After a historic rookie campaign, the Washington Commanders knew they had to continue to surround Jayden Daniels with plenty of top talent.
Daniels was the key piece in Washington's eight-win turnaround last year that ended in a spot in the conference championship game. It was the first time the organization had participated in that game in over 30 years.
The best way for any organization to get the most out of a talented young quarterback is to bolster the offensive line. Protecting a quarterback is sometimes the difference between a Super Bowl run and a mediocre season.
The good news for Washington is that they were able to address those offensive line concerns. The Commanders added Laremy Tunsil in an offseason trade, and selected tackle Josh Conerly in the first round of the 2025 draft in April.
With two new tackles on the roster, one analyst believes there could be a key position battle at both spots.
"Not only did general manager Adam Peters swing big and trade for five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, but Peters also used his first-round pick of the draft on Conerly," Bleacher Report contributor Matt Holder wrote.
"While the long-term vision for the Oregon product is to eventually take over for the soon-to-be 31-year-old Tunsil, protecting Daniels’ blind side, the rookie does have a path to earn a starting job in year one."
Conerly was not drafted as the team's immediate starter at right tackle. If he's able to make an impact right away, it would be seen as a positive swing for Washington's draft profile.
And it might just be the last piece needed to make Washington's offense the best in football.
