The Washington Commanders will make a significantly lower selection in the 2025 NFL draft than many expected two months ago. At 7-4, Washington is one of the NFL's brightest surprises, a year after going 4-13.
The strengths and weaknesses of the commanders also look completely different than previously assumed. Before the season, many wondered whether Washington could survive the season with its current group of offensive players. While rookie Brandon Coleman has yet to prove he is the left tackle of the future, the Commanders' offensive tackles are not the weakness many perceived before the season.
However, Washington still has two positions to address in the offseason: cornerback and wide receiver. The good news is that the cornerback position looks better than it did a few weeks ago, thanks to the emergence of rookie Mike Sainristil and the acquisition of Marshon Lattimore via trade.
Although Lattimore has not yet made his debut in Washington, he is still under contract for two years. However, with Washington likely parting ways with Emmanuel Forbes after the season and Benjamin St-Juste a free agent, cornerback will be high on the Commanders' priority list.
In his Matt Miller has the Commanders using a first-round pick on a cornerback for the second time in three years. This time it's Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison at No. 22 overall.
The Commanders acquired veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, but should continue to reshape their secondary to fit coach Dan Quinn's plans, especially with three of their current cornerbacks (Michael Davis, Benjamin St-Juste and Noah Igbinoghene) following suit It's free agent season. Morrison, my No. 2 CB, was sidelined for the season in mid-October with a hip injury, but he has good size (6-foot-1, 196 pounds), speed and instincts with the ball, as evidenced by nine interceptions in his first two seasons .
Morrison's size and turnover ability make him a great fit for Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt's defense.
