The 2025 NFL draft is right around the corner and the Washington Commanders have the unique ability to select the players that don't necessarily need to have an immediate impact. Sure, they will want the players they select to see the field, but they don't have to take over the position they play immediately. They'll have time to develop the players they draft, which is a luxury that most teams don't have.
Because the Commanders are set up so well and had so much success in 2024, it's been hard for analysts and insiders to predict who they're going to select with their first-round pick. ESPN's Mel Kiper recently released a mock after the initial free agency frenzy, and he predicts that the Commanders will select cornerback Maxwell Hairston out of Kentucky.
Hairston also was my projected pick for the Commanders before the combine. It makes sense. Washington is in win-now mode, and cornerback remains a question mark even after the team traded for Marshon Lattimore at the deadline last year.The Commanders signed Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene to replace Benjamin St-Juste, but Hairston could still work his way into a starter role on the outside. He can create takeaways (six INTs over the past two seasons). And he ran a 4.28 at the combine, the fastest 40-yard dash across all positions this year. Figuring out the outside corner spots would allow Mike Sainristil to settle back into the slot, where he's at his best.
Hairston played three years at the University of Kentucky. During that time, he recorded 87 tackles (69 solo), one sack, three forced fumbles, six interceptions, 10 pass deflections, and three touchdowns.
The Commanders' secondary could definitely use some depth after losing Jeremy Chinn and others in free agency. Marshon Lattimore spent most of 2024 injured, so we'll see what he's capable of (or not) this year. Rookie Mike Sainristil held the secondary together with Chinn, but the Commanders' defense needs some love during the offseason.
We've seen predictions that the Commanders will draft a tight end, a receiver, a linebacker, an edge rusher, and now a cornerback. It's hard to say just what Dan Quinn and Adam Peters have up their sleeves in 2025, but you can be sure it's going to move this team in the right direction.
