The Washington Commanders have officially turned their attention to the offseason. Evaluating draft prospects has become a top priority in their efforts to bolster their biggest areas of opportunity. Last year, the Commanders had a wildly successful draft when they brought in Jayden Daniels, Mike Sainristil, Johnny Newton, and other players who played roles in the Commanders’ success in 2024.
This year, the Commanders are picking way down at number 29 because they were so successful in 2024. The good news is that while there are definite areas of opportunity, there are plenty of options for the Commanders later in the draft who are just as comparable to the top players at the positions they need to fill.
Matt Miller of ESPN predicts that the Commanders will select James Pearce, an edge rusher out of Tennessee, with the 29th overall pick, and with their second-round pick, he thinks they will take wide receiver Tre Harris from Ole Miss.
29. James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Building around quarterback Jayden Daniels at wide receiver or on the offensive line would be a smart move, but the Commanders have to plug up the defensive holes that led to a 32-point loss in the NFC Championship Game. Pearce is a speed rusher with legitimate burst off the snap, which led to 17.5 sacks and 92 pressures the past two seasons combined. He needs time to build up his lower body to better hold up in the run game, but he has a similar profile to the Eagles’ Nolan Smith Jr. and could be that type of early-impact player.
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61. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Quarterback Jayden Daniels had an amazing rookie season, but the Commanders need to get him more receivers. Harris is a big-bodied pass catcher at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, and he caught 63 passes for 1,030 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. He excels on underneath routes and wins in contested situations.
Selecting an edge rusher in the first round has to be a priority for the Commanders, so provided Pearce is still there and is the best option on the table, that’s probably who they’ll go with. Their run defense is by far the biggest weakness the Commanders had in 2024.
Adding another young receiver to compliment Terry McLaurin isn’t a bad idea, but it may be more prudent to continue adding to the defense here. Seeking a young receiver in free agency who has some experience but also still has longevity in the league may be a better answer for Jayden Daniels in 2025.