Kliff Kingsbury wanted to make sure the Washington Commanders got his man. And the progressive play-caller channeled his inner Kevin Costner to ensure Adam Peters heeded his advice.
The offensive coordinator became convinced Josh Conerly Jr. was the prospect Washington should take at No. 29 overall. They didn't have a huge need at the offensive tackle position after striking a bombshell trade for five-time Pro Bowl blindside enforcer Laremy Tunsil, but Peters is always going to take the best players available regardless. That proved to be the case once again.
And Kingsbury had a huge say in proceedings, albeit hilariously and unconventionally.
Everyone knows the 'Vontae Mack, no matter what' post-it that Sonny Weaver Jr. (played by Costner), in the hit film Draft Day. Kingsbury's note was a lot bigger, but the message he left on general manager Adam Peters' desk was loud and clear.
"Just popping in, take the Oregon tackle."
Peters made this public knowledge after the pick was made amid jubilant scenes in Washington's war room. Conerly comes with Day 1 starting promise on the edge. He's athletic, technically sound, and boasts an immensely high ceiling given his age and current trajectory.
Kliff left a note on AP's desk this week...
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 25, 2025
Manifestation works pic.twitter.com/CGjvfQdub0
The former Oregon star also didn't allow a single pressure when going up against Abdul Carter. Of course, he'll now face him twice a season after the edge rusher was drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Giants.
Trading down was contemplated by Peters, but no offer he deemed acceptable arrived. The Commanders were also playing the board effectively, knowing that several offensive linemen had gone in the first round before they went on the clock. Not taking Conerly at No. 29 would have guaranteed he went elsewhere.
This shakes up the offensive line dynamic. However, Peters is always thinking two steps ahead and has removed sentiment from the equation.
He knows Andrew Wylie is heading into the final year of his deal and probably won't return in 2026. He knows Brandon Coleman is far from a sure thing on the edge, so a future on the interior seems more obvious now. The front-office leader is also aware that stud right guard Sam Cosmi is set to miss most if not all of the upcoming campaign with a torn ACL.
That's called long-term planning and placing the team's interests above all else. It's been a long time since the Commanders were run with such professionalism. And looking at the returns Peters got from his first draft class, fans have complete trust that Conerly can emerge quickly into a valuable contributor.
Kingsbury's message was heard. He now has another athletic edge presence to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels. Just how much his message tipped the scales is anyone's guess, but it didn't hurt, that's for sure.
It's now up to Conerly to repay this faith.
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It's no secret that Adam Sandler is a big Swiftie. So, when the actor and comedian was asked about the singer at the red carpet for the Happy Gilmore 2 world premiere at Lincoln Center in New York City, he couldn't help but answer with a big smile on his face. "They love Taylor. I love Taylor," Sandler said of himself and his two daughters, Sunny and Sadie. "Travis is just nice enough [that] he wanted to do something. So we wrote something for Travis and when he said yes, yeah, my girls were very excited, including my wife. Everybody loves him." However, the immediately brought up a very important question. "Was there any talk of getting Taylor in," the reporter asked about "Happy Gilmore 2." "We didn't want to bother Taylor," Sandler responded. "We just let Taylor entertain the world as she does. I listened to 'All Too Well' three times in a row today with my kid. She's done a lot for our planet, so we love her." Got to respect Sandler for this take, but... just imagine a Swift cameo in the highly-anticipated sequel. 'He's like the guys I grew up with' — Travis Kelce made Adam Sandler feel So High School on set of 'Happy Gilmore 2' The friendship between Adam Sandler and Travis Kelce has truly become one of the most wholesome things to see. And the actor and comedian always has good things to say about the Kansas City Chiefs' tight end. Specifically, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Sandler spoke about Kelce ahead of the tight end's cameo in "Happy Gilmore 2." “Travis is such a gentle, nice guy, and funny as hell,” Sandler said. “He’s like the guys I grew up with. When I was with Travis, it reminded me of my buddies in high school and just being able to laugh and say the things you want to say.” He added that Kelce is "a stud" and "a great actor and a great human.” But, of course when talking about Kelce, a Taylor Swift mention can often be found close by. “Taylor is incredible,” Sander added. “Taylor is so damn nice to my family and has always been. My kids have met Taylor a bunch of times over the years, and she’s ridiculously nice to them and warm.” Fans will finally get to see Kelce in "Happy Gilmore 2" very soon, with the movie being released on Netflix on July 25.
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