1 week Ago By Commanders Wire
The Washington Commanders are going into the 2025 NFL draft with only five picks after a multitude of trades for impact players Deebo Samuel, Marshon Lattimore, and Laremy Tunsil. General manager Adam Peters knows how to make the most of every pick and maximize value, so I wanted to do a mock draft on how Washington could draft without any trades for additional picks.Round: 1 Pick: 29James Pearce Jr.
, EDGE, TennesseeWashington needs to find its franchise defensive end, and James Pearce Jr. falling to the Commanders is the best-case scenario for pick 29. Pearce Jr.
is an elite athlete with a twitch that will translate to the NFL on Day 1. The Commanders need someone who can get to the quarterback, and Pearce Jr.'s 21 sacks over the last two seasons with a 23.
3% pressure rate (1st in FBS in 2024) would instantly improve the defensive front as a whole.The Commanders also struggled to stop the run last season, and James recorded a 10.1% run stop rate in 2024 despite his slimmer frame at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds.
The 21-year-old prospect still has more to his game that can be polished up, but he already has elite quickness to breeze past offensive tackles with his bend and hand usage. James Pearce Jr. is a game-changing play waiting to happen on the defensive side of the ball, and Washington is in dire need of that kind of player.
James Pearce Jr. vs. Alabama:➖ 10 Pressures➖ 1.
5 Sacks ➖ 3 Run Stops➖ 28.1% Pass-Rush Win RateEnjoy some All-22 highlights below..
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com/CfnSkzEYNc— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) February 16, 2025Round: 2 Pick: 61Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida StateWashington hit the jackpot on Mike Sainristil in the second round last year, and could do the same in 2025 by drafting outside corner Azareye'h Thomas with pick 61. Thomas is a lengthy corner at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds with 32.3" arms that can redirect wide receivers in their routes.
The former Seminole excels in press-man coverage where he can jam a team's top receiver at the line, and dominate each rep stride for stride at their hips. Azareye'h displays smooth hip movement and change of direction to make a break on the ball at any time, and didn't allow a single touchdown in coverage last season.This would be an incredible value for the Commanders in the second round, but a deep cornerback class makes this selection a possibility.
The Commanders hope to see a fully healthy Marshon Lattimore in 2025. They could also move Mike Sainristil back into the slot position to give Washington a shutdown corner trio with the addition of Thomas. Washington would have their next franchise corner with Thomas, who will still be under 25 years old after his rookie contract.
Azareye’h Thomas is a press-man TECHNICIAN.He allowed a 50.2 passer rating in 2024, including 5 PBUs, 1 pick, and 0 TDs allowed.
At 6’2 200lbs, he has an elite height-weight speed combo on the boundary that teams will love.I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted round 1. pic.
twitter.com/Gv7Gi4UJsK— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 25, 2025Round: 4 Pick: 128Jarquez Hunter, RB, AuburnAfter addressing the defense with the first two picks of the draft, Adam Peters finds his new playmaking running back with pick 128 in a loaded class. Jarquez Hunter is my favorite Day 3 running back in the class who produced at a high level at Auburn with over 2,000 rushing yards the last two seasons, and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Hunter is a compact running back who cuts through rushing gaps with his size and patience, and quickly accelerates upfield. His low center of gravity and contact balance became a nightmare for tacklers in open space, which showed with his 762 yards after contact and 59 forced missed tackles.Washington lacks a true big-play threat in the running back room, and Jarquez Hunter is one of the best in the NFL draft class.
Hunter is second in the draft regarding rushes for 10+ yards with a 22.6% rate. This is a draft class where running backs will be taken a round later than they could in any other draft, and Washington lands a really good value in Hunter in the fourth round.
Auburn RB 27 Jarquez Hunter is another prospect that has caught my eye tonight. He's a hard runner that is tough to bring down. Competed at the Senior Bowl this year and checked in at 5'9" and 212 pounds.
He ran for 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns this season. pic.twitter.
com/FukSgrBG3a— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 24, 2025Round: 6 Pick: 205R.J. Mickens, Safety, ClemsonWashington added Will Harris in free agency to help replace Jeremy Chinn, but they still lack a third piece in the safety room to rotate in with high-end potential.
R.J. Mickens is one of the more underrated safeties in the draft, and a safety blanket in the coverage game.
He finished the 2024 season with an 89.8 coverage grade and a 24.1% forced incompletion rate.
The safety prospect plays with a physical playing style, and matches it with his high IQ to make plays in the secondary. He also impressed scouts with a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and 41.
5" vertical this offseason.The Commanders need to keep building the young core on the defensive side of the ball around Sainristil, Newton, and Martin. Mickens would be a natural leader in the safety room, ready to make a play in coverage as the free safety or down in the box.
Washington also finished the season with only seven interceptions, and it would get an instant boost from the playmaker who can read and react to the quarterback's eyes.Count me in as someone who enjoyed #Clemson safety R.J.
Mickens on tape. Can cover the deep thirds, can play the robber role of the MOF, a super reliable tackle on the perimeter and in the secondary, and excellent production in his career (7 career INTs, 12 PBUs in his career). pic.
twitter.com/G0aBchAjwH— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) April 3, 2025Round: 7 Pick: 245Garrett Dellinger, IOL, LSUWashington fixed the offensive tackle concerns by trading for Laremy Tunsil. There will soon be a competition at right tackle between Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie, with one of them moving to guard.
The Commanders still need depth on the interior and could use some youth as well. Garrett Dellinger is one of the most athletic interior linemen in the draft with an RAS score of 9.76 out of 10, which is helped by his 1.
73 10-yard split and 32" vertical at 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds. Washington loves to pull the guards on the line, and Dellinger is a mover in space for the run game, and an excellent fit for the run game. He also adds dependability in the passing game, with only one sack allowed in his last 782 pass-blocking snaps with his strong hands and 33" arms.
The Commanders would be adding real depth and experience on the offensive line, which they lacked last season when injuries occurred. They would also be adding a player who is used to protecting Jayden Daniels from their days at LSU.Sometimes you have to remind a defender not to loop anywhere near youGarrett Dellinger (LG 72)pic.
twitter.com/fvgGYTVzbt— Draft Guy Jared (@DraftGuyJared) January 22, 2025This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders can win the draft with just 5 picks.
