Commanders Use Nfl Draft To Quietly Build Around Franchise Qb Jayden

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters, left, and head coach Dan Quinn, right, listen to first-round draft pick offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. during an NFL football news conference in Ashburn, Va., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) Washington Commanders first-round draft pick offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. speaks to the media during an NFL football news conference in Ashburn, Va., Friday, April 25, 2025.

(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos (9) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams, File)

Washington Commanders first-round draft pick offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., center, holds his jersey with head coach Dan Quinn, left, and general manager Adam Peters, right, after an NFL football news conference in Ashburn,... (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters prepares to introduce first-round draft pick offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. during an NFL football news conference in Ashburn, Va., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M.

Alvarez) ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft got an offensive lineman to protect him for the foreseeable future and a receiver prospect to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the Washington Commanders... Not exactly Christmas in April, but for a team fresh off a trip to the NFC championship game that found its franchise quarterback in Daniels and made trade splashes for Samuel and left tackle... Washington took Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. later in the first round and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second at No.

61. Amos was under consideration at No. 29, too. “I didn’t think Conerly was going to be there when we picked, and I certainly didn’t think Amos was going to be there when we picked,” Peters said. "We feel like we got two players that were first-round quality, so we’re thrilled and I think the board fell to us pretty well.” Add fourth-round receiver Jaylin Lane out of Virginia Tech, sixth-round linebacker Kain Medrano out of UCLA and seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona, and the Commanders can feel good about their offseason.

High winds and drought conditions increase fire concerns on Sunday. ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft got an offensive lineman to protect him for the foreseeable future and a receiver prospect to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the Washington Commanders... Not exactly Christmas in April, but for a team fresh off a trip to the NFC championship game that found its franchise quarterback in Daniels and made trade splashes for Samuel and left tackle... Washington took Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. later in the first round and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second at No.

61. Amos was under consideration at No. 29, too. “I didn’t think Conerly was going to be there when we picked, and I certainly didn’t think Amos was going to be there when we picked,” Peters said. "We feel like we got two players that were first-round quality, so we’re thrilled and I think the board fell to us pretty well.” Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has done more for this organization in one year than any player in recent franchise history.

The Josh Harris era is re-igniting the Commanders' organization, and it started with the hiring of Adam Peters and Dan Quinn. Together with their staff, Peters and Quinn collaborated to draft Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Not only did the new administration convince Daniels to buy into their strategy and scheme, but they also made sure the entire roster was on board. With the entire franchise on the same page, Jayden Daniels spent 2024 shattering records and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. So, it's not a surprise that Bleacher Report names Daniels one of the top 15 franchise players a team should build around in 2025.

Most fans think of quarterbacks when they think of true franchise players. While the NFL currently has plenty of talent at that position, there are never more than a few truly elite signal-callers in the league at any given time. Patrick Mahomes and reigning MVP Josh Allen are certainly in that category, but they missed the age cutoff for our list. Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels might not be elite just yet, but he's already closer than any of our honorable mentions. As a rookie with the Washington Commanders last season, Daniels threw for 3,568 yards, rushed for 891 yards, recorded 31 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, carried his team to the NFC title game and... The 24-year-old also showcased an exceptional amount of leadership along the way.

Jayden Daniels might be able to recover from injury in time to play again for the Commanders this season. That does not mean Washington should allow their franchise quarterback back on the field during the 2025 campaign. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has the report that Daniels will not need surgery to repair his injured elbow. That revelation opens up the door for the young signal-caller to return at some point before the end of the regular season. Clearly, Washington's chances of winning games go up when their No. 1 quarterback is able to line up under center.

None of that changes the reality that Washington currently owns an ugly record of 3-6. That puts them 3.5 games behind the Eagles in the division and comfortably outside of a Wild Card place in the NFC. To put it bluntly, the Commanders' chances of earning a postseason berth this year are minimal. This is especially true if they're forced to play a few more key games with Marcus Mariota taking snaps. That's why the higher-ups in Washington need to step in and do what's best for their franchise quarterback's long-term health. It's time for the front office to put Daniels on the shelf for the rest of the year.

It's far more important to make sure Daniels gets fully healthy this offseason than to rush him back into action for a meaningless game or two at the end of this season. Keeping Daniels on the shelf until 2026 would also give the Commanders a chance to build a better offensive ecosystem around him. Trading for Laremy Tunsil gave his offensive line a big boost, but rookie Josh Conerly needs more reps before he's a quality option at the other tackle spot. It might also be advisable for Washington to look for better options at guard through free agency or next year's draft. WASHINGTON (7News) — Five up, five down. The Washington Commanders' 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close, with the team adding five new players over the three days.

With its fifth and final pick, the team drafted running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt at No. 245 overall. READ MORE | Commanders use NFL draft to quietly build around franchise QB Jayden Daniels Croskey-Merritt comes to the nation's capital from the University of Arizona. He played just one game for the Wildcats due to eligibility issues. Before his time in Tucson, Croskey-Merritt spent one season at New Mexico, following four seasons at Alabama State.

At 5'10'' and 206 pounds, Croskey-Merritt shined at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January, where he put himself on the map. Week 10 of the NFL season is almost in the books, as the only game left this week is a pivotal clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. This week had a massive impact on the NFL season with the Trade Deadline turning teams into contenders and other teams into franchises looking to reset. This weekend saw a massive shakeup in the draft order as the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins all picked up wins, shaking the top of the draft. After the trade deadline, for disappointing teams, the rest of the year is all about jockeying for position in the upcoming draft. The Tennessee Titans spent the weekend on the bye, but it was a succesful weekend as they moved into position to have the first overall pick.

This team needs an influx of talent, and they may trade out of the top pick when the draft rolls around. If the Titans stay at 1, Rueben Bain Jr would be a great pick as it would give the team an elite edge rusher to pair with their talent on the interior. The Saints won their second game of the year on Sunday, and Tyler Shough showed some promise, but if the Saints are on the clock early, Kellen Moore will take his pick of quarterbacks. This season, no quarterback has been more impressive than Alabama's Ty Simpson, who continues to make NFL-level throws each week in the SEC. Even with all of the weapons the Giants have lost this season, the issue for this team isn't the offense, as Jaxson Dart's rushing ability has masked a ton of holes. The Giants' defense is one of the worst against the run, and the team needs to address the linebacker position this offseason.

Arvell Reese is a dominant force like Abdul Carter who can make plays off the edge while also playing linebacker, and he'd be a great addition to help this team slow the run.

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