ASHBURN, Va. — For Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters, selecting Josh Conerly Jr. was the “easy” part.
Projecting the Commanders’ initial selection ahead of Thursday night’s start to the NFL Draft wasn’t a simple task. The reigning NFC runners-up held the 29th pick in a first round that lived up to the unpredictable hype discussed league-wide. Peters and his staff spent weeks devising a plan that 31 other teams could wreck at any time.
All NFL teams compile contingencies, and Washington had a few. One involved the 6-foot-5, 311-pound offensive tackle who became a must-watch prospect for Peters and his staff this draft cycle.
“What we discussed beforehand was if (Conerly) was on the board, we weren’t going to trade back,” Peters said shortly after the selection.
So, they didn’t. Adding another offensive lineman wasn’t a massive part of the public pre-draft discussion. Washington previously received a talent infusion following a trade for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, days after another deal landed wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Last year’s starting left tackle, Brandon Coleman, and incumbent Andrew Wylie could compete for the right tackle role. The Commanders wanted more.
Enter Conerly, a two-year left tackle starter at Oregon with excellent movement skills for a man whose size can block the sun — and pass rushers with bad intentions.
“It’s really the total package,” Peters said of the case for Conerly. “You look at the tape and you see what an incredible athlete he is for his size, which is backed up by a lot of his testing numbers, too.”
The throughline for Washington’s roster moves following last season’s NFC Championship Game appearance was simple: Help and protect quarterback Jayden Daniels. Despite enticing opportunities to trade out of the first round to acquire additional picks — a compelling angle for a team with only five — or use the first-rounder for needs on the defensive side, Washington stuck with the plan.
Conerly, a former five-star college recruit from Seattle, is sure glad it did.
“It means the world to me,” he said about getting to block for one of the NFL’s brightest young stars. “Heisman Trophy winner, somebody I look up to … I’m looking forward to the opportunity just to get out there and block for one of the best.”
Peters did his best to block out the nerves during the first round. He feared teams picking in the top 11 selections might target the tackle with an 82-inch wingspan who went “toe-to-toe” last season against the draft’s No. 3 pick, Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter. Three tackles were selected in the first nine picks, and four offensive linemen in the initial dozen. Conerly remained.
The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, slotted at 25 and 26, respectively, were considered offensive line-picking teams. They instead turned into traders. Fortunately for Washington, the teams moving up weren’t looking for tackles. The Commanders fielded trade calls, including from teams targeting Conerly. Peters again stuck with the plan. Weeks of homework had him convinced Conerly was the help they needed.
Kliff left a note on AP’s desk this week…
Manifestation works 😌 pic.twitter.com/CGjvfQdub0
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 25, 2025
West Coast scout Paul Skansi became the Conerly backer in the building during the season, and the cheerleading continued throughout the pre-draft process. Peters watched Conerly in person when the No. 1-ranked Ducks routed Michigan for a 38-17 road win, then binge-watched game film. Conerly’s “great feet,” lower body structure and “great bend” wowed Washington’s top talent evaluator. His mobility to become a second-level blocker will bolster the run game.
Meeting the tackle solidified the positive evaluation. Washington had a formal meeting with Conerly at the NFL Scouting Combine and recently brought the third-team All-American to town for the team’s group “30” visit, including an outing at Topgolf.
“He wasn’t much of a golfer, but that’s all right,” Peters joked. “He just really, really impressed us in person, just the way he handled himself.”
There’s no set position plan for now. Peters said Conerly received some guard work at the Senior Bowl. Cool, but right tackle is the obvious destination. Washington intends to have the tackle candidate compete this summer, as it did with Daniels and quarterback Marcus Mariota last year. Conerly, who celebrated the significant life moment with friends and family back home, is game for whatever the staff has in mind.
“Hey, if that’s what I gotta do, that’s what I gotta do,” he said.
Washington has one selection on Day 2, No. 61, to address other areas. There were intriguing defensive ends, cornerbacks and offensive playmakers available in the first round. Whereas the talent at these positions runs deep, offensive tackles become harder to find after Round 1.
“We did think that after Josh, there was going to be a little bit of a dip (in talent),” Peters said. “That shouldn’t be the driver of your decision, but it also makes you feel more comfortable about doing that.”
Helping Daniels feel at ease entering his second season is an obvious goal for Washington. Peters said the team called the quarterback, a noted early riser, after making the pick.
“We woke him up and then he went back to bed,” Peters said. “But he’s happy.”
(Photo: Michael Allio / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)