-after-catch machine once he gets the ball in his hands. If they feel Ben is ready to get his shot, a lower-cost veteran can be added in free agency and Peters could use a late round pick on a developmental player. I can also see a case where Ertz is brought back for another season while Sinnott continues to see more playing time under the veteran mentor.
Offensive Line – Brandon Coleman should enter year two as a starter; just where remains to be seen. There are really no in-house options projected to step up and become a significant contributor, so it appears free agency and the draft will be the direction used to add talent.
Defensive Line – I expect Newton to become a full-time starter in 2025 at defensive tackle. It would be smart for Washington to add a veteran in free agency to run alongside him and Daron Payne. At EDGE, the need gets a bit higher. Dorance Armstrong is a nice veteran presence, but a playmaker will definitely need to be added. The staff really likes Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and I expect his roll to expand significantly in 2025. A free agent and draft pick addition would not surprise me here as Jean-Baptiste is still a bit green to project as a starter.
Linebacker – It remains to be seen if Peters and Quinn decide to bring back Bobby Wagner for his age 35 season. It’s clear he’s lost a step and may be considered a liability in coverage. Insert Jordan Magee and Dominique Hampton. Magee, at 6’2” 230, is the more logical choice to step in at MIKE, while Hampton may be best as a backup WILL. If the staff feels they can roll with Magee as the leader of this defense, a reliable veteran backup should be brought in to help make his transition a bit smoother. One thing is for certain – both Magee and Hampton have the athleticism to be sideline-to-sideline players.
Cornerback – Much like offensive line, I do not see an in-house candidate who can step in and compete for a starting job on the outside. Signing a free agent like Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis or Kristian Fulton makes a ton of sense here and opens up the door for other options with our first three draft picks.
Safety – I expect Jeremy Chinn to be re-signed, and if that is the case, it will make safety much less of a need heading into the draft. One in-house candidate I can see poised for a much bigger role in 2025 is undrafted free agent Tyler Owens. He burst onto the scene in the preseason and made the 53-man roster. He’s an exceptional athlete with plus ball skills who can play all over the back end and up near the box.