The Way Too Early 2025 Draft Talk

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September 4, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

Say what, Noone? It’s too early to talk about the draft! Well, we have seen multiple predictions from various NFL prognosticators that the Commanders are going to win six or seven games at best. Therefore, I thought I would run with that thought before we begin what will surely (I know, “And don’t call me Shirley”) be one of the more interesting seasons of the last 20 years.

Naming some college players now also gives our readers a chance to check them out when watching college football this fall.

While, as I said above, some of the NFL experts have Washington finishing dead last or close to it with 6.5 wins in 2024, realistically there are always three to five teams that win five or less games during the season. Teams will quit on coaches and players will look to protect their career for the next season.

If the Commanders do only win six or seven games, that would likely have them with somewhere between the 6th and 12th pick in the first round depending on order of finish rules.

The question will be which position the Commanders will choose to use that pick. I see three viable options: offensive tackle, cornerback or wide receiver.

Offensive line

Will Campbell, OT, LSU will likely be a top three pick, so he will probably not on the board when the Commanders draft. The next question is whether a player like Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas be on the board as he is projecting as a top 10 pick already. The only other offensive lineman I’ve seen projected into the top 15 is Emory Jones, OT, LSU who plays right tackle to Campbell’s left tackle.

Cornerback

There are several cornerbacks who could go in the top 15, including Travis Hunter from Colorado, Will Johnson from Michigan, Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame, Denzel Burke from Ohio State, and Tacario Davis from Arizona. Johnson is the big, rangy type of cornerback back that Dan Quinn loves in his defenses. Morrison is very similar to him. Hunter is a question mark because there is debate about whether is he going to be a cornerback or wide receiver at the next level, but he is an incredible athletic talent.

Wide Receiver

The top wide receivers projecting high in the next draft are Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona, Luther Burden III from Missouri, Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State, and Travis Hunter from Colorado. McMillian will have Commanders fans drooling over his 6’5” frame. He is the big wide receiver that every team covets, so the question is whether he be available when Washington drafts. It will probably take an earlier rather than later pick to get him. The rest of the highly rated receivers are similar in size to Terry McLaurin.

Wrap-Up

Of course, this review falls in the “way too early” category. Depending on how the team plays, another position like edge rusher may get pushed way to the top of the team’s wish list for the next draft.

And besides, if the team does win more than seven games a lot of these players will be off the board by the time the Commanders pick.

As of today, the player I have my eyes on is Will Johnson from Michigan, especially if Mike Sainristil balls out this year on the Commanders defense.