The Washington Commanders turned the page quickly. Their remarkable run to the NFC Championship game was incredible, but general manager Adam Peters is going to make big changes to the playing personnel once again this offseason.
This is the price of progress. The Commanders' ambitious new project is off to the best start imaginable. At the same time, getting complacent is not an option.
Peters is well positioned to make the improvements needed to kick on in 2025. The Commanders are projected to have $82.41 million in available salary-cap space. They also have seven selections during the 2025 NFL Draft to boost the options at head coach Dan Quinn's disposal.
The pre-draft assessment process is already underway. It was at the back of Washington fans' minds thanks to their playoff involvement. That wasn't the case for Peters and his staff, who are always thinking two steps ahead and will already have identified hundreds of prospects worthy of closer examination.
Washington is picking much lower down the pecking order than usual, which isn't a bad thing. The Commanders' needs will change depending on free agency and which players are released or extended. But this is a good spot for Peters to be in with his team an attractive destination once again.
Commanders select CB Shavon Revel Jr. in 2025 NFL mock draft
Which way the Commanders go with their first-round pick is anyone's guess. This was a subject discussed by Vinnie Iyer from Sporting News in his latest mock draft. The analyst went with cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., who could give Washington a legitimate coverage trio alongside Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil.
The Commanders, after seeing Marshon Lattimore and rookie Mike Sainristil struggle with big A.J. Brown in the NFC championship game, need to go after a potential shutdown option in the physical Revel, who should come back well from a torn ACL that cut short his Pirates season.Vinnie Iyer
Revel is a dynamic coverage presence. He's got the size, length, and ball-tracking capabilities to make an immediate impact. The East Carolina prospect does have some injury problems that warrant further examination, but there is a lot to like.
It's not hard to see why the Commanders or anyone else will be high on Revel. He's 6-foot-3 with a projected 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He's strong enough to thrive in press coverage and is a willing contributor against the run for good measure.
His medical evaluation will be crucial. Revel tore his ACL in September and might not be available for some of Washington's offseason program in this scenario. The Commanders would need to be convinced there will be no more issues before making this move.
If Revel was healthy, he'd be a top-15 selection or potentially better. That could still be the case, but someone might be getting a steal if the defensive back recovers well and reaches his potential.
Adding Revel to Washington's cornerback room is a mouth-watering proposition. However, this looks like something of a luxury considering the need to fortify the trenches and bolster quarterback Jayden Daniels' supporting cast.
Time will tell, but nothing can be completely ruled out at this juncture.
