Commander Country

What is the Commanders' 'dream scenario' in the NFL Draft?

The Washington Commanders have one clear 'dream scenario' next weekend, according to one analyst.
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Washington Commanders helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Washington Commanders helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Washington Commanders nailed more than one pick in last year's NFL Draft, and one of them specifically stands out for being bold and for how well the player developed in his rookie season.

Trading back in the second round, the Commanders allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and draft cornerback Cooper DeJean. Later in the round, general manager Adam Peters took a cornerback of his own, Mike Sainristil, out of Michigan.

While the Eagles are certainly happy with DeJean, Washington is equally happy with Sainristil. If Peters could orchestrate another trade and land a second Michigan Wolverines cornerback, that might be the team's dream scenario, according to Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano.

Michigan defensive back Will Johnson.
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"The trade for Marshon Lattimore didn’t do much for the Commanders last year because he missed games due to injury and struggled on the field when available. His days of being a No. 1 corner might be over. Washington can account for that by adding Johnson, who has the most upside among the cornerback draft prospects this year," writes Manzano.

 Before the 2024 season Johnson was projected to be one of the top players in the upcoming draft, but a down year comparitavely hurt his stock a bit to where he's now reaching the 20s range in many mocks.

If Peters prioritizes the need for an outside cornerback as much as Manzano, and Johnson gets into reach, perhaps the Commanders will go back to the Wolverines' well for another defensive back in 2025.


READ MORE: Commanders urged to make trade for $12 million Bills' pass rusher

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

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David Harrison
DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has covered the NFL since 2015 as a digital content creator in both written and audio media. He is the host of Locked On Commanders and a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. His previous career was as a Military Working Dog Handler for the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.

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