Within the free-agency portion of the offseason, the Washington Commanders re-signed an essential offensive lineman whereas additionally coming to phrases with one in every of their receivers who made a splash play final season. Shifting ahead, right here is the Commanders’ five-round, post-free company frenzy 2025 NFL mock draft, in accordance with the Professional Soccer Community simulator.
Washington made a robust run on the Tremendous Bowl final season, knocking off Tampa Bay and the Lions within the playoffs earlier than falling quick towards the highly effective Eagles within the NFC Championship recreation.
The Commanders entered the draft needing assist at edge rush, cornerback, security, linebacker, and broad receiver positions. And right here is the journey the place the PFN simulator took them.
Commanders seize edge Mike Inexperienced in Spherical 1
Ut-oh, the PFN simulator is off to a nasty begin. Granted, the Commanders desperately need assistance at this place, however will the Marshall product present first-round worth?
I suppose it is dependent upon which scouts have your ear.
“Mike Inexperienced might be one of many 2025 NFL Draft’s most polarizing prospects in a fully wide-open class,” PFN wrote. “Some will see his pure pass-rush plan, bend, explosiveness, and agility and consider he’ll be a constant double-digit sack artist on the NFL degree. Others will assume he must develop his body (6-foot-3, 251 kilos) extra on the NFL degree earlier than changing into a full-time participant.
“His lackluster play energy probably makes him an inconsistent winner on the NFL degree. However Inexperienced’s capability to win within the blink of a watch means he might have 15-sack seasons combined in with five-sack years. Effort actually isn’t a difficulty with Inexperienced. He performs on the peak of his bodily potential on the sting. Sadly, effort alone isn’t sufficient to set a agency edge or constantly disengage towards blockers weighing 80-100 kilos greater than him.”
Studying that evaluation doesn’t get the juices flowing that this participant is price a first-round choose. Practically all the pieces on the NFL degree when it comes to dashing the passer includes a excessive diploma of energy. And the considered a man yo-yoing between good and dangerous years isn’t thrilling.
Power issues, in accordance with Dan Quinn
Take a look at what Dan Quinn mentioned in regards to the Commanders towards the top of the 2024 season. He talked in regards to the affect of Jonathan Allen probably returning to the crew and the affect it might have on the move rush, in accordance with commanders.com.
“Effectively, we’re actually wanting ahead to it as a result of we all know the caliber of Jon and what he can convey,” Quinn mentioned. “And so anytime you’ll be able to add a participant of his caliber to it, move rush, simply expertise additionally. He is robust. He is powerful. So when that does occur, that’ll be one thing that can positively convey vitality to our protection as effectively.”
The key phrases there are robust and hard. Although Allen works the inside, it at all times takes “robust” and “powerful” to get to the opposing quarterback. And that’s an enormous query mark for Inexperienced. And when the Commanders already noticed a bodily specimen like Chase Younger fall wanting expectations, it is exhausting to think about them getting enthusiastic about Inexperienced.
A greater choose right here would have been Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison. The Commanders should get higher at that place.
Commanders tab Dorian Sturdy as their Spherical 3 choose
Washington traded away its second-round choose on this mock draft, sending it to the Cardinals for the No. 78, a mid-third-round choose they used on the Virginia Tech product.
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Sturdy is an efficient man-coverage defender, one thing the Commanders desperately want. Grabbing him at this spot within the draft after passing on Morrison within the first spherical softens that blow a bit.
“Dorian Sturdy is a talented and instinctive cornerback who excels in man protection however can be greater than competent in zone protection schemes,” PFN wrote. “He possesses fluid hips, fast toes, and robust closing velocity, permitting him to stay with receivers and disrupt passing lanes.
“Sturdy’s ball expertise stand out, as he constantly tracks the ball and makes performs on it in contested conditions. He performs with physicality on the line of scrimmage, utilizing his size successfully to disrupt routes. Sturdy’s soccer IQ and anticipation allow him to learn quarterbacks and bounce routes however may make him weak if he mistimes the play or double strikes.”
There’s lots to love about Sturdy. He would wish to assist instantly as a result of the Marshon Lattimore commerce merely didn’t work out for the Commanders final season. Lattimore returns for 2025, however there’s not as a lot hope for him reworking the secondary. He hasn’t turned in a Professional Bowl season since 2021 and has performed in solely 26 video games over the past three seasons mixed.
Commanders commerce as much as get security Billy Bowman in Spherical 4
It’s good to see the Commanders focus closely on protection within the draft. This choose makes numerous sense as a result of it fills a significant want, and the Oklahoma product has potential.
“Billy Bowman is a flexible and instinctive defensive again with the athleticism to affect each the move and run recreation,” PFN wrote. “He possesses glorious vary and quickness, permitting him to cowl floor effectively and make performs on the ball. Bowman has robust ball expertise and consciousness, making him a disruptive presence in protection, whether or not in deep zones or man assignments.”
Studying that report makes Bowman sound like a possible fourth-round steal.
The Commanders had a second choose in Spherical 4, getting linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. out of South Carolina. Of their picks to date, that is one of the best one. That’s as a result of Knight could possibly be greater than a fourth-round expertise.
“Demetrius Knight Jr. is a seasoned linebacker with a strong body and notable arm size,” PFN wrote. “His adeptness in studying performs permits him to place himself successfully, whereas his energy and hand method allow him to shed blockers and disrupt offensive schemes.”
The Commanders didn’t have a fifth-round choice.
Total, this draft didn’t go as effectively due to the first-round number of Inexperienced. It impacted all the pieces else. Grade: C-plus.