News Commanders Team Notes

[Washington Commanders]

NFL draft 2025 undrafted free agents: UDFA tracker, signings, Washington Commanders rumors

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Which undrafted players signed with Washington?

When the draft is over, the feeding frenzy for undrafted free agents begins. Reports will come out about players agreeing to terms with teams, tweets will link players to teams, and report contracts are signed. None of these reports are official until the team announces the signing in the next few days. Some players are invited to rookie minicamp, and it gets reported as a signing. Proceed with caution.

Washington Commanders UDFAs: ​

Fentrell Cypress, DB, Florida State

Tim McKay, OL, NC State

Ricky Barber, DT, UCF

Tre Rucker, S, Oklahoma State

Robert McDaniel, S, Jackson State

Car'lin Vigers, DB, Louisiana-Monroe

Collin Schlee, QB, Virginia Tech

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Reported Signings:​

#Commanders sign free agents Tim McKay ($275,000 total guaranteed), Fentrell Cypress ($145,000 guaranteed), Ricky Barker ($45,000 guaranteed), Car'lin Vigers ($259,000 guaranteed), per sources

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 27, 2025

Schlee is going home

Collin Schlee has signed a free agent deal with the @Commanders #ThisIsHome | #NFLDraft | @collin_schlee pic.twitter.com/n5ITAGbW7G

— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 27, 2025​

Jackson State hybrid S Robert McDaniel, who went undrafted, has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Commanders, according to his agent Rasheeda Liberty. McDaniel was one of the top HBCU players in the nation whose versatility is tailor-made for Dan Quinn/Joe Whitt’s scheme. pic.twitter.com/VdYY3jbWwU

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 27, 2025​

Commanders are signing Louisiana-Monroe DB Car'Lin Vigers, source said.

Big, physical, athletic corner at 6'2", 200.

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 27, 2025​

Former Jackson State DB Robert McDaniel is signing with the #Commanders, per Lady Lib Sports and Entertainment.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2025​

Oklahoma State @okstate Tre Rucker joins #Commanders on undrafted deal per a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 26, 2025

UCF's Ricky Barber to #Commanders on undrafted deal, per a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 26, 2025

Former N.C. State OL Tim McKay -- who was projected as a mid-round pic before tearing his pec at pro day -- is signing with the #Commanders on a deal that includes $275,000 guaranteed, per his agents @c_berger21 and @ezrajames15_ of @NSAFootball.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2025

Commanders are expected to sign Florida State DB Fentrell Cypress as a UDFA, per source.

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 26, 2025​

Rookie mini-camp invites:​

Interest:​

Washington Commanders 2025 NFL Draft Picks​

Round 1 - #29 - Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon

Round 2 - #61 - Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Round 4 (via HOU) - #128 - Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

Round 6 - #205 - Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

Round 7 (from DEN via PHI) - #245 -

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/26...tracker-signings-washington-commanders-rumors

 

[Washington Commanders]

2025 NFL Draft Grades: Mel Kiper Jr knocks the Washington Commanders draft for not drafting an EDGE

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Draft grades!

There is a long tradition of people giving draft picks a grade less than 24 hours after they’ve been made. Some of them are spot on after the players have shown who they are after a few years in the league, and some of them look pretty bad. A lot of graders get stuck on their personal rankings, and will tank a player’s selection because of that. How a player fits with a team, and their needs plays a big part here as well.

The Washington Commanders only had five picks in this year's draft so they were looking to maximize the value from this draft. There was interest in trading down to acquire more draft picks, but there were highly-rated players still on their board when they got on the clock. They started the draft at pick No. 29 with Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. Some people graded Washington negatively for not going with their bigger needs on defense, but that's not the way Adam Peters drafts.

They faced a similar situation the following day when they once again only had one pick and were interested in trading down. Peters said they were fielding calls, but with Ole Miss CB Trey Amos still available they couldn't move off their pick. He was a player they had considered in the first round, and they couldn't believe he was still there at No. 61.

Washington had three picks to work with on Day 3, and they went with three athletic players. Virginia Tech Jaylin Lane had a Commander tag on Adam Peters board, and was the highest-rated punt returner on their board. Special Teams Coach Larry Izzo was ecstatic after the pick was made. They picked up UCLA LB Kain Medrano in the 6th, and he's a player that had worked with LB coach Ken Norton Jr in college. The Commanders closed out their draft class with a position a lot of fans were clamoring for them to upgrade. Jacorey Croskey-Merritt only played one game for Arizona last season due to NCAA eligibility issues, but he was very productive at Memphis the year before, and Washington is looking for that kind of back.

The Washington Commanders’ second draft under owner Josh Harris, GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn was viewed as a success from most of the graders, with the grades ranging from C+ to A. Washington valued athletic traits, experience and leadership in their draft picks. They added 5 players, and didn't make any trades during the draft. They addressed a lot of needs, but not soon enough for some people. Washington has been adding more players since the end of the draft as UDFAs, and there will likely be a wave of veterans released after the draft from which the front office can look for added value.

Washington Commanders 2025 NFL Draft Picks​

Round 1 - #29 - Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon

Round 2 - #61 - Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Round 4 (via HOU) - #128 - Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

Round 6 - #205 - Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

Round 7 (from DEN via PHI) - #245 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona

CBS Sports(A)​

General manager Adam Peters is rising star in the industry. Two drafts in, that’s safe to say. Conerly was the prudent albeit non-sexy pick in Round 1. He can start at guard then eventually bump out to tackle, where starred at Oregon. Amos has a high floor at boundary corner — a clear need opposite Marshon Lattimore — and Lane is a dynamic slot receiver with 4.34 speed and wiggle post-catch. Croskey-Merritt absolutely has the size, cutting skill and effortless power to be a tremendous seventh-round find at running back.

The Score(A)​

It sure is strange seeing this organization so consistently making smart moves. That’s the power of competent ownership. The overall draft haul is a little light in terms of volume, but you have to factor in the trades made to acquire Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel this offseason. The clear effort to improve the supporting cast around Jayden Daniels continued with a smart pick in the first round, as Conerly is a good athlete who could immediately take over at starting right tackle opposite Tunsil. Amos, our No. 4 cornerback and No. 34 player overall, was a steal at the end of the second round. And Lane is a dynamic playmaker who should be a good fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. This team continues to trend in the right direction.

E$PN+(Kiper)(A-)​

Top needs entering the draft: Edge rusher, cornerback and running back

I gave this team an A- for its 2024 draft haul, and here’s a snippet of what I wrote about its class: “If [Jayden] Daniels is a star, this could set the foundation for the Commanders returning to the playoffs — in a couple of years.”

Not bad! It took Daniels and Washington only one season to get to the playoffs, though, which ended in the NFC title game. The Commanders were ahead of schedule. Now? The clock is ticking. They have a limited window to put a star-laden team around Daniels before they have to give him a massive contract extension. They need to take advantage of him being on a rookie deal.

You could see that urgency this offseason in trades for wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Those veterans will make the Commanders better immediately. And with only five total picks, they really had to get a rookie starter in Round 1.

Instead, they might have gotten rookie starters with both of their top picks. I liked the selection of Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 — he played left tackle at Oregon, but I see his immediate future at guard or right tackle. He has the traits to play on the left side, though Tunsil will have that spot locked down for a few years. I thought Washington might go with a corner there, but GM Adam Peters got Trey Amos with his lone Day 2 pick, nearly 20 spots lower than where he was in my rankings (No. 43). Amos will fill a big hole for this defense.

Jaylin Lane is an intriguing Day 3 wideout. At 5-foot-10, he looks like a running back — and he took some snaps from the backfield in college. If Kliff Kingsbury can figure out how to get the ball in his hands, he has some juice after the catch. He’s also the best punt returner in this class.

I liked what Peters did with his first three selections, but this is not quite an A because it’s a small class and because he didn’t address the hole at edge. Still, this is a team that should again challenge for the NFC East crown.

Pro Football Network (A-)​

The Commanders didn’t have an abundance of capital in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they used the capital they had fairly well. Bolstering the offensive line will always be a fruitful move, and Josh Conerly Jr. gives the Commanders both high physical upside and flexibility with the other personnel. Trey Amos was one of the best value additions on Day 2, as he grants Washington early starting ability and schematic versatility.

On Day 3, the Commanders only had three selections, but they still managed to add a dynamic playmaker in Jaylin Lane, an athletic coverage linebacker in Kain Medrano, and a potential gem at RB in Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Commanders can expect immediate returns from their early-round picks, and the late-rounders have potential, too.

It’ll be up to Washington to shuffle their line the right way, but a starting lineup of Tunsil-Coleman-Biadasz-Cosmi-Conerly can dominate the line of scrimmage, and help Jayden Daniels and the offense take yet another leap in 2025.

Grades for Every Commanders Draft Pick

Round 1, Pick 29

Josh Conerly Jr., OT | Oregon

Grade: B

The Washington Commanders were a team many penciled in as an EDGE suitor, and they had several compelling options still on the board. However, instead of addressing the defense, the Commanders chose to solidify the other side of the trenches with Josh Conerly Jr.

From a player and value standpoint, there’s nothing wrong with the Conerly pick. He’s a plus athlete with a natural feel for the technical elements of tackle play. He has smooth footwork, a light base, and active hands while matching. He also has an exceptional range as a blocker in space.

As long as he continues to build his play strength, Conerly should be able to fill in as a starter at right tackle. However, it’s fair to question whether Washington truly needed this with Brandon Coleman, a similarly talented OT who sometimes flashed promise in his rookie campaign.

The selection of Conerly suffocates Coleman’s development, but it also amplifies the strengthening of the team’s offensive line with Laremy Tunsil Jr. – and insulates Jayden Daniels’ protection.

Round 2, Pick 61

Trey Amos, CB | Ole Miss

Grade: A

The Commanders enter 2025 in a bit of a transition state on defense. Washington has invested most of its resources this offseason on offense, leaving the organization needing some long-term building blocks on the other side of the ball. Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos should represent one of those foundational pieces if he hits on his potential, making for an intriguing perimeter duo with Marshon Lattimore.

Amos may not be the cleanest tackler, but he profiles as a prototypical boundary corner physically (6’1”, 195 pounds) and comes with a proven track record of excellent coverage against SEC competition.

His ability to play man coverage should fit in with the Commanders, but his movement and processing skills allow him to excel in zone as well. Amos’ arrival could allow Mike Sainristil to move back into the slot, where he mostly played at Michigan.

Round 4, Pick 128

Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

Grade: B+

The Commanders continue to invest in building a long-term infrastructure around Jayden Daniels. That could leave the defense shorthanded for 2025, but with Luke McCaffrey the only wideout under contract past this season, adding another receiver was always a likely step in this draft.

Jaylin Lane is undersized at 5’9” and 191 pounds, but brings 4.34 speed and averaged 12.5 yards per reception during his five-year collegiate career. Lane isn’t just a burner, though, as he showed sharp coverage recognition and route-running on option routes. That gives him developmental upside, and his punt return experience adds special teams value as well.

Round 6, Pick 205

Kain Medrano, LB | UCLA

Grade: A

Round 7, Pick 245

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB | Arizona

Grade: A

Washington Post(B+)​

General Manager Adam Peters addressed major needs by taking offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round and cornerback Trey Amos in the second. The addition of Conerly further fortifies the offensive line following the trade earlier in the offseason for tackle Laremy Tunsil. This wasn’t a franchise-altering draft like last year’s, which produced quarterback Jayden Daniels. But the Commanders have spent the offseason acting like the Super Bowl contenders they are, with the seize-the-moment trades for Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Peters added to that with some wise draft moves.

Associated Press(B+)​

OT Josh Conerly Jr. (29) upgrades the Jayden Daniels’ protection. CB Trey Amos (61) could be an immediate starter. WR Jaylin Lane (128) and LB Kain Medrano (205) are high value picks. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (245) has sleep potential.

Pro Football Focus(B+)​

Conerly — A two-year starter for Oregon at left tackle, Conerly allowed just two sacks the past two years. He graded above the 75th percentile in all grading facets, including a 78.1 true pass set pass-blocking grade in 2024. Conerly shows good athleticism for the position, displaying quick and explosive feet. He doesn’t need to immediately start after the Commanders traded for Laremy Tunsil this offseason, but he could slide into guard and be very effective.

Amos — Amos brings elite speed and strong movement skills to the Commanders’ defense. He earned an 85.6 coverage grade in 2024, forcing 13 incompletions and recording three interceptions. A standout at the Senior Bowl, Amos showcases good instincts in zone coverage and has the size and athleticism to lock down opposing receivers in man coverage.

Lane — Lane was a rotational wide receiver for Virginia Tech, primarily playing in the slot in three-receiver sets. He’s been particularly impressive avoiding tackles, finishing with 1.2 avoided tackles per game over his last three seasons. He will compete for snaps with Luke McCaffrey, who also typically only plays in the slot in three-receiver sets.

Medrano — Medrano will need to clean up his missed tackles in order to improve his play against the run, but last season, he earned a 76.3 coverage grade and a 71.2 pass-rush grade.

Croskey-Merritt — Croskey-Merritt played just one game in 2024, but in 2023, he earned a 92.7 overall grade. That season, he scored 17 touchdowns and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt.

Barstool Sports(B+)​

Washington only had five picks and none in Round 3 and none in Round 5. But keeping that in mind, they had a decent hall. Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. put some good things on tape and Ole Miss CB Trey Amos is a sticky man CB. The Commanders also got Jayden Daniels a couple weapons with Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lae and Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merrit in the 4th and 7th Rounds respectively.

Hogs Haven(B+)​

NFL.com(B)​

Grades

Day 1 grade: C+

Day 2 grade: A-

Day 3 grade: A+

Analysis:

Conerly was always in play as a late first-round pick, though the team passed on some defensive talent with tackles Laremy Tunsil and Brandon Coleman already on the roster. Amos was a great selection late in Round 2 as an aggressive cover corner to pair with Marshon Lattimore, for whom the team gave up its third-round pick.

Washington traded away Day 3 picks for veterans Tunsil and Lattimore. I loved keeping Lane in the DMV because of his explosiveness as an inside and outside receiver. The fluid, fast Medrano is a special teams demon and productive outside linebacker waiting to happen. I also enjoyed the Croskey-Merritt pick; you’ll be seeing him running past and avoiding tacklers in the open field.

Sports Illustrated(B)​

The Commanders addressed a few glaring needs with their first two picks. Conerly was the fourth offensive tackle selected, but he was considered by most draft experts to be a first-round talent. Suddenly, Washington has depth and talent in the trenches after making it work last season with quarterback Jayden Daniels often playing away from the pocket. Things didn’t exactly work out with Marshon Lattimore after the midseason trade, but he’ll now have more help with the arrival of Amos, who had a whopping 16 passes defensed last year.

The Ringer(B)​

The Commanders hit one right down the fairway with this draft, adding value picks early on when drafting toward the end of each round. I liked the selection of Oregon tackle Josh Conerly, who should bookend Laramy Tunsil at right tackle early in his career before moving over to the blindside down the line. That’s a nice boost for Jayden Daniels right out the gate. Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos was one of my favorites in this pre-draft process—coming in at 36 on my board—so getting him at no. 61 was a steal. He’s a long, fluid-moving cover man with good ball skills, bringing the potential to start early on. Virginia Tech receiver Jaylin Lane looks like a fun new target for Daniels too, offering blazing, big-play speed out of the slot. And keep an eye on Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, another speedster with explosive play potential at the running back spot. He missed all but one game this past season because of eligibility issues, but could emerge in Washington as a change-of-pace complement to Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler.

Fox Sports(B)​

A quarter of the prospects drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft play along the offensive line, and the Commanders got arguably the most athletic of the bunch in Josh Conerly Jr. The No. 29 overall pick starred at left tackle for Oregon, but is likely to move to right tackle for the Commanders, providing an athletic upgrade over free-agent addition Andrew Wylie and the mobility necessary to assist the mesmerizing playmaker that is second-year star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Though wideout wasn’t necessarily a position of concern for the Commanders, I really liked the addition of speedster Jaylin Lane in the fourth round. He’ll help in the vertical game and as a returner.

Given where he was selected, my favorite pick for the Commanders was cornerback Trey Amos (No. 61 overall), who’s among the better press corners in this class. With only five draft picks, GM Adam Peters didn’t have as many opportunities as most, but few did more with less.

Sporting News(B-)​

GM Adam Peters couldn’t match his amazing 2025 offseason haul because there wasn’t a Jayden Daniels needed this year. But this was a solid follow-up, addressing offensive tackle and cornerback again with good picks with limited capital.

USA Today(B-)​

It was a lighter class in part because veteran CB Marshon Lattimore came at the price of a third- and fourth-rounder at last year’s trade deadline, a transaction that has yet to bear sufficient fruit. Still, GM Adam Peters did a nice job while picking OT Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round and CB Trey Amos in the second. Fourth-round WR Jaylin Lane could capably take over for departed Dyami Brown as the deep threat.

For the Win(B-)​

Best pick: Round 2, 61st overall: CB Trey Amos, Mississippi

Value pick: Round 4, 128th overall: WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech

The Commanders taking Conerly was a move for the future, but Amos and Lane could carve out immediate roles for Washington. Amos in particular had first-round talk coming into the draft.

Fantasy Life(C+)​

The Commanders hit it solidly down the fairway with this five-man class. That began at the end of Round 1, where the Commanders were boxed out of their preferred two-way EDGE defenders with run defense utility. Washington ultimately did not select a player at that position.

Instead, Washington audibiled to OT Josh Conerly right before the offensive tackle class fell off a shelf. A former five-star recruit, Connerly began his high school career as a running back. Play strength is a question, but Conerly is an extremely gifted pass-protector. Over 1,091 career pass-pro reps—nearly all of them at left tackle—he allowed only two sacks.

Connerly had an impressive showing against Penn State’s Abdul Carter in the Big 10 title game, allowing no hurries or pressures over 35 pass-pro reps. The lack of pop shows up in run blocking—Conerly was 35th-percentile in gap run-block grade the past two seasons—but he’s got the movement to develop on zone concepts.

With Washington’s lone Day 2 pick, the Commanders stopped the fall of CB Trey Amos, who had late Round 1 steam. Amos’ addition might allow Washington to move the undersized Mike Sainristil off of the boundary.

With the next two picks, Washington added speed merchants in WR Jaylin Lane – who needs polish but who tested like Tyreek Hill this spring – and LB Kain Medrano. Medrano is a good athlete who flies around the field – but he misses tackles in bunches. If he can clean up his haphazard technique, Washington will have unearthed a late-round gem.

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt got absolutely hosed by the NCAA last year, with an erroneous eligibility issue wiping out his final season. He’s never shown anything in the pass game, but he’s a shifty runner with feel who could see the field as a rookie.

New York Post(C+)​

Conerly is on an upward trajectory. Wise move to protect franchise QB Jayden Daniels. Lane is fearless punt returner who can break tackles as a receiver, too. Amos is a man-to-man corner who can start early. Day 2 draft depth was traded for veterans.

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/27...ton-commanders-draft-for-not-drafting-an-edge

 

[Washington Commanders]

Washington Commanders RFK Stadium Press Conference

Washington Commanders managing partner Josh Harris and Washington D.C. Muriel Bowser announce a new stadium deal for the old RFK Stadium site

The day has finally arrived! The Washington Commanders and the mayor of Washington D.C. have an agreement in place to build a new, domed stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium, the team’s home for 36 years. Managing partner Josh Harris and mayor Muriel Bowser have been working together, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and many others, to bring the team back to the nation’s capital. They recently had to get last minute relief on the bill that transferred the administration of the city to the city. This allowed the city to open it up for business, and the Commanders are now ready to move forward with their new $3+ billion stadium. There are still hurdles to overcome, like approval from city council, but Harris has been saying that he’d like to be in the new stadium by 2030.

Roof, and Super Bowl bid:​

Commanders stadium at RFK would include roof, vital for a Super Bowl bid https://t.co/8sRDMj9Wub

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 28, 2025

Key information for the new Commanders Stadium.

It will be a roofed stadium. pic.twitter.com/G4YmxwAEFN

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) April 28, 2025

65k seating:​

Bowser press release says it's a 65K stadium with a roof, 8K parking spots. Will generate 14K construction jobs and 2K permanent jobs. Nearby Kingman Park will also have housing and mixed use space.

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) April 28, 2025

The stadium will seat 65,000. There will be 8,000 parking spots. There will be a tailgating area. But also will be a retail and restaurant area right there as well.

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 28, 2025

Stadium rendering:​

NEW: Rendering of the new RFK Stadium with a glass roof and views of the US Capitol. Timeline to open stadium in 2030. pic.twitter.com/ZJOLUf3ecy

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

Personal seat licenses:​

Commanders official does say new stadium will include Personal Seat Licenses.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

Parking:​

New RFK Stadium plans for 8,000 parking spots and allowing for tailgating. Also plans are to build a world class ride share situation (which by 2030 might be mst important)

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

No name change:​

Dont expect any name change with the new stadium. Commanders official says "the Commander name is where we are."

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

Practice facilities staying in Ashburn, VA:​

Commanders official also made clear no current plans to move the practice facility out of Ashburn

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

Josh Harris was just asked about the team continuing to train in Ashburn in the future:

"The team likes it out there.. We like the connectivity of three jurisdictions. Who knows over many, many years."

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 28, 2025

Cost and timeline:​

The cost; the timeline and the comparison of the agreement between the Commanders and DC to build a stadium at RFK. Will be other properties: housing, retail, restaurants etc. “promise made promise kept” says Mayor Bowser pic.twitter.com/nMFZHX8gx5

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 28, 2025

Major events at the stadium:​

Commander officials believe the new stadium will deliver 20 to 30 major events per year (I’m still mad my parents wouldn’t let me go to that dead show although in their defense I was 11) pic.twitter.com/FZO23p7EaR

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 28, 2025

A world-class city deserves a world-class stadium ️

Everything you need to know

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 28, 2025

Muriel Bowser:

We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the Sports Capital. We said that we could do it all – Commanders, housing, park space, recreation, retail, entertainment and more – and, together, that’s what we are delivering. When we got control of 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia, we knew right away that partnering with the Commanders would be the fastest and surest route to bringing the RFK campus to life. As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7.

Josh Harris:

Today is a defining moment for the DMV and the Washington Commanders. RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history – it’s where the team dominated the NFL, capturing three Super Bowls and creating unforgettable memories for fans. Now, we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by building a new world-class stadium – one that is also a once-in-a-generation catalyst for uplifting and transforming our region. Working hand-in-hand with District and community leaders, we’re focused on delivering an incredible home for our players and fans, creating a landmark venue that reflects the pride of our nation’s capital, and sparking a new era of economic opportunity across the DMV. RFK was once a place our fans loved, and opponents feared – we’re determined to make it that way again.

Roger Goodell:

Some of my earliest football memories growing up in the District were going to games at RFK Stadium. It’s time to bring the Commanders home. We are grateful for Josh Harris’ vision and determination and the leadership of Mayor Bowser in moving this transformational project forward. This world-class stadium will not only be an exciting site for NFL games and events in an iconic location but it will also be a community asset and an economic driver.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Mayor Bowser, Josh Harris and Roger Goodell on returning to the RFK campus https://t.co/VwXBKMpm9m

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 28, 2025​

Bringing the team home:​

Muriel Bowser starting things off today by saying she’s excited to be able to bring the Commanders franchise back home where they belong

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Benefits to the city:​

Bowser said the stadium project will deliver houses, park space and jobs

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Mayor Bowser on the stadium deal: "This land has been blighted and underutilized for too long. ... A win, win, win for the city, the team and the fans."

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 28, 2025

Investing in the city:​

Josh Harris: the Commanders and committed to making the single largest private investment in DC history

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

New stadium:​

Harris said the Commanders want to bring a stadium that our fans love and our opponents fear

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Best stadium in the country:​

Josh Harris on bringing the Commanders back in o DC:

“We want to bring the Commanders home. We want to host the biggest and best events in the world.. this will be the best stadium in the country when it’s built.”

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 28, 2025

Special day:​

Goodell: this is a special day, one that many of us have been looking forward to for many years

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Leaders off the field:​

Goodell: with this stadium, the Commanders will become a leader off the field

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Special place:​

Goodell called the old RFK stadium “a special place.” Could not be more excited for the next generation of fan who will watch games at the site

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

League support for the stadium:​

“This is an important project that the league recognizes and will be there to support,” Roger Goodell says.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) April 28, 2025

Super Bowl bid:​

Roger Goodell on how much a new stadium will help attract a Super Bowl: "I didn't come here to announce that but I would say dramatically."

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 28, 2025

Roger Goodell to reporters just now, discussing a new stadium in DC:

"I really do think this community could be a great host for a Super Bowl and I think the stadium is the missing piece."

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 28, 2025

Vision to bring the team home:​

Harris said it’s been a vision to bring the team back to DC since he and his partners bought the team

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Similar stadium projects:​

Roger Goodell said this stadium project is perhaps most analogous with the Atlanta Falcons situation. Also mentioned SoFi in LA.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 28, 2025

World class sports facility in D.C.:​

Bowser: we need a world class sports facility, and we will invest in it at RFK

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 28, 2025

Washington D.C.’s budget:​

"Our job is to advance a budget that is bold and it starts with a investment at RFK." - @MayorBowser #Commanders @team980 @AudacySports @1067theFan

— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) April 28, 2025

DMV:​

Josh Harris: “We have our business offices in Maryland, we have our training facility in Virginia and if we can get the stadium done in D.C., we like being in the full DMV.”

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 28, 2025

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/28...rence-washington-dc-josh-harris-muriel-bowser

 

[Washington Commanders]

How did Commanders fans grade the Josh Conerly pick in our Hogs Haven survey?

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Survey results!!

Adam Peters is clearly doing things his way​

As many people have already noted, two Adam Peters drafts have made it clear that the Commanders believe in their pre-draft evaluations and trust their board when it’s time to make draft selections; the GM does not chase players to address roster needs in the way that mock drafters tend to do.

That philosophy requires strategic coordination of player acquisition in free agency and the draft.

The free agent period of late March and early April is used to build depth at every position group and make sure that a solid floor is built for the season ahead.

That allows the front office to focus on drafting the best player available with each selection, or to trade down if there is greater value available. This philosophy places high priority on the long term value of adding the most talented player possible with each draft pick, even if the selection doesn’t address some immediate roster needs.

Any thin spots in the roster that remain after the draft can be addressed by dipping back into the veteran free agency market in May and continuing to explore other options — UDFAs, trades, waiver wire pickups — in order to constantly work to upgrade the roster.

One look at the current Washington roster in comparison to the one that Peters inherited 17 months ago should validate the power of this roster construction philosophy and lead Commanders fans to salivate about where the team’s roster will likely be after a couple more years of implementing this approach.

The Mock Draft industry​

Prior to this week’s draft, bettors and mock drafters identified that the Commanders biggest roster need was at edge rusher. There was a strong expectation that, no matter what, Adam Peters would find a way to address that need in the draft.

He did not.

Instead, he selected OT Josh Conerly out of Oregon with the 29th pick in the draft, and Peters did not use any of the team’s other four draft picks on an edge rusher this past weekend.

With the focus that the mock drafting industry has on filling roster holes with draft picks, the Adam Peters approach is often panned by critics who value drafting for need over prioritizing player skill and potential upside regardless of position. Consider these comments written in the immediate aftermath of the first round on Thursday night:

NFL.com

Conerly was a fine value at this spot, but so was Josh Simmons (whom the Chiefs selected at No. 31). The Commanders had more pressing needs to address, and they have just four picks over the next two days.

USA Today

Considering the Commanders’ glaring needs on defense and the abundance of options on the board, they get a [bad] grade (D) for this pick.

Hogs Haven members understand what AP is doing​

Hogs Haven members have much greater appreciation for what Adam Peters is doing, and a much more nuanced understanding of the Commanders roster.

For instance, although there was a general consensus that Washington would not draft a quarterback because it would be difficult to upgrade from Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, that idea did not hold for any other position group ahead of the draft. For example, the offensive line with either Brandon Coleman or Andrew Wylie at right tackle opposite Laremy Tunsil and an injured Sam Cosmi was not so “set” that it precluded drafting another tackle or guard despite some of the draft ‘gurus’ suggesting that the Commanders first round pick needed to be spent on a defensive player.

The Athletic

That edge defenders Donovan Ezeiruaku and Nic Scourton were among the available options at No. 29 will be something to monitor, especially if Washington continues to struggle in run defense or faces issues with pass rush consistency.

Adam Peters had different ideas. Look at what he said about the Josh Conerly selection after the first round on Thursday night:

He was the highest player on our board. It wasn’t really so much we needed to get an O-Lineman or anything like that, but he was clearly the highest player on our board.

We had discussed beforehand [that] if he was on the board, we weren’t gonna trade back. There was an opportunity to trade back with a few other teams and [it] wasn’t very far, but in our minds, it was not worth even risking missing on him.

We were holding our breath for a while thinking he might go ahead of us. We were thrilled when he was there [at the 29th pick]. It was an easy pick for us to make and we’re really, really pumped.

Asked about the perceived need to add an edge rusher, Peters said that if the highest rated player on the board at the time of the pick had been a defensive player, then the Commanders would have drafted the defensive player.

Both he and Assistant GM Lance Newmark stressed repeatedly this weekend that the Commanders followed their board and picked players that they believe will make the team better in 2025 and beyond.

This week’s Reacts survey results​

When we asked Hogs Haven readers to grade the first round selection of Conerly, it was clear that the respondents were buying into the message coming from Peters and Newmark.

Eighty-nine percent of respondents graded the pick an “A” or “B”, and only 3% graded the selection of Conerly below a “C”.

Consider the comments of those who graded the pick highly:

It’s clear that a lot of Hogs Haven readers see a lot of value in the Conerly pick.

Of course nothing is unanimous.

What about that glaring roster need at edge rusher?​

It is clear that the most glaring position of weakness prior to the draft remains the most glaring position of weakness today. The Commanders raised the floor on most of the roster this offseason, but appear to have taken a step back at the defensive end position.

That doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. Washington can, for example, revisit the veteran free agent market to bolster the position group.

Check the odds at FanDuel

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There may also be opportunities to trade for an impact player ahead of training camp.

And, if nothing gets done before camp, there may still be an opportunity when teams cut down to 53 players. Last year, when Washington was 2nd on the waiver wire, Adam Peters was able to claim WR Noah Brown when he was released by the Texans. That may be a bit tougher sitting at #29, but the front office will almost certainly be exploring all possibilities.

Things look bright in 2025 and beyond​

The really great news is that the five drafted players that will be attending rookie minicamp next week offer a range of skills and a lot of valuable potential:

• Round 1 - #29 - Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon
• Round 2 - #61 - Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
• Round 4 (via HOU) - #128 - Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 - #205 - Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA
• Round 7 (from DEN via PHI) - #245 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona

Each of them clearly offers immediate value and long term upside to the Commanders roster. Washington has taken another giant step to build around Jayden Daniels and build upon the foundation of success that was established last season.

It’s a great time to be a Washington fan!!

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/28...he-josh-conerly-pick-in-our-hogs-haven-survey

 

[Washington Commanders]

The Washington Commanders Replace Kicker Zane Gonzalez with Matt Gay

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Kicker swap!

The Washington Commanders haven’t had any kicker news in a while. They didn’t sign one in free agency, draft one last weekend, or sign an UDFA after the draft. That changed today with the news that Washington s signing former Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay. Tom Pelissero has the initial report, and he followed it up with news that Zane Gonzalez was being released.

In a corresponding move, Washington is releasing Zane Gonzalez. Matt Gay will the #Commanders’ kicker in 2025. https://t.co/k3aDlbdJpF

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 29, 2025​

0-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	Scoring	Kickoffs
Season	Age	Team	Lg	Pos	G	GS	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	Lng	FG%	XPA	XPM	XP%	KO	KOYds	TB	TB%	KOAvg	AV	Awards
2019	25	TAM	NFL	K	16	0	0	0	6	6	7	5	14	11	8	5	35	27	58	77.1	48	43	89.6	1	14	0	0.0	14	3
2020	26	LAR	NFL	K	7	0	0	0	2	2	6	5	7	6	1	1	16	14	51	87.5	16	16	100.0	35	2234	28	80.0	64	2
2021	27	LAR	NFL	K	17	0	0	0	6	6	15	15	8	7	5	4	34	32	55	94.1	49	48	98.0	102	6309	65	63.7	62	5	PB
2022	28	LAR	NFL	K	17	0	0	0	9	9	8	8	4	4	9	7	30	28	58	93.3	32	31	96.9	77	4843	61	79.2	63	5
2023	29	IND	NFL	K	17	0	0	0	9	9	10	9	9	7	13	8	41	33	57	80.5	36	35	97.2	92	5898	72	78.3	64	2
2024	30	IND	NFL	K	16	0	0	0	9	9	12	12	7	7	9	3	37	31	56	83.8	33	33	100.0	82	5280	68	82.9	64	3
6 Yrs	90	0	0	0	41	41	58	54	49	42	45	28	193	165	58	85.5	214	206	96.3	389	24578	294	75.6	63	20
17 Game Avg	17	0	0	0	8	8	11	10	9	8	9	5	36	31	58	85.5	40	39	96.3	73	4643	56	75.6	63	4
LAR (3 Yrs)	41	0	0	0	17	17	29	28	19	17	15	12	80	74	58	92.5	97	95	97.9	214	13386	154	72.0	63	12
IND (2 Yrs)	33	0	0	0	18	18	22	21	16	14	22	11	78	64	57	82.1	69	68	98.6	174	11178	140	80.5	64	5
TAM (1 Yr)	16	0	0	0	6	6	7	5	14	11	8	5	35	27	58	77.1	48	43	89.6	1	14	0	0.0	14	3

Kicking Table

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/29/2025.

Matt Gay is a six-year veteran who has kicked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 season), Los Angeles Rams (3 seasons), and Indianapolis Colts (2 seasons), playing 90 regular season games. He made 165 of 193 of his field goals and completed 206 of 214 extra points during those games. Gay had his highest touchback percentage (82.9%) last season under the NFL's new kickoff rules. The Commanders also made a big financial commitment,with a 1-year, $4.25 million deal that's worth up to $5 million.

Zane Gonzalez was the Commanders kicker for 6 regular season games, and all three on their playoff games. He finished the regular season going 5 for 7 on field goals during the regular season, and 19 for 19 on extra points. He was 7 for 8 in FGs during the playoffs and 8 for 8 on XPs.

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/29...rs-replace-kicker-zane-gonzalez-with-matt-gay

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 30 Apr 25 - With mid-July deadline for approval, Commanders stadium deal now faces a tough D.C. political fight

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

Washington Post (paywall)​

D.C. Council split on whether to support bringing Commanders to RFK​

The mayor and the team need a majority of the D.C. Council to agree — and lawmakers remain far from united on the deal, which is expected to cost taxpayers more than $1 billion.

Architects of a $3.7 billion deal to bring the Washington Commanders to the RFK Stadium site have framed the team’s return to D.C. as almost inevitable.

But Bowser and the team need a majority of the D.C. Council to agree — and lawmakers remain far from united on the deal, which is expected to cost D.C. taxpayers more than $1 billion.

Bowser is expected to include the public financing portions of the project in her 2026 capital budget submission, which administration officials say is expected in the coming weeks but delayed by Congress, which threw D.C.’s budgeting process into chaos by suddenly cutting local funds through a stopgap spending bill passed in March.

Once the deal makes its way to the council, it will require seven votes to pass. The terms Bowser agreed to with the team say the council must approve D.C.’s financial contribution and other legislation related to the deal by mid-July, or else the exclusive agreement between the city and the team will expire (though it may be extended if both parties agree).

[E]ven those open to funding the stadium in some form were concerned about the price tag for taxpayers.

“There are the folks who are hard no’s, there’s some folks who are hard yeses,” said D.C. Council member Matthew Frumin (D-Ward 3). “I’m hoping the rest of us are saying: ‘could be for it, could be against it, need to take a hard look at it before making a decision in the context of this really difficult budget.’”

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Sports Illustrated​

Washington’s new stadium includes two surprising features that tie the team back to its roots​

1. End Zone Seating in the Shape of a “W”​

One of the most creative features of the new stadium design is in the end zone. Seating will be arranged in the shape of a “W,” a clear nod to Washington’s name, culture, and brand. This subtle yet symbolic gesture will become a visual signature on broadcasts and a unique experience for fans seated in that section.

The @Commanders announced today that they have reached an agreement with the District of Columbia to construct a new stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium ️

( via @_JakeRussell) pic.twitter.com/O0O1QhT4MY

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 28, 2025​

2. A View of the U.S. Capitol​

Thanks to the stadium’s deliberate alignment and open sightlines, fans sitting in certain areas will be able to see the iconic U.S. Capitol building beyond the structure. It’s a powerful, patriotic reminder of the franchise’s connection to the nation’s capital and its roots in the heart of D.C.

Mayor Bowser said the city knew right away that partnering with the Commanders was the key to bringing the RFK site back to life. “We said we could do it all — Commanders, housing, park space, recreation, retail, entertainment and more – and, together, that’s what we are delivering.”

can’t wait to watch a Super Bowl at the new RFK Stadium, future home of the Washington Commanders pic.twitter.com/Fo2tJwEoRk

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 28, 2025​

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Commanders.com​

Commanders sign K Matt Gay, release Zane Gonzalez​

Gay, a fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2019 draft, comes to Washington after spending two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Over the course of his time in the AFC South, Gay hit 82.1% of his field goals, including a 57-yarder, and 98.6% of his extra points.

For his career, Gay is an 85.5% field goal kicker and was also a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-22. The three-year stint was Gay’s most successful stretch in the NFL, as he only missed six field goals on 80 kicks. Gay was also selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021 with the Rams for hitting 94.1% of his field goals and was 4-of-5 on kicks of 50-plus yards.

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Commanders.com​

5 things to know about Trey Amos​

He’s a “PBU machine.”​

There weren’t many defensive backs who had as many pass breakups as Amos did in 2024. Pro Football Focus had him tied for second-most among cornerbacks last season, and he has 35 for his career.

And most analysts agree that when it comes to disrupting passes, Amos is one of the best.

“Dude is a PBU machine — very savvy about using his long arms at just the right time,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on social media. “Can play both press man and reads QBs well in zone. I’m a fan.”

The Commanders saw that performance on film, but what stood out to them was how he managed to stay consistent against top-tier talent. Their R&D department had him ranked in the 96th percentile against highly talented players, which is why Peters said the department was the loudest group that cheered when they drafted Amos.

“He’s played against a lot of really good players, and he doesn’t back down to anybody,” Peters said. “And it’s almost like he relishes it.”

And while the Commanders intend to let Amos and the rest of the cornerbacks compete, they already have an idea about how they can best utilize that physicality.

“He’s really more of an outside guy,” Peters said. “He is like an outside, press corner is where that’s probably his bread and butter. I think his best position is outside. I don’t think he can’t play inside, but I think you’re best using him outside.”

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ESPN​

2025 NFL draft: Yates’ favorite picks in every round​

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (No. 245)

Croskey-Merritt had a winding college path that started at Alabama State and ended at Arizona, though eligibility issues limited him to only 13 rushes for the Wildcats in 2024. He has a very intriguing combination of size, speed and overall footwork, but he must develop his instincts and vision. He’s a moldable player for the Commanders to develop.

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Pro Football Talk​

Commanders first-rounder Josh Conerly Jr. got a prank call, too​

Commanders first-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr., the 29th overall pick in round one, told 106.7 the Fan on Tuesday that he was on the wrong end of a Jerky Boys skit during the first night of the draft,

“I got one prank call,” Conerly said. “It was somebody in Colorado acting like they were the Broncos. Mine wasn’t as bad and as cruel as some of the other ones.”

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Riggo’s Rag​

Overlooked prospect given dream Commanders’ chance against all odds​

Collin Schlee’s chances of making the Commanders’ roster are remote at best​

Schlee’s chances of cracking this roster are minuscule. He doesn’t seem to mind. He has been through this kind of thing before. The chance to keep playing football, especially so close to home, is enough to make him put off whatever other plans he may have for his life and be a part of the Commanders.

The prospect’s college journey was a long and winding road. After leading Oakdale High School to an undefeated, state championship season back in 2019, he made stops at Kent State and UCLA before returning to the east coast for a final year at Virginia Tech.

He has learned a lot of playbooks, including Chip Kelly’s with the Bruins. Schlee has seen a lot and brings a level of maturity into the league.

When he broke the news, Ben Standig of The Athletic reported that the Commanders intend to let Schlee play a little bit at wide receiver in addition to quarterback during Washington’s rookie minicamp. He’s an athlete, and the coaching staff will give him a chance to show that off in May.

When he was at Kent State, Schlee would occasionally line up in two-quarterback sets that allowed him to get out from under center and operate in space. Perhaps the Commanders might be onto something with a slight position switch, although the chances of him lasting through the summer are unlikely.

Watching Schlee play and listening to him talk, he reminds me a lot of Taylor Heinicke, another signal-caller who was too small and had too weak an arm for the NFL. Despite enormous odds, we all know that he did make it into the league.

Schlee will get the chance to do that as well and in his backyard. It’s hard not to root for the guy.

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Podcasts & videos​

1 Big Thing: Why the Commanders news will be more than just a new stadium ️ | SC with SVP​

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Ari’s Team-By-Team NFL Draft Recap For All 32 Squads (queued up to the Commanders)​

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Washington Commanders Cut Stadium deal​

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

NFL Power Rankings: Which teams were helped/hurt most by 2025 draft?​

1 - Philadelphia Eagles​

One of these years, I am gonna be unimpressed by an Eagles draft class. This is not the year. General manager Howie Roseman doesn’t need me to say it, but he’s good at his job. Ditto for the scouting staff as a whole. Not all of Philadelphia’s picks are going to work, which we know; it’s the process and the thought and the patience that stand out. It all makes sense. Did you realize the Eagles could have 12 picks in next year’s draft? And at the very least, Jihaad Campbell, Andrew Mukuba and Ty Robinson — their first three picks from this year’s draft — figure to enter the rotation in 2025, with Mukuba capable of winning a starting job. How many teams picking 32nd over the years can claim to have that strong a haul? Jalen Hurts and the boys are even better insulated to make another title run.

6 - Washington Commanders​

I’ll understand if you want to complain about the lack of an edge rusher in this year’s draft haul, but that just seemed to be the way the picks went. I really liked the Commanders’ overall approach, and let‘s not forget how few resources they entered the weekend with. Two of their picks were spent to land Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, so if your draft graders aren’t folding in that value, please gently swat their wrists for me. Josh Conerly Jr. was just OK value for me in Round 1, but Trey Amos was a strong value in the second, so that more than evened out the returns on those first two picks. Washington now has the next three months to figure out if there are ways of procuring more pass-rush talent. The Commanders are set up very well for the future, even if last year’s Texans serve as a reminder that progress isn’t always linear.

20 - Dallas Cowboys​

In a vacuum, the first three picks really made a lot of sense. Tyler Booker continued the OL bolstering, while Dallas snagged Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shavon Revel Jr. below where I thought they might be picked. Even a few of the Day 3 selections have a chance to stick in what was a typically sound draft haul. That said, I have questions. Who is helping CeeDee Lamb out? What is the RB pecking order? Will Micah Parsons be a happy — and RICH — man soon? The Cowboys might not be able to eliminate every concern before August, but they’re foundationally solid. Will that matter in a suddenly fearsome NFC East, with the Eagles and Commanders having just faced off in the conference title game? That remains to be seen in head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season.

30 - New York Giants​

I thought the Giants did well in the draft — potentially very well, if the Jaxson Dart pick works out. I feel relatively confident in edge monster Abdul Carter becoming a star, provided his foot doesn’t act up. I even really liked the Day 2/3 crop, especially the picks of DT Darius Alexander, RB Cam Skattebo and OL Marcus Mbow. But what could take this group from enticing to thrilling is Dart offering hope at the game’s most important position. Russell Wilson figures to be the starter, and Jameis Winston is the likely backup to start off, unless Dart shows out early and often in camp and the preseason. He wasn’t my favorite quarterback in this class, and I still wonder if the G-Men ultimately will wish they had just waited until the 2026 draft to target a quarterback. But for now, there’s at least an undercurrent of excitement about turning things around.

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The Athletic (paywall)​

NFL Draft 2025 team-by-team rankings: Best and worst classes, from 1 to 32​

5. New York Giants​

Favorite pick: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Darius Alexander was exactly what the Giants needed to complement Dexter Lawrence, and Cam Skattebo is an ideal running mate to pair with Tyrone Tracy. But let’s not overthink this one. Carter has the type of burst off the ball that strikes fear in the eyes of blockers and will help the Giants’ defense get off the field. New York has an impressive collection of talent on that side of the ball.

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue

Considered a potential top-100 pick, Mbow fell to Round 5, mostly because of positional-fit questions. The Giants will be hoping he can provide depth at both guard and tackle as a rookie and show enough to be considered a long-term option, especially with right guard expected to be a need after the season.

11. Philadelphia Eagles​

Favorite pick: Jihaad Campbell, Edge/LB, Alabama

With some teams concerned about his durability, Campbell fell to the bottom of Round 1 — and into Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s sights. We don’t have a crystal-clear picture of how Philadelphia plans to use him, but it sounds like he might become the Eagles’ version of Micah Parsons, which is an ideal fit for his talent as a downhill force player. Sign me all the way up.

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Eagles added another Georgia defender. And with former Bulldogs linebacker Nakobe Dean on the mend, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will be leaning on the rest of his linebackers to play critical roles, including Mondon. He can get stuck at times in his reads, but he is an above-average athlete and can make stops all over the field.

12. Dallas Cowboys​

Favorite pick: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

After McMillan went top 10, I loved the fit for Tyler Booker at No. 12. But Dallas got even better value with its two picks on Day 2. A bendy athlete with long arms, Ezeiruaku was my 22nd-ranked player because of his ability to reach the quarterback (No. 1 in the FBS with 1.38 sacks per game in 2024).

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Jay Toia, DT, UCLA

A prospect who easily could have been drafted in the fourth round, Toia is a stout, wide-bodied run defender who can stack and shed the point with ease. With his ability to muck things up at the line, it won’t be surprising when he earns a valuable role as a one-technique tackle in coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme.

19. Washington Commanders​

Favorite pick: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

A top-40 prospect on my board (and a player some thought could sneak into the first round), Amos “slipped” to the late second, where the Commanders addressed a need and found terrific value. At 6-1, 195 with 4.43 speed, Amos was an All-SEC corner in 2024 (16 passes defended) and showed he could smother in man coverage or be disruptive from zone.

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

The Commanders are set at linebacker for 2025, but Medrano will provide much needed depth — and I’ll bet he makes a name for himself as a rookie special-teamer. The running back depth chart is a little crowded in Washington, too, but Jacorey Croskey-Merritt offers better home-run potential than the players ahead of him.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

How the Eagles keep winning the draft​

2020 was a needed wake up call for the team. They had just drafted Jalen Reagor instead of Justin Jefferson in the 1st round, which was considered a bad decision at the time and in hindsight was an all time bad decision.

Since then they’ve had four great drafts, and just had what is considered another strong one. Here’s how they did it.

They started drafting top players from top programs​

From 2021 on, 6 of the 15 Eagles draft picks from rounds 1-3 played their final college game in the title game: DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith. An additional four day three draft picks were also on college football title game teams: JaCoby Stevens, Kelee Ringo, Trevor Keegan, and Myles Hinton. And three more played in the college football playoffs: Andrew Mukuba, Smael Mondon, and Cameron Williams.

With college schemes closer to the NFL than they have ever been before, and talent concentrated on a handful of college teams more than ever before, the best college teams are closer to being a “33rd” team than ever before.

They stopped bringing in bad athletes​

From 2016 to 2019, the Eagles drafted 24 players with an RAS grade, only 9 of them scored at least an 8.00 (out of 10). Just as many scored below a 7.00.

From 2021 on, the Eagles have drafted 32 players with an RAS grade, and 24 of them had a grade of at least 8.00, and only 4 had a grade of below 7.00.

They shifted UDFA focus to bigger programs and better recruits​

From 2020 on, 61% were from Power 4/5 conferences, and 85% were from FBS programs. From 2016-19, they brought in 16 players from FCS or NAIA programs. None of them amounted to anything. Since then, they’ve brought in just one.

They followed the wisdom of the crowds​

If someone says the draft is luck, or a crapshoot, or random... they are wrong. Certainly there is an element of luck involved, but the league has gotten pretty good at determining who should be early draft picks, and who should not. If the draft was truly random, talent would be evenly distributed and late round stars like Puca Nacua and Brock Purdy would be the norm, not the exception.

After the overthinking-it mistake of Jalen Reagor, not a consensus top 40 player, over Justin Jefferson, a top 20 prospect, (and Davion Taylor, barely a top 150 prospect at 103) the Eagles have drafted in the top half of the draft players that were if not the “best player available” then among the best players available.

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Eli Manning potentially making some big moves pic.twitter.com/gVTZUImGrQ

— PFSN (@PFN365) April 30, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Pro Football Talk​

Third day of draft averages 4.3 million viewers, up 43 percent​

The Shedeur Sanders slide lasted into the third day of the draft. That was bad for him, good for the draft.

Per the NFL, Saturday’s coverage averaged 4.3 million viewers across all platforms. It was a 43-percent increase over the final day of the draft from 2024.

All three days showed a bump over 2024. The first night increased by 11 percent, and the second was up by 48 percent. Each day sets a level that it will be hard for the 2026 draft to match — unless Arch Manning declares and then has a similar free fall.

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Front Office Sports​

Shedeur Sanders Has NFL’s No. 3 Rookie Jersey After Draft Slide​

Despite being the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, new Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has the third-best-selling jersey so far among incoming rookies.

The NFL released a list of the 10 best-selling jerseys from the 2025 NFL Draft, as of Monday (in order):

• Jaguars receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter
• Titans quarterback Cam Ward
• Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders
• Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty
• Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan
• Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart
• Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter
• Packers receiver Matthew Golden
• Colts tight end Tyler Warren
• Bears tight end Colston Loveland

The jerseys are selling for $129.99 on the official NFL Shop website, which is run by Fanatics. While Hunter’s No. 12 jersey and Ward’s No. 1 jersey top the list, Sanders’s is shown as 00 for now. There is no Browns player currently wearing No. 2, which Sanders wore in college, but he is listed as an unsigned draft pick on Cleveland’s official roster page.

---

Discussion topics​

#NFL Front office Rankings pic.twitter.com/jgzORUEiBO

— JC EGO (@DErous6344) April 28, 2025​

NFC East position tier list post draft pic.twitter.com/JTnX6Fsyy4

— (@JahanOPOY) April 29, 2025​

Cooking or Cooked: NFL Draft 2025 pic.twitter.com/rr2zAPas4P

— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) April 30, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

We have signed K Matt Gay

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 29, 2025​

In a corresponding move, we have released K Zane Gonzalez

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 29, 2025​

I will never forget Zane Gonzalez giving me my first playoff win since I was 14 Good luck to you Zane @Commanders #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Y14CxbmfFY

— DLacks21 (@Cheddarbob804) April 29, 2025​

Year pic.twitter.com/wwETs1dtU1

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 29, 2025​

I'm really high on the @TreyAmos21 pick.

Outside corner was a quiet need for the team, and his addition solidifies the whole CB room.

Plus, he's damn good. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/ppHlv8Eg3b

— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) April 30, 2025​

.@Kain_05 was ZOOMIN' pic.twitter.com/7DNAQkc7C4

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 29, 2025​

Late July for a Washington Commanders alternative helmet reveal https://t.co/eI6HzWRSGx

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) April 30, 2025​

The city has been buzzing since D.C.'s mayor announced the Commanders could be returning to play at the RFK site, but before that can happen the D.C. Council has to approve the deal. https://t.co/NgBIO1MH2h

— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) April 30, 2025​

Talked to one member today who was not happy with the parking situation, both in terms of revenue going to the team and # of spaces. Will be an interesting couple of months. https://t.co/XUqZAcnetV

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 30, 2025​

Production versus traits pic.twitter.com/vvfQ7XnT75

— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) April 29, 2025​

: New Panthers WR Hunter Renfrow revealed he stepped away from football last year due to ulcerative colitis.

Renfrow had to deal with severe weight loss where he went as low as 150 pounds, fatigue, and seven straight days of 103-degree fevers.

Thankfully, he is much… https://t.co/rCMe6O3QfZ pic.twitter.com/25FD4o7IsP

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 30, 2025​

Chris speaks on the importance of arm length for NFL lineman pic.twitter.com/ME4h906lEl

— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) April 28, 2025​

Custodians of the future of Washington football-- Rales and Ein-- with pillars of Washington's football. Gibbs, Riggins, Green, Williams. #RaiseHail #WashingtonCommanders pic.twitter.com/z1ophosdoG

— Howard Gutman (@thehowardgutman) April 29, 2025​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/4/30...oval-stadium-deal-faces-tough-political-fight

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 1 May 25 - Spotlight on Commanders 4th round draft pick, WR/PR Jaylin Lane

Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)​

What WR Jaylin Lane brings to the Washington Commanders​

At the combine, Lane measured in at 5-foot-10, 191 pounds and then had a performance to remember in the athletic testing drills. He caught everyone’s attention with his 4.34 40-yard dash time and his 1.5 second 10-yard split, but he also had impressive numbers in other drills too. He jump 40-inches in the vertical jump and 11-feet in the broad jump, while his 6.75 second three-cone drill time was the fourth fastest of any player at the combine.

Now those testing numbers are only guidelines that need to be crosschecked with the film to see if it transfers to the football field. With Lane, it does. It backs up what you see on tape, which is an explosive athlete with great short area quickness and terrific long speed. At his size, he profiles as someone more likely to work from the slot than outside, but that speed works anywhere and everywhere.

That speed is great for vertical routes down the field and the ball tracking makes him a real deep threat, but the speed plays elsewhere too.

On this play, Lane lines up stacked behind another receiver to the left of the formation. The defense has one safety rotated over the top of Lane while the other is in the middle of the field. Prior to the snap, Lane is sent in motion across the formation to the right side of the field. Instead of having a single defender try to run with Lane, the defense rotates the safeties. The one over Lane initially sinks back to the deep middle while the one in the deep middle rotates down to cover Lane, trying to maintain their leverage advantage.

However, as Lane completes his motion, the ball is snapped and Lane uses the momentum of his motion to work out into a wheel route. That motion gives him a good head of steam to burst down the field and the safety, despite rotating and supposedly having a leverage advantage, can’t keep up. Lane speeds by the safety down the sideline on his wheel route, but the quarterback feels some pressure and opts against the throw.

It’s not just speed that Lane has either, he has great short area quickness, meaning he can make sharp cuts and change direction at speed.

That ability to make sharp cuts and win with quickness should become a huge asset for Lane at the next level, especially working out of the slot. Quick slot receivers can be a huge threat over the middle of the field on things like choice routes where their quickness can see them beat a less athletic defender and run open over the middle of the field.

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Commanders.com​

5 things to know about Jaylin Lane​

He bet on himself after a career season with MTSU.​

Lane had to be patient for an opportunity with the Blue Raiders. He finished his freshman season with 13 receptions and a touchdown against Troy and had a role on special teams, but he only played in 177 snaps.

However, Lane was a more important piece of the offense the following season. He played in 12 games with eight starts, catching 42 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns while also keeping his role as the team’s punt returner. As a senior, Lane was even more impactful with 940 yards and five touchdowns, both of which led the team and earned him Second Team All-C-USA honors.

Lane could have gone on to be one of the best receivers in program history at MTSU but decided to transfer and finish his college career at Virginia Tech. The decision was about giving him the best chance to make it to the NFL, and he felt like the Hokies were his best opportunity.

“You always aim for the highest,” Lane said after the Commanders drafted him. “Being an NFL player has been a dream since I was a kid and making that decision to transfer was ultimately to elevate myself so I could continue to challenge myself.”

Lane had 1,004 yards in 2023 and 2024 combined, and while his production did not increase, his work ethic and athleticism stood out against a high level of competition.

Jaylin lane twitch and burst ‍ ‍ #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/fOM96WDkYN

— PAIN (@Xommanders) April 30, 2025​

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Washington Post (paywall)​

Can the D.C. Council really say no to RFK Stadium site deal? Answers to your questions.​

Post Metro and Sports reporters answered your questions about the deal to bring the NFL franchise back to D.C. during a live chat.

Question: I’m getting a little bit of Leonsis to Virginia vibes (counting your chickens, putting the cart before the horse, or whatever euphemism you want to use). This mammoth agreement still has to pass the D.C. Council. With Congress cutting D.C.’s funding, that seems like no sure thing. So is the thought to have this celebratory press conference that it will get the region and the Council behind the proposal? Because it seems like nothing has actually changed between when the details of the deal were reported a couple of weeks ago and yesterday’s press conference.

Answer:

Sam Fortier, Commanders beat writer

Jeff, totally hear you. Meagan and I were part of the team covering the Monumental-Virginia deal, and it was not lost on us that both groups had big pep rally-esque news conferences before getting sign off from jurisdictional legislators. But I will say there are a couple big differences.

1. Commanders owner Josh Harris and D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser signed a term sheet. Yeah, the term is relatively short — the exclusive negotiating window ends July 15 — but it’s more serious than Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Ted Leonsis ever got. They never had a signed document.

2. Harris is very motivated to leave Northwest Stadium. Sure, Leonsis had his complaints about Cap One Arena in downtown D.C., but in the end, he knew he had a venue in a prime location that he’d already made significant investment around, such as the Monumental TV studio. Cap One was a better consolation prize than Northwest’s location would be.

Harris seems confident it’ll happen. He dismissed a question about if he worried about ending up like Leonsis: “It’s going to sell itself,” he said. “The council will recognize what an incredible opportunity this is.”

So, the big question now: Can a vocal opponent of a new Commanders stadium pull a Louise Lucas and torpedo the whole thing?

Rick Snider’s Washington answers 5 questions on theWashington Commanders proposed stadium. Gimme two minutes. pic.twitter.com/JXOR3ZGZ56

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) April 30, 2025​

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Washington Post (paywall)​

After that Commanders pep rally, it’s time for D.C. to get a better deal​

It’s early to celebrate the Commanders’ return to the RFK Stadium site, because the work is still getting started.

[L]et’s not act as though this is a straight-up gift from a new ownership group whose reputation is glistening in part because it is held up against that of the previous, dreadful regime.

Yes, the $2.7 billion that Josh Harris’s group would put into a new stadium on the eastern edge of Capitol Hill is a large number, and it doesn’t appear he’s trying to fleece the District. But another large number is $1 billion, which appears to be the floor on funds that would come from D.C. Don’t allow the mayor’s office to distract you by saying the percentage of public money is the lowest of any recently built NFL stadium. It’s not, because suburban Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium received a total of $0.

Monday’s announcement, with a gleeful Bowser flanked by Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, might have felt like the end of a long, meandering process. It’s really just the start of one.

Another way to look at it: Of the nine NFL stadiums that have opened or are being built since 2009, only one — the upcoming facility for the Tennessee Titans in Nashville — is receiving more public cash.

This, at a time when the District’s bond rating was just downgraded, which could make it more expensive to borrow money. This, at a time when the federal workforce is shrinking by the day, meaning a company town is losing company people — and jobs. This, at a time when the budget Bowser will submit to the council could cut hundreds of millions of dollars from city services. Yeah, maybe the capital budget that funds projects such as this is a different bucket. But the District as a whole is a bucket that’s leaking at the moment.

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Deadspin​

What’s Next? Three NFL Teams That Need to Make a Move After the Draft​

Just for fun, type “which NFL teams need a cornerback” into a search engine. What we got back was this list: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, New York (Giants), New York (Jets), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington Football Team.

Hey, wait a minute. Washington Football Team? Turns out the search engine focused on a story from 2020, so maybe we shouldn’t use that search engine again (its name makes you think of Chanandler Bong).

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Commanders.com​

Why the Commanders didn’t draft an edge rusher​

Everybody, breathe, because the Commanders don’t seem panicked by how things worked out for them. The Commanders trusted their draft board throughout the weekend, and while they’re not necessarily settled at the defensive end position, they chose who they believed were the best players available when they were on the clock.

“It wasn’t, ‘We weren’t going to address edge at any point,’” assistant general manager Lance Newmark said at the end of the seventh round. “There were never any conversations of that mindset. It was, ‘These players made the most sense for us.’”

Analysts generally agree with the Commanders’ assessment of their draft class and have given the team favorable grades. What many point out, however, is the lack of attention given to edge players.

It’s also worth pointing out that other teams were looking to capitalize on the depth at pass-rusher. Prior to the Commanders taking Lane, four edge rushers went off the board. So, rather than reach for an edge rusher, they took Lane, the best player on their board at the time, who could add dimensions to their offense and provide help in the return game.

That strategy falls in line with how the Commanders have operated since Peters took over; trust the board, don’t overreach and take the best possible players who can help the roster.

They still have months to go before the season starts in September, and Newmark always has an eye on how they can improve the roster.

“You certainly are always watching that board,” Newmark said. “We watch it every day and we always circle back to guys and see where they’re at. Sometimes they don’t want to do anything right now, but that’s constant. It’s on the wall in my office, so I see it every morning when I walk in and we talk about it on literally a daily basis.”

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Riggo’s Rag​

5 free-agent targets the Washington Commanders should sign after the draft​

Za’Darius Smith, EDGE​

Za’Darius Smith is another veteran pass rusher who had a very productive season last year and could help Washington get to the quarterback next season. Smith joined the Lions on a one-year deal last season and made the most of his opportunity. He hit double sacks again with 10 on the season, and finished 10th in the NFL with 63 pressures, and sixth in the league with 46 hurries. Smith played a lot more snaps than Von Miller did, with 615 total snaps (421 pass rush, and 178 run defense), compared to Miller’s 279 snaps, primarily as a situational rusher. At 32 years old, Smith could be a player who joins Washington to make a major impact, and re-joins the team a year later.

Za'Darius Smith sacks Darnold inside the 5!

: #MINvsDET on NBC/Peacock
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HFix4IqGLr

— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025​

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Podcasts & videos​

Episode 1,062 - Guest: @TampaBayTre on Commanders' draft class, which got a B+ from @PFF. Great analysis of all five players. Outlook for Josh Conerly Jr. Big fan of Trey Amos. Believes both Jaylin Lane & Jacory Croskey-Merritt can make immediate impacts.https://t.co/e8Jax4Rjt2

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) April 30, 2025​

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Commanders’ Draft Class RANKED Among NFC East Rival Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles, and a Kicker Change​

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NFC East links​

Bleeding Green Nation​

Ranking who the Eagles should play in the NFL’s season-opening Kickoff Game​

If history is our guide, the NFL’s first game of the season will feature the Eagles at home, but against whom?

There are eight teams against whom the Birds, who won the Super Bowl, could play: the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Bears, Lions, Broncos, Rams and Raiders.

There are some truly marquee possibilities in there, and here is my ranking of who I would like to see the defending Super Bowl champions play as they attempt to defend the Super Bowl they won by humiliating Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs 40-22.

1) Detroit Lions​

Let’s not kid ourselves, for most of last season, the Lions were the best team in the NFC. They were the No. 1 seed, going 15-2 with an offense that seemingly scored at will and mirrored the Eagles’ run-happy, big-play scheme. But injuries decimated their defense as the season went along, leaving them thinner than a piece of single-ply toilet paper by the time the Washington Commanders faced them in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Obviously, the Eagles were pleased things worked out the way they did. The Commanders won, the Eagles got to host the NFC Championship Game against a rookie QB, and the rest is history. But we never got to see these two titans ball out on the big stage, so it only seems right to open the season with perhaps the league’s two best teams going at it in an alternate reality NFC title game rematch.

2) Washington Commanders​

All that being said, the Commanders’ ascent to the NFC Championship Game was remarkable, and there is perhaps no more exciting a player in the league than Daniels. The NFL loves to feature its marketable stars, and even though they lost 55-23 in the title game, very little of that was Daniels’ fault. He actually played quite well, and the Commanders were one of only three teams to beat the Eagles a season ago.

How can the NFL resist an NFC Championship Game rematch between division rivals featuring the hottest young QB in the league? It will be difficult. Personally, having played Washington three times last year (and the Eagles really should have won the middle game they lost in DC), I’m more interested in seeing how they match up with Detroit, but opening against the Commanders would be a ton of fun, too.

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Blogging the Boys​

The best and worst pick of the Cowboys 2025 draft​

Worst Pick: Shemar James​

The pick that seems like the most head-scratching for the Cowboys is taking Shemar James with the 152nd overall pick in the fifth round. Why it’s a striking move is that the Cowboys moved up 22 spots after making a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, giving up their 174th and 211th overall picks in the process.

James is a player that some outlets had falling to as far as the seventh round, so the Cowboys aggressively moving to take him comes as a surprise. As a prospect, James has some warts. Draft analysts say he doesn’t process what he is seeing fast enough in the running game causing him to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Although his speed on the field looks adequate, James didn’t test well on the 40-yard dash at the combine, running a 4.69.

At 6’1”, 221 lbs., James is a shade undersized. When you look at the depth chart, is there anyone that James can push for playing time? With the Cowboys needing so much on the roster, taking a player you traded up to get who may not see the field as a rookie doesn’t seem like the best move. You hope that Dallas’ defensive coordinator Matt Ebeflus has a plan for James and we’ll curiously await to see that.

If a player struggles with diagnosing plays in college, how well can he do as a rookie at the NFL level? You hope that James finds a way to contribute as a rookie but as of now, he may be one of the least equipped rookies of this Cowboys draft to do so given the circumstances.

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️ ️ 4.30 Video Mailbag ️ ️

@Giants' aggression to land Jaxson Dart.
@DallasCowboys receiver depth.
College athletes weighing NIL vs. @NFL.

FULL SHOW: https://t.co/0IXRkYP2Jd pic.twitter.com/BdZxUVKrxC

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 30, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

NFL.com​

Jets second-year QB Jordan Travis retiring after consultation with medical experts​

New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis’ NFL career has ended before it ever truly started.

The 24-year-old informed the club of his intent to retire after being medically advised to do so. Travis didn’t play a down after being selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following a gruesome leg injury at Florida State.

“On November 18, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn,” Travis said in a statement, via the team. “I gave everything I had to the rehab process but despite all my efforts, my leg never responded the way we hoped. After much prayer and consultation with the doctors, medical experts and my agent, I’ve been medically advised to retire from the game I love so deeply.”

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Discussion topics​

From The Insiders: When Shedeur Sanders finally got taken by the #Browns, he knew it wasn’t a prank. Video calls. The wave of the NFL Draft future. pic.twitter.com/W9tcFnraV3

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 30, 2025​

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The best RB for each NFL team ever: pic.twitter.com/dzaeREOeff

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 30, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

New Commanders in the building pic.twitter.com/fMpM4jI3vZ

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

Set the standard pic.twitter.com/VgsyNdwbn7

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 30, 2025​

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Two weeks til schedule release @Seatgeek | #RaiseHail

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 30, 2025​

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The #Commanders have transformed from a laughingstock to a model NFL franchise under new ownership — and the news of a state-of-the-art stadium being built at the RFK Stadium site marks their latest major milestone. RFK Stadium is where the glory days were at.

Full daily… https://t.co/O7OVDU1Xg8 pic.twitter.com/oYToX2WuQC

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 30, 2025​

What’s next for the Washington Commanders stadium deal in DC?

Colin asked a good question during our subscriber Q&A, so I broke it down here.

Full Q&A below pic.twitter.com/BtgKDLOVyZ

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 30, 2025​

From The Insiders: The #Jets became the first team since the introduction of the fifth-year option in 2011 to pick up three of them in the same year. Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson are all under contract for 2026. pic.twitter.com/OB7mU0O41R

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 30, 2025​

interior O-Line 1st round struggles:

we've seen interior offensive linemen post a terrible hit rate as we're 12 years into 5th year options

just 12-of-27 (44%) interior OL hit (5th yr option or multi-yr extension)

only RBs have a lower hit ratehttps://t.co/9j26roUnjS pic.twitter.com/q67Ls1JrEU

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 30, 2025​

Shoutout Logan Paulsen! #RaiseHail #joshconerlychallenge pic.twitter.com/J0wLsrBhER

— Deuce__ @redzoneinthelab podcast (@redzoneinthelab) April 30, 2025​

I guess this is what the cool kids are doing. How’s my kick step?@joshuaconerlyjr @redzoneinthelab #JoshConerlyChallenge #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/NgLtfqphoU

— Hot Take Freddie (@HotTakeFreddie) April 30, 2025​

.@frankluvu7 IS IN THE HOUSE #ALLCAPS x #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/8BukcZ7F9C

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/fsZeVeeXWX

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 1, 2025​

For the first time since 2018, the @Capitals are heading to Round 2! #ALLCAPS | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/93AStdIUo1

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 1, 2025​

#ALLCAPShttps://t.co/X3vSv5pEus

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 1, 2025​

washington going to the bottom, ovi retired after this season

— Miz Delicate (@MizDelicate679) May 1, 2025​

boy do i have news for you pic.twitter.com/yIoZNjSRwc

— nachocheesefries (@KillingRoofed) May 1, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/1/...anders-4th-round-draft-pick-wr-pr-jaylin-lane

 

[Washington Commanders]

The 5 O’Clock Club: The best five

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…

The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

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CLICK HERE to see the full 5 o’clock club archive

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We aren’t likely to know the exact makeup of the starting five offensive linemen until sometime in August at the earliest, and possibly not until the offense takes the field for the first time in Week 1.

That said, we have a pretty good idea about who will probably make the roster. In addition to Sam Cosmi, who will certainly enter the season on the PUP list (and not count towards the 91-man limit), I’d say there are likely 8 roster locks.

• Laremy Tunsil
• Brandon Coleman
• Josh Connerly
• Tyler Biadasz
• Andrew Wylie
• Nick Allegretti
• Trent Scott
• Nate Herbig

The team should keep nine or ten linemen, but the others will be backups and unlikely to compete for starting positions. The five Week 1 starters should come from this group of eight.

We know the status of two players:​

Tunsil will be the starting left tackle

Biadasz will be the starting center

Let’s consider the possibilities for 5 other players:​

Nick Allegretti will either be the starting left guard or he will be relegated to backup guard

Brandon Coleman could be the starting right tackle, the starting left guard (supplanting Allegretti), or he could be a T/G backup. I don’t think the coaches would put Coleman at right guard because that spot belongs to Cosmi when he’s healthy; ideally, his replacement should be someone with just a year left on his contract.

Josh Conerly probably has the same possibilities as Coleman.

Andrew Wylie could be the starting right tackle, the starting right guard, or he could be a backup T/G.

Nate Herbig could be the starting right guard and backup center, or simply a backup interior offensive lineman. He may also have a chance at the starting left guard position.

In my mind, a priority should be getting Coleman and Conerly established in their permanent roles, whatever they may be.

With that in mind, the second consideration should be getting the best five on the field immediately, with an eye towards Cosmi’s eventual return to the lineup, which may not happen before 2026.

Three positions - Three poll questions​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/1/24421482/the-5-oclock-club-the-best-five

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 2 May 25 - With the draft finished, Terry McLaurin contract extension moves up the to-do list for the Commanders

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders on the clock again as Terry McLaurin deal takes center stage​

This is now a big priority.

The gifted wide receiver became a shining light amid the chaos under previous regimes. McLaurin remained professional while others let their frustrations build and, in some cases, left when the first opportunity arrived. He was also highly productive as all around him crumbled.

McLaurin stuck around and was eventually vindicated for his loyalty. The Commanders are on a completely different path now. They have an ambitious owner, a masterful roster builder, and an experienced head coach. They also happen to have a franchise quarterback for the first time since the wideout was drafted.

Peters has already signaled his intent to make McLaurin another extension offer ahead of time. He’s got one more year on his deal, but this still represents a sound investment. Now that other priorities have diminished slightly, there is no better time than to reward the undisputed locker room leader for his sterling commitment.

McLaurin wants to stay. He loves the fanbase and cares deeply about the organization. He’s everything one looks for in a franchise cornerstone, so complications should be minimal during negotiations.

Depending on the deal, McLaurin has the scope to be a Washington football lifer when it’s all said and done.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

NFL Draft Analysis: Washington Commanders​

Keeping an eye on the Eagles’ NFC East rivals.

Kain Medrano, Linebacker, UCLA​

Kain Medrano looks and moves like a safety at 6’2” and 220 pounds. He is a truly excellent athlete at that size and it shows up the way he moves downhill and sideline to sideline. Considering Washington is looking to add speed to their rebuilding defense, this selection already makes sense.

Medrano thrived in coverage at UCLA but really, really struggled as a tackler. Size and technique worked against him as an in-the-box run defender. He missed over 20% of attempted tackles during his career, which is a shocking number.

As a late round flier, the Medrano pick is smart. He could potentially move to safety or be a Big Nickel defender for Dan Quinn. No matter what, he will need to improve his tackling if he wants to get on the field at all.

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Commanders.com​

5 things to know about Kain Medrano​

He originally committed to UCLA as a wide receiver.

Medrano chose UCLA over Colorado State and Wyoming expecting to be a wide receiver. After all, that’s where he had the most impact at the high school level and was one of the better wideout prospects in the country.

Medrano saw little action as a freshman and only played in the 2019 season finale. That’s when then-head coach Chip Kelly presented him with an opportunity to play linebacker — a position that was largely unfamiliar to him.

It took about two seasons for Medrano to develop, but he ended his career as a team captain and one of the most important players for the Bruins’ defense. He wrapped up his senior season with 72 tackles, four pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

The position is still new to Medrano, but if he continues to make progress, he could end up having a similar jump in the NFL.

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WUSA9​

Commanders’ $3.7B stadium to implement PSLs, raising affordability concerns​

PSLs for NFL Stadiums currently under construction range from $750 to $75,000 per seat.

The Washington Commanders’ proposed $3.7 billion stadium on the former RFK site will implement Permanent Seat Licenses (PSLs). This widespread NFL practice could price out longtime fans despite owner Josh Harris’ stated commitment to inclusivity.

“My first question always is, how do we make it so that a family that doesn’t have all the money in the world, can be included in this?” Harris said regarding stadium planning, the day the announcement was made.

PSLs require fans to pay a one-time fee for the right to purchase season tickets, similar to a country club membership, and completely separate from the annual cost of the tickets themselves.

The Commanders confirmed PSLs will be part of the new stadium financing, but haven’t established prices since they haven’t completed stadium design or PSL analysis, which the team says are interconnected.

According to NFL data, 21 of the league’s 32 teams currently utilize PSLs, with Washington soon becoming the 22nd.

According to the term sheet agreement with the team, the District technically owns all PSL rights as the stadium owner, but will transfer these rights to the Commanders.

“We expect the team to use the value of the seat licenses to help finance the stadium,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said regarding the arrangement.

Petro explained that premium seat PSLs for the Bills’ new stadium cost up to $50,000 per seat, with lower bowl seats requiring PSLs up to $8,000 each. Even upper-level seats carry PSLs as high as $2,500.

Petro believes Washington’s PSLs will likely be more expensive due to the larger market and higher stadium cost.

PSLs for Allegiant Stadium range from $500 to $75,000, while the Tennessee Titans’ new stadium, which is under construction, has PSLs ranging from $750 to $75,000. Both stadiums cost roughly half the projected price of the Commanders’ proposal.

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Podcasts & videos​

Washington Commanders Draft GRADES | Jay Gruden’s Recap​

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Talked to @Coach_JayGruden about the Commanders’ draft, his analysis of each pick. Thoughts on the D, the roster. DE talk. A guard at 12 for Dallas? More. https://t.co/XRaEz7woEA

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 1, 2025​

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Former Washington QB Alex Smith joins me on the LMS pod. We discuss Jayden Daniels' bonkers rookie season, the Commanders building around the QB, new stadium joy and Alex's new project. I also dig into the 53-player roster and possible additions. https://t.co/MIGNOZOVvS pic.twitter.com/MmZgoP18qn

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 1, 2025​

Alex Smith on a new stadium: "I can't tell you how many times I drove home from Landover, a drive none of us liked - it was so long and the game day experience wasn't great out there. I would drive right by RFK. ... Finally, it's amazing it will be back there, as it should be."

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 1, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Pro Football Talk​

Eight NFL teams will debut “Rivalries” jerseys in 2025​

Starting in 2025, the NFL will introduce “Rivalries” jerseys inspired by the communities of the teams.

The first wave, debuting in 2025, will cover the teams of the AFC East and NFC West. The league will add two new divisions every year.

Via Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, the jerseys will be worn only by the home team in a division rivalry. Every team will be required to wear the “Rivalries” jersey at least once every three years. It can be used more frequently than that, against any of its three division rivals.

The AFC East and NFC West “Rivalries” jerseys will debut later this year, before the start of the season, for the Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals.

While teams are limited to four games with throwback or alternate jerseys, this is just another jersey that fans can buy. Which is the obvious motivation here. The most zealous fans will want to have another jersey.

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Front Office Sports​

Bill Belichick’s PR Nightmare Is a Product of Losing Longtime Confidante​

“Belichick has had a personal PR guy for 20 years. But he doesn’t have Berj [Najarian] anymore,” a source told FOS.

During one of the longest weeks of his career, Bill Belichick fumbled and stumbled during and after his cringey interview with CBS. Former players and NFL pundits asked: How can the 73-year-old coach put his career and legacy in the hands of 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson?

Sources tell Front Office Sports Belichick’s biggest problem is the absence of his secret weapon: Berj Najarian.

During Belichick’s 24-year run with the Patriots, Najarian stood by his side as the coach’s “consigliere,” according to the New York Times. One of his official titles was “chief of staff.” But reporters knew Najarian as the “gatekeeper” for the six-time Super Bowl–winning coach, according to the Times—and as Belichick’s “right-hand man” per CBS News. Belichick largely delegated his media relations to Najarian, allowing him to focus on football.

When Belichick was fired by Pats owner Robert Kraft in early 2024, Najarian joined former Patriots OC Bill O’Brien at Boston College as chief of staff. That left Belichick adrift without his key media advisor and protector. Since then, Belichick has tried to put Hudson in Najarian’s role, according to former Pats players like Julian Edelman.

That’s led to obvious problems since the ex-cheerleader doesn’t yet have the training or experience to pull it off.

“Belichick has had a personal PR guy for 20 years. But he doesn’t have Berj anymore,” said one source directly familiar with Najarian’s confidante role with the Pats. “Berj works for Bill O’Brien at BC now. So Bill’s all by himself.”

As Hudson did during the infamous CBS sitdown, Najarian tended to quietly hover while Belichick conducted big interviews. He’d also let Pats beat reporters know when the boss was displeased. But none of Belichick’s Pats interviews turned into a fiasco the way the CBS sitdown did, with Hudson angrily telling Tony Dokoupil the couple would not answer questions about their relationship. She also allegedly stormed off the set, causing a 30-minute delay. That violated the first rule of media management: Never make yourself the story.

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All aTwitter​

Jaylin Lane expects to help the Commanders on point returns, kick returns, as a receiver and as ball-carrier. Sign me up for that. pic.twitter.com/vUFMFLtLHz

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 1, 2025​

The 25 year resurgence of the @Commanders is something fans & @RossTuckerNFL have been waiting for #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/S5yfLGlEp4

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 1, 2025​

O-Line on the grind pic.twitter.com/NsnsJASD7b

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

The good man @Djbienaime stopped by @TraporDive last night to set the record straight on why the Houston Texans moved on from Laremy Tunsil and his character makeup.

At the end of the day, the Commanders got a #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/9grj78uJsD

— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) March 12, 2025​

Trey Amos had an 89.9 Coverage Grade since 2023 (5th Among CBs)#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/mBbTp5aytp

— CommandersMuse (@CommandersMusee) April 26, 2025​

.@Coach_JayGruden does a great job on his "Clean Pocket Podcast" through Underdog Fantasy.

He reviewed the #Commanders draft, and didn't seem too high on UCLA LB Kain Medrano.

He echoed this on the John Keim Report. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/sZ4P17Mkv2

— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) May 1, 2025​

Jaylin lane twitch and burst ‍ ‍ #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/fOM96WDkYN

— PAIN (@Xommanders) April 30, 2025​

New Commanders WR Jaylin Lane, who played his college ball at Virginia Tech, says he can return kicks as well as punts:

"I'm comfortable in both facets of the return game. I'm ready to go out and make some plays and help us win."

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 30, 2025​

.@j_lane_2 to the house! pic.twitter.com/24DQqpidsB

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

Because with Alex Smith starting, Washington's record was 11-5 with a division title plus an insane leg injury in between? Tough crowd. https://t.co/O9BqVJzt8a

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 2, 2025​

“Have to trade him.”@RealTannenbaum on what the Falcons should do with Kirk Cousins. pic.twitter.com/UEYwXU9uxE

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 1, 2025​

Why did Shedeur Sanders slide so far? One G.M. said that he seemed to approach the pre-draft process as if he was being "recruited," not "interviewed." https://t.co/w3CNgsFq33

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 2, 2025​

work in B&W ️️ pic.twitter.com/RUkPbDTFNm

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

Adam Peters is good at his job and lowkey is a comedian #RaiseHail #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/kgw1oPFSO9

— DC Sports Experience (@DCsportsXP) April 23, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/2/...on-moves-up-the-to-do-list-for-the-commanders

 

[Washington Commanders]

Mark Tyler’s IDEAL starters for the Washington Commanders at each position

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The 2025 NFL Draft just finished, and training camp is still a few months away, however it’s never too early to begin discussing who Washington’s starters will be for the upcoming campaign.

Bill’s article - “The best five” got me thinking more BIG PICTURE about how this team could potentially look come September. Below are my ideal starters and key backup at each position.

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Commanders Offense:​

QB: Jayden Daniels

Backup - Marcus Mariota

RB: Brian Robinson

Backup - Jacory Croskey-Merritt

3rd Down RB: Austin Ekeler

Backup - Jacory Croskey-Merritt

WR (X): Terry McLaurin

Backup - Noah Brown

Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

WR (Move): Deebo Samuel

Backup - Ja’Corey Brooks

Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

WR (slot): Luke McCaffrey

Backup - Jaylin Lane

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TE (Y): Zach Ertz

Backup - Ben Sinnott

Amber Searls-Imagn Images

TE (F): John Bates

Backup - Ben Sinnott

LT: Laremy Tunsil

Backup - Trent Scott

LG: Brandon Coleman

Backup - Nick Allegretti

C: Tyler Biadasz

Backup - Nate Herbig

RG: Sam Cosmi (Andrew Wylie until Cosmi returns)

Backup - Andrew Wylie/Nate Herbig

RT: Josh Conerly

Backup - Andrew Wylie

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Commanders Defense:​

Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

EDGE: Dorance Armstrong

Backup - Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

DT: Daron Payne

Backup - Eddie Goldman

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

DT: Javon Kinlaw

Backup - Jer’Zhan Newton

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

EDGE: Deatrich Wise (TBD)

Backup - Clelin Ferrell

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

LB (MIKE): Bobby Wagner

Backup - Jordan Magee

Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LB (WILL): Frankie Luvu

Backup - Dominique Hampton/Kain Medrano

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Hybrid (LEO): Jacob Martin/Frankie Luvu (situationally)

Backup - Dominique Hampton

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CB: Marshon Lattimore

Backup - Jonathan Jones

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

CB: Trey Amos

Backup - Car’lin Vigers/Jonathan Jones

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Slot CB: Mike Sainristil

Backup - Noah Igbinoghene

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Big Nickle: Tyler Owens

Backup - Dominique Hampton

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

SS: Will Harris

Backup - Tyler Owens

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

FS: Quan Martin

Backup - Percy Butler

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Special Teams:​

Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

K: Matt Gay

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

P: Tress Way

Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

KR: Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Backup - Luke McCaffrey

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

PR: Jaylin Lane

Backup - Ja’Corey Brooks

Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Special Teams Captain: Jeremy Reaves

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/2/...or-the-washington-commanders-at-each-position

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 3 May 25 - Film breakdown on Commanders’ 6th round pick, LB Kain Medrano

Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

What are the Washington #Commanders getting in 6th round pick Kain Medrano?

-Outstanding athletic profile
-Excellent coverage ability
-Extremely inconsistent tackler

Full breakdown linked below pic.twitter.com/UCApITkqFv

— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) May 2, 2025​

Articles​

Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)​

What Kain Medrano brings to the Washington Commanders​

He arrived at UCLA as a wide receiver before converting to defense. At 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, Medrano looks more like a big safety than a traditional linebacker, but that body type does very much fit the profile of safety/linebacker hybrids that Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. love. It’s almost the same frame as Jeremy Chinn, who the Commanders signed in 2024 but let walk in free agency this year.

While Medrano is listed as a linebacker, that frame comparison to Chinn should tell you more about what his role will likely be in Washington. As a linebacker, he’s undersized, but as a safety/big nickel/dime linebacker hybrid, his body type fits exactly what the Commanders are looking for. To go along with his frame, Medrano is an outstanding athlete. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, fastest of any linebacker at the combine and would have ranked seventh fastest among safeties. He also had great explosive and agility testing numbers, showing he’s a very well-rounded athlete.

What that means for the Commanders is that they have a very fluid athlete with plenty of upside in a role they like to use plenty within their system. In his press conference after being drafted, Medrano explained he has experience playing as a Will (weak side) linebacker and as a big nickel. I think it’s that big nickel role that intrigues me most about him. His huge upside is his coverage ability. Because of his fluidity for a guy of his size, Medrano is capable of covering a variety of different players in a variety of different schemes.

Medrano shows good instincts in zone coverage, feeling routes working behind him and sinking underneath them to squeeze throwing windows shut. But he’s also capable of playing man coverage too.

Medrano’s athletic ability means he can be a flexible coverage piece for the Commanders defense. He can make up a lot of ground in a short period of time, enabling the defense to show some disguised looks and still trust him to get to his coverage assignment.

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Commanders.com​

5 things to know about Jacory Croskey-Merritt​

He was named Offensive MVP in the East-West Shrine Bowl​

It had been a while since Croskey-Merritt had competed in any semblance of an actual game when he was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Despite that time off, he handled himself well in the all-star game by rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

For his performance, Croskey-Merritt was named the Offensive MVP.

“It’s a blessing just to be up here,” Croskey-Merritt said after the game.

It was proof to the NFL, and Croskey-Merritt himself, that he still has much to offer to another team. Newmark even mentioned that performing well in the all-star circuit helped his cause, and the Commanders are excited about what he could offer to their team.

Whatever those plans are, Croskey-Merritt is eager to get things started.

“I would add a variety of talent, whatever they need me at, whether it’s special teams or running back,” Croskey-Merritt said. “I’m just ready to make this team better.”

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The Athletic (paywall)​

Execs unfiltered thoughts on NFL Draft for every NFC team​

Commanders’ draft picks​

Execs did not see any surefire top left tackles in the draft, which is one reason the Commanders acquired Laremy Tunsil from Houston. Doubling up with another tackle in the first round — Josh Conerly Jr. of Oregon at No. 29 — sought to solidify the line.

“This is following the blueprint of how to fix an offensive line,” an exec said. “Throw all of your resources at the problem. I’m shocked they didn’t take another one, frankly.”

GM Adam Peters was with San Francisco when the 49ers acquired left tackle Trent Williams.

“There is no development when you do that,” another exec said. “‘We have the young quarterback (Jayden Daniels). Let’s solidify the left side. Then they draft a guy in Conerly who has a ton of upside, can play guard if need be, can slide into that battle at right tackle. He is a high-end athlete, he is young in this class. All that stuff is really, really positive for them.”

The Tunsil trade also returned a fourth-round pick, which the Commanders used for receiver Jaylin Lane. Houston used Washington’s third-round pick for another receiver, Jaylin Noel. The Texans also have Washington’s second- and fourth-round picks next year.

“I saw Lane more as a gadget/slot, but he will probably be their starting kick returner and punt returner,” another exec said, “which gives them some explosive-play value.”

NFL Draft 2025’s best undrafted free agent fits: One player to watch on each roster​

Washington Commanders: Fentrell Cypress II, CB, Florida State​

A relatively disciplined corner with good length, Cypress (6-0, 182) ran a 4.43 40 with a 38-inch vertical and 10-3 broad jump at his pro day, after a six-year career (four at Virginia, two at Florida State). He worked opposite Azareye’h Thomas last season, tying with him for the team lead in forced incompletions (6).

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Washington Commanders offseason program dates​

Voluntary workouts - First day: April 22

Rookie minicamp: May 9-10

OTA offseason workouts: May 28, May 30, June 3-4, June 6

Mandatory minicamp: June 10-12

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Podcasts & videos​

Brian Mitchell Talks RFK Stadium + Commanders 2025 NFL Draft Class | Command Center​

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Photos​

PHOTOS | OTAs Week 1​

Check out the top photos from the first week of OTAs.

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

Giants GM Joe Schoen: Jaxson Dart sitting behind veteran QBs will be ‘beneficial’ during rookie season​

In 2018, Schoen was an assistant general manager in Buffalo and Daboll the offensive coordinator when the Bills selected Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick. In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, Schoen likened the New York Giants’ situation with 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart to his experience in Buffalo.

“We’ve been through this, we went through it with Josh Allen,” the Big Blue GM said. “We had a little bit different quarterback room at the time, but he was going to sit his rookie year and then halftime of the opening game we’re getting smoked by Baltimore, so we put him in and the rest was history. So that plan didn’t go as well, but we didn’t have a Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston in the room. So again, Jaxson’s going to come in, he’s got to learn the offense, there’s a lot to learn, these NFL offenses are hard to grasp and pick up and then be able to go out and execute, so the ability for him to learn and sit behind two consummate pros already will be beneficial for him.”

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Big Blue View​

New York Giants had the best 2025 NFL Draft — survey​

Voters impressed by what the Giants accomplished

The New York Giants had, by far, the best 2025 NFL Draft class, according to voters in this week’s SB Nation ‘NFL Reacts’ national survey.

Thirty-one percent of the voters in our poll said the Giants, with a class that included edge defender Abdul Carter, quarterback Jaxson Dart, defensive tackle Darius Alexander and running back Cam Skattebo ranked the Giants No. 1.

GM Joe Schoen was under pressure to improve the talent on a team that went 3-14 in 2024, and to find a potential quarterback of the future. He accomplished both.

SB Nation voters also believe that Schoen brought the best player in the draft to New York. Carter, with 40% of the voted edged Travis Hunter (38%) when voters were asked which of the top five players selected would be the biggest star.

Of the next five quarterbacks selected after Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, SB Nation voters also expect Dart to have the best rookie season.

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Pro Football Talk​

Report: Phil Simms was “outvoted by his family” on letting Abdul Carter wear No. 11​

Simms told Gary Myers on Friday night that he was “outvoted by his family” on the question of whether his retired jersey should be unretired.

During a Friday appearance on FanDuel TV, Simms said he personally would have no problem with Carter wearing No. 11.

Retirement of a number is the highest honor any team can bestow on a former player. Allowing the jersey to be unretired undermines that distinction.

And so, while the former player might be willing to be magnanimous (or unwilling to come off as selfish), his family can become an important voice in making the final decision.

As former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor told Carter when declining to allow his No. 56 to be worn, Carter needs to make his own way with his own number. Really, if Carter has a truly special career, what happens when he retires? Would No. 11 then co-retired for Simms and Carter?

Carter’s goal should now be to find a number that currently means nothing to the Giants. And then to make it mean everything.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

ESPN​

What are rookie minicamps in the NFL? How they work and more​

Consider: 257 players were drafted last weekend and more than 300 will sign as undrafted free agents. The next pool is the non-roster tryouts, so now you’re into the 600s. Not even Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board goes that deep.

Wait, there’s more: Each team is allowed to invite up to five veterans to try out, many of them forgotten players trying to make a comeback.

Most of a rookie camp is about acclimation though.

The routine varies from team to team, but the rookies generally meet the equipment staff and get fitted for practice attire. The draft picks, who have more job security than the others, are measured for helmets, shoulder pads, pants and cleats. Some teams, such as the Los Angeles Chargers, use a scanner and 3D technology to measure exact foot size.

Players are often introduced to different departments, from strength and conditioning to player development to football operations. The New York Jets have their rookies meet with a player engagement rep who offers tips on local real estate — i.e., where to rent during the season.

Basically, there’s a lot of people to meet and many places to see inside the facility. Some head coaches believe the purpose of the minicamp is to familiarize the rookies with life as a professional football player and to experience the rhythm of a typical workday in the NFL. Onboarding, they call it.

Most of the time is spent in the classroom, with coaches teaching from a scaled-down playbook that includes basic formations, coverages and route concepts. The actual practices are less strenuous than they were years ago. In 2015, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Dante Fowler tore an ACL in minicamp, which still resonates with some coaches. The fear of injury is real.

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Discussion topics​

I did more research and it really depends on the team. But yes… There are some teams which give the PSL holder right to first refusal for any other event at that stadium https://t.co/tqbLy14r35 pic.twitter.com/wYbL1iELsp

— MadHatter LJ (@MadHatter_LJ) May 2, 2025​

Fixing the prank call issue: #NFL can hold all the prospects’ numbers in house, and teams can call the league’s dedicated switchboard and an operator patches them through to the player. *Or* simply make all the calls on streaming video so players see who they are speaking with. pic.twitter.com/dNfban09ak

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 30, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

Phase 1 pic.twitter.com/3YirlM5GNA

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 2, 2025​

.@wisehog94: honorary photographer pic.twitter.com/ervlsAwZ6W

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 2, 2025​

oh and @MikeSainristil got ahold of the camera too pic.twitter.com/VrkDrrtm4I

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 2, 2025​

O-Line on the grind pic.twitter.com/NsnsJASD7b

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 1, 2025​

Todd McShay GUSHING over the #Commanders draft!

Peters knocked it out of the park with only 5 picks! #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/0KWpmDqlOo

— SJM (@DMVCommanders) May 2, 2025​

Rich Eisen has the Commanders NUMBER 2 On his “WAY TOO EARLY” NFL Power Rankings pic.twitter.com/jfBnamNDN3

— Rio Robinson (@Rio_Robinson91) May 1, 2025​

The #Steelers are believed to have a handshake deal with Aaron Rodgers to be their starting QB for 2025. #HereWeGo #NFL

Rodgers is dealing with some personal issues, and after that will join the team. pic.twitter.com/D0l3Iqtzo4

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 3, 2025​

Inspired by @robertmays and @FieldYates excellent discussion on the message teams sent us in the draft, I looked at how teams spent their draft capital as well as how they spent money in free agency based on the percent of each they allocated to the offense: pic.twitter.com/TMbAVkb3jn

— Sam Hoppen (@SamHoppen) April 30, 2025​

Per @PFF, here are successful play percentages on second down (left), and then third down conversion percentages (right).

8 out of the top 10 third down conversion rates were also top 10 in second down success rates. Being good early leads to being good late. That's the game. pic.twitter.com/SmDSDO8pjp

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 30, 2025​

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta with the smartest 2 minutes you’ll hear on the NFL Draft

pic.twitter.com/8A74Mr8vW1

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) May 3, 2025​

On January 28, 1969, NFL Films covered an #NFLDraft for the first time — the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft from the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York.

Howard Cosell shares his thoughts on the draft with Jack Whitaker, and #NFL Films founder Ed Sabol. pic.twitter.com/nwB4Q3QApM

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) April 24, 2025​

.

#NFLDraft, you've come a long way, baby!

NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, chalk, and a chalkboard at the 1966 #NFL Selection Meeting held at New York's Summit Hotel.

No television or radio coverage. Print media only. pic.twitter.com/nT7Y11R4Nd

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) April 24, 2025​

Hear me out Commanders fans.....500 acres ........ Just sayin.........Keep the theme park, add the new stadium, extend the blue line past Largo, right down the road from Northewst Field..#RaiseHail https://t.co/HPoZpUt1hv pic.twitter.com/yOVwKTV11P

— Steve. Lim (@SteveLim_DC) May 1, 2025​

Brian Mitchell https://t.co/qcsjXUNOoL

— Bram Weinstein (@RealBramW) May 3, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/3/...-on-commanders-6th-round-pick-lb-kain-medrano

 

[Washington Commanders]

The 5 O’Clock Club: Madden ‘26

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…

The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

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CLICK HERE to see the full 5 o’clock club archive

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In early June every year – so, about 5 or 6 weeks from now – the annual cover for EA’s Madden NFL game is unveiled. For some, it’s completely inconsequential; for many, it’s a highlight of the NFL offseason.

The cover of the Madden NFL video game isn’t just about the game itself; it really captures the vibe of football and gaming culture. Since the very first game, the cover has showcased some of the biggest stars in the NFL, making it a big deal for players to land that spot. Each year, they pick a cover athlete who really represents the game and reflects what’s happening in the NFL at the moment, often featuring players who are absolutely killing it in their careers.

And let’s not forget the buzz around the Madden cover! There’s this fun superstition called the “Madden Curse” that has intrigued fans and players alike since its inception.

The origins of the Madden Curse can be traced back to the early 2000s, when fans began to notice a pattern of misfortune befalling cover athletes. For instance, running back Eddie George, who was featured on the cover of Madden NFL 2001, experienced a noticeable decline in performance in the following season. Similarly, other cover athletes like Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick and Calvin Johnson faced injuries and performance drops shortly after their appearances.

Despite the apparent trend, many argue that the Madden Curse is largely coincidental and fueled by confirmation bias. After all, the NFL is a physically demanding sport, and injuries are a common occurrence for many players, regardless of their cover status. Moreover, some players have managed to defy the curse, such as Tom Brady, who appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 18 and continued to perform at an elite level.

Awesome: Patriots star QB Drake Maye used to throw to Stefon Diggs in Madden and is now excited to get to throw to him in real life:

"I had him on fantasy teams...playing with him on Madden."

Maye and Diggs will be a LETHAL duo pic.twitter.com/vXV4xpPYSt

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 1, 2025​

EA Sports, of course, seeks to maximize its leverage by selecting the most exciting athlete possible for the annual cover. Who in the NFL is more exciting than the guy who sold more jerseys than any other pro athlete in the world last year, Jayden Daniels?

If I were in charge of cover art at EA Sports, the guy at the top of my list would be JD5. Of course, some might argue that, after a single Rookie of the Year season, it’s too soon to make Jayden Daniels the face of NFL football — that this ‘honor’ should be reserved for veteran players who have spent years building a legacy. They don’t want to see a flash in the pan immortalized on the cover of this iconic game.

What do you think?

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/2/24422061/the-5-oclock-club-madden-26

 

[Washington Commanders]

The 5 O’Clock Club: NFC East wide receivers

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…

The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

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CLICK HERE to see the full 5 o’clock club archive

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I found it surprising, or at least interesting, that the Commanders were the only team in the NFC East to draft a receiver in April, though the Giants are reported to have added six undrafted receivers to their roster.

With a division full of veteran receivers, I thought it might be fun to discuss who has the best individual receiver and who has the best receiving group in the division.

NFC East Wide Receivers​

All stats from Pro Football Reference

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For the Commanders, I included stats from 2023 for Michael Gallup because he was out of the league in ‘24. I have also included the 2024 numbers from Va Tech for Jaylin Lane.

Parris Cambell of the Cowboys got the same treatment as Michael Gallup since he missed almost the entire ‘24 season with injury.

I have included Kelvin Harmon for the Cowboys and Zach Pascal for the Giants because both players started their careers in Washington.

Harmon was a 6th round pick of the Redskins in 2019, but he has not been on the field in a regular season game since suffering an ACL tear in the 2020 offseason. He spent the entire ‘24 season on the Cowboys practice squad, so he would appear to have at least some chance of making the Dallas roster.

Pascal went to Old Dominion, where he was the favorite target of the Monarch’s quarterback, Taylor Heinicke. He joined the Redskins as a UDFA in 2017 but was waived at the end of training camp. He spent four reasonably productive years with the Colts from 2019-2021 where he put up nearly 1,900 yards and scored 15 TDs. He was with the Eagles in 2022 and caught two passes in the super bowl, but he has managed only 19 receiving yards with the Cardinals in the 2 seasons since leaving Philly.

The headliners for these four teams are:

• CeeDee Lamb
• Malik Nabers
• AJ Brown
• DeVonta Smith
• Terry McLaurin
• Deebo Samuel

As a group, the Eagles have impressive drop % figures.

Individually, AJ Brown stands out for his yards per attempt; Terry McLaurin as the only receiver on the list with double-digit TDs; Deebo Samuel as the only one with over 100 rushing yards, and CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers as the only two with over 100 receptions.

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/5/24421513/the-5-oclock-club-nfc-east-wide-receivers

 

[Washington Commanders]

Josh Harris on the NFL Draft in Washington D.C.: "I’m hoping we break 1 million in terms of the visitors"

The NFL draft is coming to D.C. in 2027

The NFL draft is officially coming to Washington D.C. in 2027! Reports came out last night that the franchise has won their bid to be the host city for NFL's traveling draft circus. The three-day event will be held on the National Mall. The podium on the stage will look out towards the Washington Monument.

Today's announcement happened in the Oval Office with President Trump, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders managing partner Josh Harris, and Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser.

Donald Trump, alongside Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris, announces the 2027 NFL Draft will be held at the National Mall in Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/YhFQTJUmbk

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 5, 2025​

Commanders team owner Josh Harris to President Donald Trump…

“You are the ultimate Commander”pic.twitter.com/pMfFhTTMo0

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 5, 2025

It’s official.

The 2027 NFL Draft is headed to Washington, D.C.! pic.twitter.com/cM6nZ1Tg8B

— NFL (@NFL) May 5, 2025​

The 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington, D.C.

The three-day event is expected to shatter its attendance record with well over 1 million fans.

Details

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 5, 2025​

An early look at the 2027 NFL Draft in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/XCYNNPJiFj

— NFL (@NFL) May 5, 2025

Commanders owner Josh Harris hopes the 2027 NFL Draft in D.C. draws a million people. https://t.co/CWLwyD2U5g

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 5, 2025​

“I’m hoping we break 1 million in terms of the visitors,” Harris told The Washington Post in a video conference call Monday, before the announcement. “ … And so there’ll be a million — plus or minus, a million visitors — and then all those people will create a lot of economic activity.”

O’Reilly said the plans for staging the draft “could evolve a bit” over time. For now, those plans including having the main draft theater sit on the National Mall in front of the Capitol, on Fourth Street between Jefferson and Madison drives, near the National Gallery of Art and the National Air and Space Museum.

A person standing at the podium on the draft stage would look out toward the Washington Monument. The backstage area would be on Third Street between Jefferson and Madison. The NFL’s Draft Experience, the league’s expansive fan festival, would largely be on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Fourth and Seventh streets.

“But that core, free, accessible fan viewing area will be on the Mall,” O’Reilly said. He added that more than 20 NFL teams and cities have expressed interest in hosting a draft.

Josh Harris during the Oval Office announcement: “What a great day for Washington. I mean, to host the NFL draft in 2027 on the Mall, I believe we’ll get over a million people. And it’s going to be an amazing day.”

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 5, 2025

Roger Goodell during the Oval Office announcement that the NFL draft will be held in Washington in 2027: “The draft has really become one of the great entertainment and sports events."

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 5, 2025

When the President of the United States gets behind a new stadium at the RFK site…this thing is going to get built.

Watch this from President Trump on the new stadium for the Commanders pic.twitter.com/E2LfUGawNX

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 5, 2025

President Donald Trump on the 2027 NFL draft in Washington: “It’s such an honor to have that. I think it will be great for everybody, great for our country. It’ll be something very special. There’s no scene like it. There’s no site like it.” https://t.co/BUjSRaeIWa

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is a Jayden Daniels fan.

President Trump to Commanders team owner Josh Harris, “you have a very good quarterback. Great quarterback I think.”

Wow. pic.twitter.com/brkFThLxwU

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 5, 2025

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/5/...g-we-break-1-million-in-terms-of-the-visitors

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 6 May 25

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

ESPN​

NFL expects more than 1 million fans to attend 2027 draft in D.C.​

If the crowd indeed tops seven figures, it will set a record for the event. Two years ago, Detroit drew more than 750,000 people for the draft, Goodell said. Last month, Green Bay attracted more than 600,000 fans.

The Detroit Sports Commission estimated the 2024 draft had an economic impact of $213.6 million on the city. Last month’s first round was watched across TV and digital platforms by 13.6 million people, the second-highest total in history — behind only the 2020.

“The draft has become one of the great entertainment sports events,” Goodell said. “We can have a tremendous impact on this community, and it will not just be an event, it will show the world how far the nation’s capital has come and where it’s going.”

It’s the second time in a week that Goodell has participated in a major announcement for the district. Last week, he attended a news conference announcing the stadium deal between the team and the city for nearly $4 billion. That deal still must be approved by the D.C. Council.

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Riggo’s Rag​

One NFL-ready trait each Commanders’ 2025 draft pick already flashes​

Trey Amos - Commanders CB​

• NFL-ready trait: Press coverage

The Washington Commanders considered taking Trey Amos with their first-round pick at No. 29 overall. When the physically imposing cornerback was somehow available at No. 61 late in the second round, Adam Peters wasn’t going to turn down a can’t-miss opportunity.

Amos adds a different dimension to the Commanders’ secondary. He’s tall, agile, physical, and everything in between. Teams rarely tested him over his final college campaign at Ole Miss, something that Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin believes hurt his stock considerably.

That worked in the Commanders’ favor. Amos has the tools needed to be a major asset on the boundary opposite Marshon Lattimore. This will also allow second-year pro Mike Sainristil to spend more time in the slot, which is where most believe his skills to be most effective.

There will be some rookie growing pains. Most first-year cornerbacks go through them aside from the truly elite, such as Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain II. But looking at the player’s credentials in press coverage, he could help immediately if everything goes according to plan this summer.

Amos jams receivers at the line of scrimmage superbly. He can get them off their routes and impose his physical will from start to finish. That will be more difficult versus high-level competition every week, but he’s more than capable of making his presence felt.

Lane Kiffin provides glowing reference for new Commanders CB Trey Amos​

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin believes the Commanders have a tremendous player on their hands in Amos. He also revealed to John Keim of ESPN that not being targeted much during the 2024 campaign is the primary reason behind his falling draft stock.

“He can do everything. He’s got great length and can run, great ball skills. He’s going to be a really good starting corner in the NFL… people didn’t throw at him very much or else he would’ve had that much of a bigger year.”

Lane Kiffin via ESPN

Amos was on an island last season, with quarterbacks wary of throwing in his direction. This should be seen as a positive, but Kiffin thinks it harmed the player’s draft stock.

If everything goes according to plan or perhaps even better than anticipated, he could be among the 2025 draft’s biggest steals when push comes to shove.

Good prospects slip through the cracks every year. But it’s not about where you get drafted, it’s about what they do upon reaching the sport’s pinnacle.

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Commanders Wire​

Jaylin Lane had no idea who might select him in the 2025 NFL draft​

“It’s a cool process,” said Lane. “I meet with a lot of teams. A lot of teams come out, work you out. The Commanders were one of the teams that came and did a private workout with me.”

So, come Saturday, Day 3 of the NFL draft, Lane found himself at home in South Carolina with family and friends, waiting to see who would call him. 127 names had been called when the phone rang for Lane. It was the Commanders’ GM Adam Peters.

“When they called, I was ecstatic, you know, extremely happy,” Lane said. “I am ready to get to work.”

When Paulsen shared that he had seen sites online that Lane is really only listed at 5-foot-8, Lane was quick to respond that he was actually 5-foot-10. Reports are that he was measured at 5-9 3/4 inches tall.

Lane was quick to inform listeners that he has worked both inside in the slot and outside as a receiver, referring to himself as “very versatile.”

t’s not hard to imagine that Lane will be used with quick screens in the Kliff Kingsbury offense that attempted to get the ball quickly to Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus last year. This allowed Brown and Zaccheaus to use their quickness and agility to advance the ball. Lane has more speed than both departed receivers.

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Podcasts & videos​

2025 NFL Schedule Breakdown & Betting Guide | Sharp Football Show with Warren Sharp​

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Dreams into Reality | Watch as GM Adam Peters Calls All of Our Commanders NFL Draft Picks​

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NFC East links​

Crossing Broad​

Farcical Commanders Lovefest Continues with Washington Being Awarded the 2027 NFL Draft​

Here’s the other thing, are you getting sick of this Washington Commanders lovefest? I am. They’re getting all of this publicity and praise for simply not being terrible, for finding a franchise quarterback after like 30 years of stinking up the NFC East. Oh boy, they had a good season for the first time since the first George Bush was in office! Josh Harris hired some people who aren’t idiots! They’re replacing their crappy husk of a stadium with something modern!

Don’t get me wrong, these are all good things, and finally being challenged by the Commies in the division is refreshing, but you and I could have done this. You and I could have stumbled into Jayden Daniels with the 2nd overall pick and fired everyone from the previous regime. We could have brought in the 49ers assistant GM and hired a retread coach. It’s less about how amazing Josh Harris is and more about how completely inept Dan Snyder was. But these people haven’t seen winning football in ages, which means the bar was placed lower than it’s ever been. The bar was basically laying on the ground. All you had to do to clear the bar is have half a brain and a pulse. It’s kind of like that Chris Rock skit where he talks about people taking credit for “shit they’re supposed to do.”

have you noticed that Commies fans are really bad at social media? They got their rear ends kicked in the NFCCG and then watched the Eagles smoke the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. What did they come back with? They talked about fleecing the Birds in the Jahan Dotson trade. Talk about reaching. They’ve been so irrelevant for so long that they don’t know how to banter. It’s sad!

I’m feeling prideful about the NFL Draft coming to DC. pic.twitter.com/gNDUoq6TAM

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 6, 2025​

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I solved Abdul Carter’s jersey number dilemma. pic.twitter.com/fTnD2i0ZB3

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 5, 2025​

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Pro Football Rumors​

Cowboys Expected To Be Cautious With Dak Prescott During OTAs​

Prescott claimed last month that he was already healthy enough to play in a game, and this followed earlier reports that the quarterback would likely be ready to go for May practices. The veteran underwent surgery for a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon in November, so the expedited timeline wasn’t completely unfounded.

Entering the first year of a four-year, $240MM extension signed last September, Prescott and the Cowboys are naturally being cautious with his return to the field. In addition to protecting the asset, there are some other positives to limiting the player’s practice reps.

As Machota notes, there should be more opportunities for Joe Milton to get acclimated with his new team during those early practices. The 2024 sixth-round pick was traded from the Patriots to the Cowboys last month, and after mostly serving as a third-string QB as a rookie, Milton will now enter his sophomore season as Prescott’s primary backup.

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Discussion topics​

Yikes: An AFC college scouting director has his doubts about Texas QB Arch Manning who many see as the No. 1 pick in 2026:

“They're almost surprised with that last name that he has that speed. He gets transformed into this elite prospect. The reality is we haven't really seen… pic.twitter.com/zs5EdnMju0

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 5, 2025​

Sports Illustrated​

NFL Takeaways: Pump the Brakes on Arch Manning’s 2026 Draft Hype​

Manning got into two games during his redshirt season, throwing a total of five passes and logging three carries, all of which accounted for 37 yards. Last year, he flashed, starting two games, getting into 10 and completing 61-of-90 passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two picks. He also ran for 108 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, punctuated by a 67-yard touchdown run against UTSA.

I get it. Everyone’s excited. You should be. It’s a great story.

But, for now, for NFL teams, that’s really all it is. There’s not anywhere near enough to go on to know whether he’ll be a top-five pick or a fifth-rounder down the line. Lots of folks thought Quinn Ewers, whom Manning is succeeding at Texas, was destined to be a first-round pick when he became Texas’s starter in 2022. He went in the seventh round.

“What are we looking at? You’d like to watch a quarterback in double-digit games to really evaluate them. … At other positions, you might get a feel after watching four games and have a good idea of who a guy is. The quarterback position is much different, it requires a much larger bank of film. You want to see him against a variety of different looks. In college, the talent is not as concentrated, so you want to see him against an Alabama or a Georgia.”

In other words, you want to see him after defenses start to game plan for him, and against teams that won’t be overwhelmed by Texas’s array of stars—his two starts last year were against Mississippi State, which went 0–8 in the SEC, and UTSA. Ideally, teams want college quarterbacks to have at least 25 starts, so the volume of things they’ve seen is large enough to get a full assessment.

“You just don’t know until they’re really playing,” said another AFC college scouting director. “Right now, the body of work is too small. We’ve seen big guys with talent, the tools, the arm, that don’t know how to process, and don’t have the accuracy to all levels of the field consistently enough. What we have on [Manning] isn’t nearly enough. You could guess, but that’s really all you’ll be doing—guessing.”

So keep putting Manning first in your 2026 mocks if you want. And I’ll keep thinking it’s way more likely we see him in ’27 or ’28.

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All aTwitter​

The NFL Draft is coming to the nation's capital

See you in 2027! pic.twitter.com/C9A17b9OOd

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 5, 2025​

What a moment! President Donald Trump officially announcing that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington D.C.pic.twitter.com/AMOwYyfBmm

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 5, 2025​

Roger Goodell expects more than 1 million visitors to attend the 2027 NFL Draft in DC

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 5, 2025​

Roger Goodell on the Commanders getting back to RFK: "We think it's going to be a great site...We are happy to be coming back home."

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 5, 2025​

Renderings for the 2027 NFL draft in D.C.

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/9vLLjRKjI3

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 5, 2025​

Who's gonna be announcing the first pick at that draft @tyschmit #PMSLive https://t.co/zBg1pO54Wu pic.twitter.com/mm62fqsRfO

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 5, 2025​

The thought of Arch Manning (3rd generation from “First Family of Football”) being announced as the first pick in the 2027 NFL draft on the National Mall is pretty wild!

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) May 5, 2025​

Hot off the presses

https://t.co/wvr1kmR35n pic.twitter.com/q7MVZOe4xb

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 5, 2025​

Rookie numbers are here pic.twitter.com/hUzXCXyW7r

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 5, 2025​

There's definitely an archetype. pic.twitter.com/AZ8WnY7ik9

— Bobby Gould (@Smith4Gm) May 6, 2025​

Washington Commanders at #19 https://t.co/i8TFFMNWDr

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 5, 2025​

2025 forecasted schedule v 2024 actual schedule

which teams may be in a better place this year?

top-5 in year-over-year improvement:

SF, ARI, SEA, TEN, CAR

bottom-5:

PHI, WAS, HOU, MIN, LAC

full 1-32 schedule improvement index in article

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 5, 2025​

Once a team retires a jersey number, the team should take the lead in saying that number is not available. Don’t put the retired player in the position of having to say yes/no.

— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) May 5, 2025​

As a side not, never been a fan of retiring numbers except for truly transcendent/franchise altering talents. Allow the legacy of those numbers to continue, it should be an honor to wear the number of a franchise great and gives a young player something to work toward. I like…

— Arrowhead Live (@ArrowheadLive) May 5, 2025​

Another one https://t.co/abn95wNM7N

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 5, 2025​

How good was Tyler Shough's tape going into the NFL Draft? @gregcosell says it was the SECOND BEST of all the QBs in the 2025 class!

Via @RossTuckerPod https://t.co/yvmXF5LMKi pic.twitter.com/XuCcnJEvyk

— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) May 5, 2025​

Justin Tucker’s career in Baltimore:

8× All-Pro
7× Pro Bowler
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
Longest FG in NFL history (66 yards)
417/468 on FGs
Highest career FG % in NFL history (89.1%, min. 100 attempts) https://t.co/dphh2h5n1H

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 5, 2025​

Browns offer for Justin Tucker incoming pic.twitter.com/Lk8TVMZbJy

— Megs (@Rad_Megss) May 5, 2025​

Ravens are expected to sign Wyoming K John Hoyland. https://t.co/d7qaUAmraq

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 6, 2025​

@ProFootballTalk

The next #NFL owners meeting is in a few weeks and the Tush Push will again be discussed — will it get banned? Does the league have the votes? pic.twitter.com/TqA8okyx2c

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 5, 2025​

Fuck it Jayden Daniels highlights #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/bhzYXrGe0f

— PAIN (@Xommanders) May 4, 2025​

FYI, the NFL draft has been in Washington before. The 1941 draft was at the Willard Hotel. Picking last, the Redskins selected Michigan running back Forest Evashevski. He never played professionally. Evashevski opted to coach football instead for a year, then spent three years in…

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 5, 2025​

"Alexander Ovechkin is an all time legend..

He's been incredible to watch his whole career"@ryanwhitney6 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/FIzy1oxgMM

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 5, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/6/24421516/daily-slop-6-may-25

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 7 May 25 - Commanders GM Adam Peters goes one-on-one with Pat McAfee

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

Washington Post (paywall)​

NFL commissioner, Commanders owner pitch D.C. Council on stadium deal​

Roger Goodell and Josh Harris attended an informal meet and greet hosted Mayor Muriel Bowser to discuss their stadium project.

Goodell and Harris met privately with Mendelson and mingled with all but one of the council’s members in the mayor’s ceremonial room [demonstrating] the extent of the NFL commissioner’s personal investment in expanding the football league’s footprint in the District.

Goodell, Harris and Bowser came to the Wilson Building after an Oval Office news conference blocks away at the White House, where they joined President Donald Trump in announcing D.C. as the location of the 2027 NFL draft.

But the deal to bring the NFL to the RFK site is far from done, several council members said. Mendelson said he remains wary of allocating public money for a stadium and is waiting to see more details. However, he gave some indication that a stadium may be in the city’s future during a news conference on Monday.

“I expect something will go forward,” Mendelson said. But, he added, he anticipates that the council will make changes to the deal.

The only council member not in attendance at the reception was Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), who said Tuesday that she “wasn’t making a statement” with her absence and that she simply had other commitments. But she said she is still staunchly opposed to a stadium, preferring that D.C.’s dollars and land be used for other priorities.

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The Athletic (paywall)​

Adam Peters’ draft strategy, stadium news, Javon Kinlaw’s role: Commanders mailbag, Part 2​

Who will be this season’s Tyler Owens and Colson Yankoff, undrafted free-agent signings who make the 53 and contribute? — Tim F.

Going off confirmed sources and other reports of expected UDFA signings, here’s a name:

Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville. The projected Week 1 roster with six receivers — five roster locks plus ex-Dallas Cowboy Michael Gallup — includes only two who play on special teams (Lane and Luke McCaffrey). That factor might create an opening for Dane Brugler’s WR36.

Brooks, a former Alabama transfer and five-star high school recruit — only Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-rounder Emeka Egbuka ranked higher among receivers in the 2021 class — blocked a punt in each of his three seasons with the Crimson Tide and has experience as a kick and punt returner.

This 6-foot-2 target also offers red zone height and catch radius. His breakout 2024 season (61 receptions for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns) occurred under Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, who coached Washington assistant and former NFL quarterback David Blough at Purdue.

Any insight into how Javon Kinlaw will be used on the defensive line? Will he be a defensive tackle, defensive end or both? — Southeast D.

I’m certainly curious how often the coaching staff seeks to use this 6-foot-5, 319-pounder at end. We knew he’d see some action as an edge defender even before Washington didn’t draft one. The defensive tackle room depth — projected starters Daron Payne and Johnny Newton, free-agent signee/run defender Eddie Goldman and returner Sheldon Day — means Kinlaw can take snaps as the “elephant,” a lineman role Dan Quinn used with the Seattle Seahawks where a larger end focuses on run-stopping more than attacking the quarterback.

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Riggo’s Rag​

Why critics are dead wrong about Commanders’ defensive master plan​

Washington no longer uses a traditional 4-3 or 3-4 front. On the roster, they may list other defenders as linebackers, but they aren’t. Not in the traditional sense.

Last year, the Commanders’ base defense was a 3-2-4, with two additional hybrid players who shifted around depending on the particular call. One of them was hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., who manned that role more than anyone else.

The other was a hybrid safety/linebacker. That role was played by Jeremy Chinn. Washington took the traditional third linebacker role and split it between two players. One was better suited to playing on the line and rushing the passer, and the other was better suited to dropping into short coverage and shutting down crossers.

The first thing to notice about this situation is that both Fowler and Chinn are gone this year. How will they be replaced?

Jacob Martin would appear to be a plug-and-play fill-in for Fowler. However, new safety Will Harris can’t do what Chinn did last year. He is a good player, but looks much more like a traditional box safety than a hybrid who can run and make disruptive plays all over the field.

One of the most under-the-radar signings Adam Peters made this offseason was Eddie Goldman, who’s played in just 31 games over the past five seasons. He doesn’t project to make much of a splash in Washington. But he is a true nose tackle — something the Commanders haven’t had in about a decade.

Though some of the pieces seem to fit together, the one thing Washington is missing is that safety/linebacker hybrid. That’s why Medrano may be on the roster, though projecting success for him in that role would be a huge leap of faith at this point.

Perhaps I am wrong about Harris. Perhaps second-year man Dominique Hampton, who fits the athletic profile, or Tyler Owens can fill that type of role. Or perhaps Whitt has his wrinkle in mind which will take a smaller player like Sainristil and turn him into a playmaking monster.

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Commanders.com​

25 things to know about Commanders’ 2025 draft class​

Conerly had an efficiency grade of 99.3 in 2024, which tied for first among all offensive tackles with at least 800 snaps.

Conerly is just the third Oregon offensive tackle taken in the first round in NFL history. The last one was Penei Sewell by the Detroit Lions in 2021.

Amos already has experience playing with two of Washington’s players. Since he played for Louisiana Lafayette from 2020-22, he was on the same roster as Percy Butler and Andre Jones Jr.

Although Amos only played one season for Nick Saban at Alabama, that experience played a role in him transferring to Ole Miss. Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding, both former Alabama assistants, know about the high standards Saban requires of his defensive backs. “You know, obviously, that they’ve been coached really well,” **Kiffin said last season.** “But you also know their mindset. That’s a big deal, someone coming into your program that’s been trained in an elite mindset versus somebody from some other places that you gotta work them out of some different mindsets.”

Medrano went from wide receiver looking for a role to a major contributor for the Bruins. He ended his college career ranked second on his team in tackles in 2024 behind only Carson Schwesinger.

Medrano also competed on UCLA’s track and field team and participated in four meets during the 2021 season. He made his debut at the Ben Brown Invitational, where he placed fifth in the discus throw.

For two weeks during the 2024 season, Lane wore a No. 25 jersey, which was retired in 2002, during a game in honor of former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. It’s a weekly tradition the program uses to recognize how influential Beamer was as a player and coach.

Croskey-Merritt was not invited to this year’s combine but had a solid Big 12 pro day. He ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and recorded a 41.5-inch vertical, both of which led the position that day. Had Croskey-Merritt traveled to Indianapolis, his 40 time would have ranked 11th, while his vertical jump would have been the best for the position.

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Podcasts & videos​

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NFC East links​

The Cowboys and Steelers have been working on a trade involving WR George Pickens since before the draft, sources say.

Talks stalled, but Dallas came back with an improved effort that eventually lands Pickens in Pittsburgh. https://t.co/oV3Ol1dt1x pic.twitter.com/9shfDtN3Gd

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) May 7, 2025​

3rd and late pick swap

— Art Robles (@ArtRobles4) May 7, 2025​

History says that when the Steelers are ready to move on from a receiver, the Steelers are right.

— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) May 7, 2025​

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Discussion topics​

Riggo’s Rag​

George Pickens trade fallout proves Commanders fleeced 49ers for Deebo Samuel​

Pickens is a volatile, often unpredictable pass-catcher. He’s an exceptional performer at the top of his game, but can become petulant when things aren’t going his way. And if head coach Mike Tomlin is willing to let him go, as he did with Antonio Brown and Diontae Johnson before their respective careers spiraled, that comes with an obvious red flag.

George Pickens trade confirms Commanders got a steal with Deebo Samuel Sr.​

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cowboys are sending a third-round selection and a fifth-rounder (2027) to the Steelers for Pickens and a sixth-round pick (2027). This makes Adam Peters’ outlay for All-Pro Deebo Samuel Sr. minuscule in comparison.

The Commanders sacrificed only a fifth-round pick for Samuel. He’s older than Pickens with more tread on the tires. He’s also got far more accomplished production under his belt despite a down year by his typically high standards with the Niners in 2024.

Pickens, like Samuel, is also entering the final year of his deal. It’ll be much more expensive to extend the former Georgia standout, especially if he hits the ground running in Dallas. Considering the money already tied to quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and a record-breaking deal imminent for All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, that’s going to impact the Cowboys’ roster construction considerably.

---

All aTwitter​

NEW: Roger Goodell and Josh Harris followed Monday's NFL draft announcement at the White House by meeting with D.C. Council members about the Commanders' stadium deal at the RFK site. From @jennygathright, @NickiJhabvala and me.... https://t.co/4HPNwPgaOG

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 6, 2025​

"The Commanders... have worn black alternate helmets alongside their black alternate uniforms... We expect they’ll adjust the decals to match their standard burgundy helmets rather than add a new gold helmet or any other color shell." via @sportslogosnet https://t.co/AXfx93PXKE

— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) May 6, 2025​

Adam Peters says the "in-division tax" exchange with Eagles GM Howie Roseman at this year's draft was a throwback to their first trade call when Roseman tried to overcharge Peters for a player last year. @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/WaEht3fS3R

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 6, 2025​

"This is a cornerstone franchise in the NFL..

Josh Harris had the vision of brining this franchise back and there's so much excitement around here"

Adam Peters #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/DNlIdSaZGi

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"The first time we flew Jayden Daniels here after we drafted him he was doing dropbacks on the plane..

Every step of the way you could see the work ethic that he has and he's such a special person"

Adam Peters #PMSLive #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/hUuGuUenFv

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"Laremy Tunsil is one of the best left tackles in the league and we didn't wanna pass up that opportunity..

We got that done and we really wanted Josh Conerly Jr..

Kliff Kingsbury left that note on my desk and if he wants this guy I'm good" ~ Adam Peters #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JDnEwkQ8bK

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"Everybody wanted to come play here last year because of Dan Quinn..

Players took a chance on us because of him"

Adam Peters #PMSLive #RaiseHail https://t.co/a5oRecxF5p pic.twitter.com/HeRSpvC1y9

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"When we drafted Trey Amos there was a huge roar..

He fell to us which was really awesome and all of his metrics were incredible" ~ Adam Peters#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Xbfk3xyn1A

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"Everybody in the building wanted to draft Jaylin Lane..

He's incredible and we feel really good about him"

Adam Peters #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/gbwJk2yQwe

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"Whatever the attendance record is for the NFL Draft we're gonna break it" ~ Adam Peters #PMSLive https://t.co/CswiraG9Ny pic.twitter.com/ROA9MiDExU

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

"Deebo Samuel is one of the best competitors on the field that I've ever seen in my life..

He can put a team on his back and he's gonna present a lot of problems for defenses"

Adam Peters #PMSLive #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/3PIgMjNLRU

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

You're not giving yourself enough credit #PMSLive https://t.co/3NaLN1Jzio pic.twitter.com/EMhBXUoz8j

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2025​

Spoiler: They were just a bad team. https://t.co/I9UnHY1s7q

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 5, 2025​

Rick Snider’s Washington says the Washington Commanders never get a stadium or draft without JD. Gimme two minutes. pic.twitter.com/QeYIYcMJ2y

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 7, 2025​

“We are going to try to resurrect the fullback position,” Lurie said.https://t.co/T2a69lPpgy

— Fullback Watch (@FullbackWatch) May 5, 2025​

Patch had been with the Eagles for 23 seasons. Worked his way up from a College Scouting Coordinator to the team’s Senior Director of College Scouting. https://t.co/KjO4xoDaTa

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) May 5, 2025​

The UFL board has approved the new CBA that negotiators agreed on and players ratified last month. The deal is retroactive to the start of training camp and extends through 2026. Updated story to come.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) May 5, 2025​

---

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/7/...m-adam-peters-goes-one-on-one-with-pat-mcafee

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 8 May 25 - Jeremy Fowler on CB Trey Amos: “Multiple teams discovered a back injury in the predraft process”

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders weren’t overly concerned by Trey Amos’ pre-draft back issue​

Just why Amos, who was seen as a late first-rounder, fell so far was bemusing to most. Jeremy Fowler from ESPN provided some clarity on the situation, which centered on a back issue that came up during his medical assessments.

Although the Commanders and Amos didn’t seem particularly concerned by the prognosis, the insider suggested it was enough for other teams to go in different directions. He also acknowledged that Washington got great value with a prospect many believe will be a plus starter sooner rather than later.

“Washington got a plus starter with second-round defensive back Trey Amos, who has size, speed and instincts. Selecting him at No. 61 was considered great value. One aspect that might have hurt his value slightly: multiple teams discovered a back injury in the predraft process. This wasn’t a major red flag for some teams, but it was at least a mild concern that “probably caused him to slide a bit,” as one AFC exec said. However, people around Amos and the Commanders did not seem overly concerned by it.”

Jeremy Fowler

This explains a lot. At the same time, Peters wouldn’t have gone with Amos if there was even the slightest doubt about his long-term outlook on the health front.

---

Commanders.com​

Commanders got high value with low volume in 2025 Draft​

Washington’s comfort level with its draft class stems partially from the additions they made in free agency. Peters said they liked the group of edge rushers in the draft but also felt comfortable with players like Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin joining a position that already had Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell; there was less of a need to get a defensive back because they signed Jonathan Jones and Will Harris; and acquiring Tunsil from the Houston Texans allowed them more flexibility on the offensive line.

So, even though the draft capital was smaller compared to last year, the Commanders felt like they could do whatever they wanted with their picks.

“It’s a great feeling going through three days with that mindset and being able to say, ‘Hey, best player on the board makes sense,’” Newmark said. “Sometimes it was need or perceived need or whatever, but we were able to do what we felt was right every time without really being forced to do something just positionally.”

The Commanders certainly felt like they got the best players available with their first two picks. Peters said both Josh Conerly Jr. and Trey Amos were at the top of their board when they were on the clock, and they were holding their collective breath as they continued to get passed up by other teams.

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Bleacher Report​

Ranking Every NFL Defense After the 2025 Draft​

23. Washington Commanders​

The Washington Commanders impressed defensively against the pass last year—only two teams allowed fewer yards through the air.

However, the Commanders were just average in total defense and scoring defense, largely because of a run defense that gave up 137.5 yards per game on the ground—third most in the league.

Unfortunately, there’s little reason to expect that run defense to be markedly better this year. The Commanders [released] Jonathan Allen, and his replacement (Javon Kinlaw) is a downgrade. Bobby Wagner will likely one day find himself enshrined in Canton, but at 35, his best days are behind him.

Edge-rusher Dorance Armstong was essentially a bust in his first season in D.C., logging just five sacks. He’s not getting a ton of help from his batterymate this year, whether it’s Clelin Ferrell or Deatrich Wise Jr.

Throw in legitimate questions in a secondary headlined by cornerback Marshon Lattimore and potential issues at safety after the departure of Jeremy Chinn, and the odds on the Commanders exceeding expectations again in 2025 aren’t especially good.

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Sign up to receive updates on stadium progress​

Memories at RFK

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

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Podcasts & videos​

Inside the Command Center w/ @Gcarmi21 ft @BenStandig https://t.co/COccXK3D4H

— Big Doug (@DougMcCrayNFL) May 7, 2025​

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With the great @Jordan_Reid going over the Commanders’ rookies. Why he liked the group. One pick seemed to energize him more than the others. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/Dp4tUyGVsm

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 8, 2025​

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Photos​

Learning from the best pic.twitter.com/PfQ6qq5paO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

missed these practice jerseys pic.twitter.com/k9IBJBk2zO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

update: Kliff's hat is back https://t.co/L2SLvRHXDM pic.twitter.com/js4TRiaZb0

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

Offenses, you've been notified pic.twitter.com/LI7ylS1OHI

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 6, 2025​

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

George Pickens trade fallout: Cowboys land missing piece?​

Pickens as the Cowboys’ missing piece: OVERBLOWN​

There’s no doubt that this trade improved Dallas’ passing game, assuming Pickens arrives hungry and focused. He’s a deep-play threat who averaged 16.7 yards per reception the past two seasons — nearly a full yard more than the next man on the list (DK Metcalf, at 16.0).

Pickens is also the only NFL player over each of the past three seasons to post 50-plus receptions, 800-plus receiving yards and average 15-plus yards per reception. From a football standpoint, he’s been pretty consistent, and Pickens has only missed three career games due to injury. He’s also set to make $3.656 million in 2025, the final year of his rookie deal. He’ll want to maximize his value before free agency in 2026.

But to suggest the Cowboys, coming off a 7-10 season, were one receiver away from something special is a bit of a stretch to me.

Yes, they’re better with Pickens. CeeDee Lamb badly needed a running mate, and the Cowboys lacked another big-play threat. The Cowboys had seven 40-yard pass plays last season; Pickens had four by himself. His arrival also helps the mystery run game — which received a boost when Dallas selected talented run blocker Tyler Booker in Round 1 and Texas RB Jaydon Blue in Round 5 — and what Brian Schottenheimer envisions for his offense.

But until Pickens is signed long term, this is a one-year experiment. Can Dallas improve markedly on each side of the ball to become Super Bowl contenders with Pickens’ arrival? Too big a leap for me.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

George Pickens trade: How much will this move help the Cowboys?​

Dallas actually did something.

To be blunt, Pickens has the reputation of being a knucklehead who wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh, which is pretty hard to do when you’re playing for a highly successful players-coach like Mike Tomlin. There have been reports Pickens’ attitude was wearing thin on his teammates last year.

Pickens has been a non-stop topic of conversation since the Steelers’ Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

In that game, Pickens wrote an expletive on his eye black, saw a huge drop in snaps, appeared to not give full effort on some of his routes and had an ugly exchange with Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis at the end of the game.

His now former head coach declared Pickens needed to “grow up in a hurry.”

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Bengals, but his negative plays were a bigger topic of conversation at head coach Mike Tomlin’s postgame press conference.

Pickens committed two personal fouls — one for taunting and one for making finger guns after a catch — that could have cost the Steelers a lot more than 30 yards in a different game. Pickens told reporters that officials misinterpreted his hand gesture, but Tomlin said the onus is on Pickens to mature.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said. “This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

And there are reports his teammates had to restrain him on the sidelines during games.

This isn’t to say Pickens is a bad guy. He’s no Antonio Brown, that’s for sure. But he has been a problem in Pittsburgh. And, again, a problem the Steelers couldn’t solve. Most of what Pickens has done revolved around him being immature and selfish. These are traits that, well, can be part of the wide receiver genome likely going back to football’s beginning, and Pickens has demonstrated these qualities in abundance.

Pickens’ Steelers teammates had to restrain him on the sideline during games on multiple occasions. He’s had shouting altercations with fans.

He’s been fined multiple times by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties including after the Steelers’ game last year against the Cincinnati Bengals. He allegedly arrived late to the Steelers’ Week 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

All that being said, if I was Jerry Jones and I just went 7-10 and watched their bitter rivals, your Philadelphia Eagles, advance to their second Super Bowl in three years and win it, I’d be rolling the dice on his immense talent, too.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

Dallas Goedert, Eagles reportedly expected to agree to reworked contract that keeps the veteran tight end in Philly​

It looks like the Philadelphia Eagles will NOT be trading Dallas Goedert this offseason after all.

The Eagles and Goedert “have been in negotiations on a reworked contract that would keep the tight end in Philadelphia,” according to a report from the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. He adds that talks between the two sides picked up after the 2025 NFL Draft.

This welcomed development comes after no shortage of trade rumors about the Eagles wanting to trade Goedert in part to save cash. Wanting to move on from Goedert at his current pay rate wasn’t totally inexplicable since the 30-year-old has struggled with injuries.

But with no clear replacement plan in place, trading Goedert ultimately seemed inadvisable. The Eagles failed to add a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft and free agent signings Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson are ideally backup quality players, not full-time starters.

Goedert is reportedly taking a $4 million pay cut from $14 million to $10 million. Goedert can earn $1 million back through incentives.

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Big Blue View​

ESPN still thinks the New York Giants are the worst team in the NFL​

Big Blue is last in power rankings from more than 80 ESPN analysts

It’s one thing to rebuild. It’s another to be told you’re still the worst team in football after what many thought was a solid offseason.

That’s exactly the message the New York Giants got this week from ESPN’s latest power rankings, where more than 80 of their writers still placed Big Blue in the 32nd and final spot even after a total quarterback room makeover.

In fairness, the bar was low. The 2024 season ended with Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle passing the football so yes, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and first-round pick Jaxson Dart are technically an upgrade. But the ESPN crew isn’t giving the Giants any benefit of the doubt just yet.

“There’s no reason to beat around the bush,” writes ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “It’s not perfect for the Giants, but it’s an upgrade.”

Maybe so. But it’s also a brutal reminder that even when you add a Super Bowl champion (Wilson), a former No. 1 overall pick (Winston), and a promising rookie (Dart), the national media still thinks you’re dragging behind the pack.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Pro Football Talk​

Tom Brady on Shedeur Sanders’s draft-day slide: I wasn’t part of the evaluation​

Brady stammered and struggled before offering up a general denial of involvement and, by implication, knowledge.

“There’s . . . I — I — it’s a good question,” Brady said “I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process or to see that.”

“Skip Bayless says otherwise,” one of the hosts interjected.

“I know, well, everyone’s got every, you know,” Brady said. “That’s the problem with media is everyone can just say whatever the fuck they want.”

The clip then jumps to Brady saying this: “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day two matters more than the draft. I was [pick number] 199. Yeah. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.”

Right, but it becomes easier to take advantage of the chances if the player is drafted higher. Selections made on the first two days get at least a full year to prove themselves. The farther a player slides, the bigger the challenge becomes.

As to Brady’s claim that he wasn’t part of the evaluation process, many will not be buying what the GOAT is selling. In December, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media quoted Raiders owner Mark Davis as saying that Brady “will have a huge voice in the organization when it comes to picking the quarterback.”

While, technically, the quarterback for 2025 (and perhaps beyond) has been selected, why wouldn’t Brady’s “huge voice” include participating in the evaluation of someone like Sanders — especially since Brady (as he said) knows him “very well”?

Meanwhile, Brady was clearly involved in the evaluation and selection of quarterback Cam Miller, in round six.

Common sense suggests that Brady was treading lightly, so as not to undermine his relationship with Sanders. Even if it means taking a position that directly conflicts with things his boss has said, on the record.

---

Discussion topics​

ESPN​

George Pickens trade: Grades for Cowboys, Steelers in WR deal​

• Grade for the Cowboys: B-
• Grade for the Steelers: B+

He’s an outside vertical receiver who will allow Lamb to maintain his heavy dosage of slot alignments in the Cowboys’ offense. Pickens ran go routes and deep fades 19% of the time last season, the 10th-highest rate among receivers with at least 300 routes run. He managed 900 yards over 14 games in 2024 and hit 1,140 receiving yards in 2023. And he posted a strong 2.2 yards per route run both years.

According to ESPN’s player-tracking-based receiver scores, Pickens has shown growth in his ability to get open since his rookie season. He had a 48 open score in 2022, but that rose to 70 and 68 the past two years. However, his catch score has dropped from a high of 99 in his rookie year to 72 in 2023 and then 40 last season. That looks like the profile of a player who could see positive regression, since a receiver’s ability to get open is more stable from year to year than his ability to make catches over expectation.

So, on paper, this move makes plenty of sense for the Cowboys.

But this move is not made only on paper. A big part of the reason Pickens is available is it seems the Steelers had had enough of him. After Pickens had two unsportsmanlike penalties against the Bengals last season, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “He’s got a target on his back because he’s George; he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” Then, after the season, Tomlin said, “There’s certainly obviously more room for growth there.” Earlier in the season, there were questions over Pickens’ effort, too, though Tomlin dismissed those concerns at the time.

The risk here is mitigated by the one-year commitment, and if I were the Cowboys, I would want to keep it that way. They should let him play out the season and probably let him walk next offseason in exchange for the possibility of a compensatory pick. If Dallas signs Pickens to an extension before the 2025 season, I would substantially reduce its grade here.

For the Steelers, this is good compensation. The league widely knew they wanted to move on from Pickens, and they still got a Day 2 pick back.

---

The Athletic (paywall)​

George Pickens wasn’t going to ‘grow up,’ forcing the Steelers’ hand​

Throughout George Pickens’ highlight and headache-filled tenure in Pittsburgh, it would be hard to find a more staunch defender of the wide receiver than Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

During Pickens’ rookie season, after the receiver threw a tantrum because he wasn’t getting the ball during a win in Atlanta, Tomlin reframed it as an emotional player who wanted to be part of the game plan. When Pickens failed to block for Jaylen Warren near the goal line in 2023, citing his fear of being injured, Tomlin tried to deflect the blame onto the media, calling them “vulture-like.”

Last season, when Pickens wore eye black that read “Open F—ing Always” in a game against the Dallas Cowboys, Tomlin maintained two days later that he didn’t see it. Asked why Pickens played a career-low 34 snaps and ran a career-low 20 routes in that game, Tomlin refused to acknowledge it was a benching and instead called it “snap management.” And when Pickens got into a wrestling match with Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome at the end of a loss in Cleveland, Tomlin again said he wasn’t aware of the incident.

But after deflecting often — and at other times, perhaps stretching the truth on Pickens’ behalf — even Tomlin’s patience appeared to be running thin by the end of the 2024 season. It reached an inflection point in Week 13 in Cincinnati. Pickens was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct — one for making a gun gesture and another for dropping a ball on a Bengals defender. For one of the first times publicly, Tomlin reprimanded his star receiver.

“He’s got to grow up,” the coach said. “He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

While the trade unquestionably makes the [Steelers] roster worse in 2025, this was a necessary and perhaps inevitable move.

---

All aTwitter​

Coming @SeatGeek | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/4K8KQy2pcp

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 8, 2025​

Clutch https://t.co/qZ2LwjuDfk pic.twitter.com/SrhvULjSy0

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 8, 2025​

2024 QB metrics/NFL Rank
Facts over feelings …

Total QBR
Jayden Daniels (4th)
Jalen Hurts (10th)
Dak Prescott (29th)

Pressure QBR
Jayden Daniels (3rd)
Jalen Hurts (12th)
Cooper Rush (15th)
Dak Prescott (26th)

3rd down QBR
Jayden Daniels (5th)
Jalen Hurts (10th)
Cooper Rush…

— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) May 8, 2025​

Year loading for @JayD__5

: NFL Schedule Release — 5/14 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dO3WsoRN8n

— NFL (@NFL) May 7, 2025​

"Obviously Deebo is a very versatile player. He's a playmaker once you get the ball in his hands, and after the catch he does what he does. So just being able to acquire a guy like that, you know I'm super excited to continue to work with him and we go from there." https://t.co/Wv2h13t2Z5

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 7, 2025​

How far can the Commanders go this season? pic.twitter.com/A4PpAp21rU

— PFF (@PFF) May 8, 2025​

Now in 6: @NoahIgbinoghene pic.twitter.com/9zckMlgaha

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

Washington Commanders DB Noah Igbinoghene (@NoahIgbinoghene) is wearing number 6. Last assigned to Dante Fowler. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/geEIlZCd14

— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) May 7, 2025​

Whether you call him Jacory, JCM, or Bill - call him ready for Commanders rookie minicamp. pic.twitter.com/pGDB2xkXnj

— The Team 980 (@team980) May 7, 2025​

Cool little tidbit on Bill from the Hula Bowl: "There is just a different level of speed and explosiveness when Croskey-Merritt takes off with the football. Once he plants his foot in the ground, he can really chew up yardage in a hurry. This week he also showcased his ability to…

— Bobby Gould (@Smith4Gm) May 8, 2025​

Episode 1,067 - Guest: @Coach_Ridenour. Was @UNMLoboFB RBs coach for @JacoryMerritt15's monster 2023 season. Great insight on "Bill" as player & person. Comps him to Le'Veon Bell in terms of patience. Violent runner. HR threat. RB1 potential. And much more.https://t.co/OfXeMVUmS6

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) May 7, 2025​

“It sounded like the Vikings thought Daniel Jones was coming back…he ended up taking a little bit less in terms of guaranteed money from the Colts.”@TomPelissero with an interesting tidbit about the Vikings QB room: pic.twitter.com/ZXqXk9sKk3

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 7, 2025​

these kids start their NFL careers tomorrow pic.twitter.com/TvaLJvphbI

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 7, 2025​

Great chat with College Athletics Attorney | NIL expert @WinterSportsLaw on House Settlement and future of college athletics & NIL. https://t.co/XIKU38OVDl pic.twitter.com/LV1FgTocOK

— Pete Sousa (@peteysousa) April 23, 2025​

The House settlement supplemental brief with the new grandfathering provisions has been filed. https://t.co/HO5mS0GkO8

— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) May 7, 2025​

A summary of the changes that the parties are offering to make: pic.twitter.com/BCwgYBG3Jg

— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) May 7, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/8/...tiple-teams-discovered-a-back-injury-predraft

 

[Washington Commanders]

Washington Commanders Rookie Minicamp has 21 tryout players

Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Rookie minicamp!

The Washington Commanders are hosting a rookie minicamp over the next three days that will have their 10 UDFA signings, two second-year players, their IPP player, and 21 tryout players. The roster is currently at 90 players, but that is fluid at this point. Tryout players are longshots to make any teams roster, but there is always talent out there that is overlooked, and in need of one opportunity. Are any of those diamond in the roughs in Ashburn today?

Commanders officially set the roster for their 2025 rookie minicamphttps://t.co/9YuMVo6QDj

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) May 9, 2025

Draft picks​

72 Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon 6’4”, 315lbs

23 Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi 6’1”, 190lbs

83 Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech 5’10”, 196lbs

56 Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA 6’3”, 230lbs

32 Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona 5’11”,208lbs

Undrafted Free Agents/Second-year players​

10 Jacoby Jones, WR, UCF 6’3”, 228lbs

16 Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville 6’3”, 195lbs

22 Car’lin Vigers, CB, Louisiana-Monroe 6’2”, 200lbs

24 Fentrell Cypress, CB, Florida State 6’0”, 188lbs

34B Trey Rucker, S, Oklahoma State 6’, 203lbs

34W Michael Wiley**, RB, Arizona 5’10”, 209lbs

46 Kam Arnold, LB, Boston College 6’1”, 229lbs

47 Rob McDaniel, S, Jackson State 6’2”, 207lbs

51 Ale Kaho, LB, UCLA 6’2”, 230lbs

59 T.J. Maguranyanga*, DE 6’4”, 222lbs

62 Anim Dankwah**, T, Howard 6’7”, 330lbs

66 Ricky Barber, DT, UCF 6’4”, 222lbs

68 Timothy McKay G, N.C. State 6’4”, 312lbs

*Washington Commanders’ IPP player.

** Second-year player

Tryouts​

6 Colin Schlee, QB, Virginia Tech 6’3”, 210lbs

8 Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh 6’2”, 225lbs

11 Trenton Irvin, WR, Stanford 6’2”, 204lbs

18 Dorian Anderson, WR, Southeast Missouri State 6’7”, 200lbs

19 Ife Adeyi, WR, Sam Houston 5’10”, 175lbs

20 Peyton Buckley, DB, Augustana University 6’1”, 207lbs

26 Gabe Taylor, DB, Rice 5’10”, 190lbs

29 Kaylin Moore, DB, UCLA 5’11”, 190lbs

31 Brandon Turnage, DB, Mississippi 5’11”, 190lbs

35 Xavier Robiou, DB, Howard 6’2”, 202lbs

38 Keegan Jones, RB, UCLA 6’1”, 191lbs

50 Xander Mueller LB, Northwestern 6’3”, 232lbs

61 Maurice Smith, OL, Florida State University 6’3”, 298lbs

69 Yoseph Carter, OL, Western Illinois University 6’4”, 290lbs

77 Ben Wrather, OL, Northwestern 6’6”, 315lbs

79 Tyre Phillips, OL, Mississippi State 6’5”, 330lbs

88 Maliq Carr, TE, University of Houston 6’6”, 265lbs

89 Jude Wolfe, TE, San Diego State 6’6”, 247lbs

92 Ross Blacklock, DL, TCU 6’5”, 307lbs

97 Deandre Jules DL, University of South Carolina 6’3”, 310lbs

98 Austin Bryant, DL, Clemson 6’5”, 250lbs

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/9/...manders-rookie-minicamp-has-21-tryout-players

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 10 May 25 - Washington’s 2025 rookie minicamp is underway!

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links​

Articles​

The Athletic (paywall)​

Ranking Commanders’ undrafted free agents: Can a former 5-star recruit crack the 53?​

Any undrafted free agent faces steep odds of making the Week 1 roster. Wide receiver Cam Sims and cornerback Danny Johnson turned their long-shot dreams into several seasons in the NFL. Impressive summers for two active players, tight end Colson Yankoff and safety Tyler Owens, paid off last year.

With The Athletic insider Dane Brugler’s exhaustive draft guide, here’s a look at this year’s hopefuls in ranking order and possible fits with Washington. Guaranteed money figures were included when possible.

This group does not include rookie camp invitees,

1. Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville​

Brugler’s ranking: WR36

Details: He’s 6 foot 2, 188 pounds with a 4.65 40 time. He turns 24 in October. Brooks was a first-team All-ACC selection last season with 61 receptions for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns. He played primarily on the outside with some work from the slot.

The five-star recruit had one blocked punt in all three seasons with Alabama, but thoughts of a breakout junior year were dashed after suffering a labrum tear. Brooks has experience returning kicks and punts and was one of two players listed here to receive a detailed write-up in Brugler’s draft preview.

“A tall, lean target, Brooks eats up ground quickly to beat press, stack corners and use vertical pacing to track the ball and create late separation,” Brugler wrote. “He does a nice job battling for jump-ball positioning but also fights the ball at times — he needs to improve his finishing focus to earn the trust of his coaches at the next level. Overall, Brooks’ lack of short-area agility and pacing allows man coverage to stay attached to him on short and intermediate routes, but his play strength, tracking skills and catch radius could make him a potential WR4/5.”

Potential fit: Washington has five receivers seemingly on roster lock, including fourth-round speedster Jaylin Lane, plus veterans Michael Gallup and K.J. Osborn. Special teams work is Brooks’ best path to sneaking onto the Week 1 roster, but the size, raw talent and vertical playmaking will make him a fun summer watch regardless. Having offensive assistant David Blough on the staff perhaps helps ease Brooks’ transition.

2. Car’lin Vigers, DB, Louisiana Monroe​

Brugler’s ranking: CB61

Details: Vigers is 6 foot 1, 205 pounds and runs a 4.52 40. His press corner ability meshes with the Commanders’ style. Vigers, who returned his lone 2024 interception for a touchdown, received $259,000 guaranteed from Washington. He finished his three-year career with 131 tackles and two interceptions.

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ESPN​

Sean Taylor’s younger brother Gabe tries out with Commanders​

Taylor, a defensive back who played five seasons at Rice, went undrafted last month. The agency that represents him said Taylor picked Washington after receiving multiple offers because he grew up wanting to play for the team.

“Now he has the chance to make his mark, forge his own path, compete for a roster spot and honor the memory of Sean,” Creed Sports and Entertainment posted on social media. “Gabe couldn’t be more excited, focused, and ready for the opportunity.”

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Riggo’s Rag​

Jaylin Lane making tremendous early impression at Commanders’ rookie minicamp​

Picking wide receiver Jaylin Lane at No. 128 was met with widespread approval among the fanbase. Respected analysts around the media think the Commanders have a potential steal on their hands, especially with an elite quarterback and play-caller steering him on the right path. This is something the explosive pass-catcher didn’t have at Virginia Tech, which most acknowledge impacted his stock considerably.

Lane has a chance to stake an immediate claim on the rotation. Based on the impression left on Day 1 of Washington’s rookie minicamp, he’s off to a good start.

The player’s route-running, bend, and sharpness out of his cuts caught the eye according to those in attendance. Lane made some impressive catches and looked like he belonged. There is a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but players only get one chance to make a positive first impression.

Washington has a decent-looking wideout room heading into the season. Terry McLaurin is the alpha and should get a lucrative contract extension ahead of time this offseason. The Commanders traded for All-Pro Deebo Samuel Sr. They re-signed Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn. Hopes are also high that Michael Gallup can pick things up quickly after ending his brief retirement, and Luke McCaffrey can enhance his influence in Year 2 of his professional career.

Even so, the Commanders will give Lane every chance to generate his fair share of targets right out of the gate.

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Commanders Wire​

Virginia Tech coach instantly recognized new Commanders’ WR was special​

Holt sat down on Friday and chatted with Craig Hoffman of Team 980. Holt says they were discussing how many different ways we can get the ball in his hands soon in Blacksburg. Might the Commanders’ coaching staff already be thinking in a similar fashion?

“Once he got rolling catching punts, I mean that was it, he was playing extremely well,” continued Holt. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been around a guy that has the guts he has fielding the football. He truly believes every chance he gets with the ball in his hands, on punt return, he is going to score. And he does have a great chance to do that.”

Hoffman inquired when Holt realized that Lane was not only a superb athlete but also special in terms of competitiveness. Holt responded, “You know, his father is a very strong high school coach. He’s won a ton of games. That is what Jaylin has been raised around. He was raised right. Mom and dad are tremendous people. He knew from an early age, ‘I got to go get it. I gotta go earn it. He is a mature guy and really squared away, off of the field.”

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Hogs Haven​

Could UDFA pick up Tim McKay be Washington’s swing IOL of the future?​

McKay was very solid in his 5-year career in Raleigh, only giving up 10 sacks in his time there. He had a sack-free 2023, in which he played 489 pass blocking snaps. In 2024, he only allowed 18 pressures and two sacks playing right guard. He had a 70.5 overall PFF rating, grading slightly better as a pass protector (73.1) than a run blocker (69.8).

In the lead up to his senior season, Ryan Fowler of the Draft Network offered the following assessment: “Timothy McKay is a well-framed offensive lineman who, despite his athletic limitations, can counter varying skill sets at multiple positions along an offensive line. He has live snaps along the front five at every spot but center in his career at NC State.

Concerns remain about his ability against more athletic and nuanced defenders. McKay can quickly run into trouble against even the most adequate of opposing talent if he isn’t able to establish leverage early. McKay operates with mostly a solid base and has displayed good footwork, but he can be overzealous at times leading to undisciplined striking and inconsistent mechanics.

Overall, McKay’s versatility remains an intriguing trait, and he should be a player to keep an eye on in the latter portions of the draft for teams in need of positional flexibility along an offensive line.”

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Podcasts & videos​

Commanders Rookie Minicamp BREAKDOWN: What to Watch from Draft Picks | UDFA Gems, Intriguing Invites​

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ESPN’s Tom Luginbill on Commanders 2025 Draft Class, NFC East & Retired Numbers | Get Loud | NFL​

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Photos​

Bruins in the DMV @UCLAFootball x #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/rwRKMMq12N

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025​

PHOTOS | Commanders hit the gym for offseason workouts​

Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders in the weight room during the offseason workout program.

The start of something new pic.twitter.com/16pVwgRExt

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025​

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

Giants first-round pick Abdul Carter to wear No. 51 after jersey number drama​

While most number selections are superfluous, Carter’s situation has ballooned into an outsized situation in New York. The No. 3 overall pick was denied Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56, and Phil Simms’ family rejected letting the rookie wear No. 11.

With the two retired numbers remaining out of circulation, Carter went with an idea that others, like *Good Morning Football*’s Kyle Brandt, suggested: a mashup of 56 and 11.

Several famous linebackers have donned No. 51, including Dick Butkus, Bryan Cox, Sam Mills, Takeo Spikes, etc.

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“It’s the hardest schedule for a last place team I’ve EVER seen...”@FezzikSports breaks down the Giants slate ahead of next week’s schedule release: pic.twitter.com/v9n0uVaiXN

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 7, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Front Office Sports​

NFL Nears Deal for YouTube Game That Could Break Streaming Records​

The NFL’s delicate balance of striking new media-rights deals while keeping its incumbents happy is taking another big step.

The league is closing in on an agreement to have the Google-owned YouTube, distributors of the residential version of NFL Sunday Ticket, carry the Sept. 5 game in Brazil involving the Chargers as the home team. The deal, according to sources, will see the opening-week game from São Paulo include the Chiefs, the NFL’s top viewership draw, as the visiting team.

By placing the game for free on YouTube, which boasts more than 2.5 billion monthly active users around the world, the audience is likely to challenge—if not surpass—the league’s streaming record of an average of 24.3 million viewers in the U.S., set last year in the nightcap of a Christmas Day doubleheader on Netflix. Production details for the Brazil game, however, remain unknown, and like other streamers, YouTube does not have the in-house capabilities to produce an NFL broadcast.

The Brazil contest, shown last year on NBCUniversal’s Peacock, is additionally a centerpiece of the NFL’s expanding international strategy.

While YouTube prepares for its third season of carrying out-of-market games, the move sees the NFL continue to grow its relationship with streamers—in turn helping the league attract younger viewers.

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Discussion topics​

Deadspin​

Arch Manning and the 2026 NFL Draft QB Class Better Be Ready to Save the League​

If Texas’ Arch Manning has a good year, he’ll instantly become the hottest name to watch. But LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier has a lot of hype, as does Penn State’s Drew Allar. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers will be consistently mentioned throughout the summer, and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava could prove some doubters wrong with one strong season in Westwood.

That probably feels like a lot of names — especially since they all have a full season of college football ahead of them. We haven’t even seen Manning play enough college ball to know what he is yet, and there’s a chance he could return to school to chase more NIL money. Allar and Iamaleava have shown struggles against big-time programs in high-stakes games.

But while all of next year’s quarterbacks might have question marks, there will be enough teams that need a signal-caller.

Don’t let the Saints drafting Shough or the Browns drafting both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel distract you from the fact that these organizations have been wandering the quarterback desert for some time. They’d probably like to see their rookies get meaningful regular-season snaps, as both teams figure to be bad enough to end up near the top of next season’s draft order.

The Browns also have an extra first-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the Travis Hunter trade during Round 1, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be any good — even with the do-it-all Heisman winner on the roster. The Browns would have the ammo to trade up for the top quarterback in this class.

The Saints aren’t going to win many games with Shough, Spencer Rattler and Taysom Hill.

Even with Aaron Rodgers potentially on the way, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to solve their quarterback of the future at some point, too.

Due to a draft-night trade of their own, the Los Angeles Rams acquired another first-round pick for next year as well.

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All aTwitter​

Rooks ready to roll pic.twitter.com/e70EP7ya2c

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 9, 2025​

Mason/Brennan Preseason Hype! Award frontrunner Bill Croskey-Merritt at Washington Commanders rookie minicamp!pic.twitter.com/vYmpNGpZla

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 10, 2025​

.@j_lane_2 in action ️ pic.twitter.com/lhygl8XS43

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 9, 2025​

Trey Amos has elite DB swag @Commanders #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/BNe88oVDFa

— DLacks21 (@Cheddarbob804) May 9, 2025​

Javontae Jean-Baptiste is someone I expect to take the big leap this season and surprise a lot of fans. @Commanders #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/sRLPCUctkm

— DLacks21 (@Cheddarbob804) May 9, 2025​

Flashback Friday: Commanders Rookie Camp 2024 (5-10-24) take a look back at the 2024 Commanders Rookie Mini Camp with Jayden Daniels, Brandon Coleman, Luke McCaffrey and many more #RaiseHail #NFL #BowieTV pic.twitter.com/rCeD2Z55sI

— Bowie TV Sports (@BowieTVSports) May 10, 2025​

The Commanders have made all the right moves to go all in around Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/RNJhCbyxVx

— PFF (@PFF) May 10, 2025​

Rick Snider’s Washington says a poll supports new Washington Commanders stadium in D.C.. Gimme two minutes. pic.twitter.com/Mwt7VrW3aD

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 10, 2025​

Noah Brown #2 in pass interference yards drawn. Went on IR with a lacerated kidney after Week 13 last season. Re-signed for year 2 with Jayden Daniels. https://t.co/TYUiBbFFik

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 10, 2025​

Yards per route run leaders among RBs since 2006 per PFF (1000+ routes) pic.twitter.com/mjAkh2saI8

— Football Insights (@fball_insights) May 10, 2025​

#Bengals 1st-round pick DE Shemar Stewart isn’t participating in any on-field work until his contract is finalized — even with the standard injury waivers for rookies.

@CalebNoeTV)
pic.twitter.com/Vs66F9h5Br

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 9, 2025​

I was a Fullback/MLB but Chris Samuels all day long. https://t.co/QWf1v7G6hb pic.twitter.com/yjzFbjnekW

— Last of the Fullbacks (@TheLastFullback) May 8, 2025​

For those wondering, on today's NFL personnel notice, there were 328 undrafted free agents signed and 132 draft choices.

— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) May 9, 2025​

SCOOP AND SCORE!

: FOX | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/lbkr9R3PFf

— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) May 10, 2025​

DC WINS IT IN THE ALAMODOME pic.twitter.com/ZEpiyWxFVU

— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 10, 2025​

if you look closely in the background you can see aaron rodgers swimming with dolphins. pic.twitter.com/ArRqQXMZY7

— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) May 9, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/10...-washingtons-2025-rookie-minicamp-is-underway