1 week Ago By Commanders Wire
It's no secret that the Washington Commanders' secondary, particularly the cornerback position, was a mess last season. Thankfully, the Commanders had rookie Mike Sainristil. The second-round pick from Michigan saved Washington by playing the slot and moving outside when he was needed.
Sainristil proved to be a true building block for new head coach Dan Quinn. You'd think the Commanders would be in good shape at cornerback. After all, they drafted Benjamin St-Juste in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, and he started for most of three seasons.
And, of course, Washington selected Emmanuel Forbes in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Both players are gone. Forbes was traded midway through his second season under the Commanders' new regime.
It didn't take Quinn and general manager Adam Peters to recognize that Forbes couldn't play at this level. St-Juste struggled last season and was benched in the second half of the season. Washington traded for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore last season.
He's back, and the Commanders hope he's healthy. They also re-signed Noah Igbinoghene, who was solid last season and signed longtime New England starter Jonathan Jones in free agency. Still, the Commanders could use another cornerback.
Pro Football Focus recently named the best Day 3 fit for all 32 NFL teams. A cornerback was the pick for Washington: Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas. Washington's trade for Marshon Lattimore was a good start to revamping this secondary, but the unit still needs more attention.
Thomas showcases natural movement skills and quick feet that allow him to mirror route breaks in press-man coverage.Thomas is an intriguing prospect because he is the physical type of cornerback Quinn loves. He has long arms and excellent instincts.
He doesn't shy away from defending the opponent's top wide receiver. If the Commanders could land Thomas at No. 61, it would be an outstanding choice.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Azareye'h Thomas named an ideal fit for Commanders.
