Commanders 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft: Changing plans edition

The 2025 NFL Draft is pretty far away from the thoughts of every Washington Commanders fan right now.

Their incredible start to the season has seen this perennial struggler come into NFC East title contention with the postseason in sight. Being 6-2 at this juncture is beyond anyone's wildest dreams, especially considering this is only Year 1 of their substantial rebuild under general manager Adam Peters.

The new front-office leader is always keeping the bigger picture in mind. Peters will be thrilled with the start made by this new-look roster, but his staff is already in the process of scouting college prospects before laying out a potential shortlist of options heading into the all-important pre-draft process.

Peters' first draft went extremely well. The Commanders picked up some immediate difference-makers. They found starters at key positions such as quarterback, cornerback, left tackle, and defensive tackle. The likes of Jordan Magee, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and Ben Sinnott look more than capable of filling starting or key rotational pieces long-term. This went a long way to Washington hitting the ground running under the new regime.

Things look even more promising in 2025. The Commanders are loaded with more than $121 million in salary-cap space and have nine draft selections at their disposal. This is an incredibly strong position to be in and a testament to how professionally things are being run behind the scenes.

If Peters continues his exceptional recruitment and those currently around develop accordingly under Dan Quinn's coaching staff, they could go into the campaign with Super Bowl hopes. That is astonishing to say after so much misery under previous regimes.

It also means plans and prospects of interest will change if Washington's fairytale run continues. Pro Football Network's simulator has the Commanders picking at No. 26 overall currently. That's a far cry from the No. 2 pick in 2024 that eventually resulted in Jayden Daniels.

With this in mind, we took an early look at how Washington could approach the selection process with our first seven-round mock draft of the season.

Commanders draft Jalon Walker

• Edge Rusher | Georgia Bulldogs
• Round No. 1 | No. 25 overall

One of the biggest problems surrounding the Washington Commanders this season centers on their lack of pass-rush. Things have improved over the last few weeks, which is encouraging. However, general manager Adam Peters needs to find a dynamic young prospect from the college ranks at some stage during the 2025 NFL Draft.

There's a chance he could go a lot higher, but Jalon Walker would be a difficult proposition to turn down at this juncture. The Georgia prospect has a unique blend of explosiveness and power. He's a little flawed technically, but the Commanders have the coaching staff in place to ensure progress arrives quickly.

Walker has 4.5 sacks this season, including three during a dominant performance against Texas. His athletic profile is absolutely off the charts, and capable of making an impact at the next level.

Commanders draft Domani Jackson

• Cornerback | Alabama Crimson Tide
• Round No. 2 | No. 62 overall

Another area where the Commanders need help is the cornerback spot. Benjamin St-Juste is out of contract next spring and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. remains a work in progress in Year 2 of his professional career. Adam Peters might look to the veteran free-agent pool for an immediate fix, but adding another prospect or two via the draft should also be high on his list of priorities.

Domani Jackson is incredibly raw, but the athleticism is obvious. The defensive back is a lightning rod with elite-level speed capable of going down the field with anybody. He's a sound enough tackler and has been a standout performer ever since high school. That won't count for much in the pros, so some technical refinement is needed beforehand.

If the coverage capabilities and technique ever match his athletic intangibles, someone is going to have a real player on their hands. This would also be a fantastic landing spot for Jackson considering how accomplished Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. are at developing defensive backs.

Commanders draft Terrance Brooks

• Cornerback | Illinois Fighting Illi
• Round No. 3 | No. 74 overall

Double-dipping at the cornerback position is something that will enter Peters' thought process. We've already discussed the questions surrounding the unit long-term with no real stability aside from second-round selection Mike Sainristil. The Commanders need to extend Benjamin St-Juste or identify veteran pieces in free agency. However, don't be shocked if the team goes after more than one highly touted prospect from the college level.

Terrance Brooks transferred from Texas to Illinois after gaining three interceptions for the Longhorns in 2023. He was the No. 2 ranked cornerback in the transfer portal with the size and physical profile to be a factor at the next level with further development.

Brooks mirrors receivers well at all three levels of the field. He's instinctive, which can be his undoing on occasion. Adding more discipline would help smooth the transition from college to the pros.

Commanders draft Tez Johnson

• Wide Receiver | Oregon Ducks
• Round No. 3 | No. 93 overall

Jayden Daniels looks like a superstar. The No. 2 overall selection has the poise, flawless demeanor, and ability to come through in clutch situations. He's the franchise presence that the Washington Commanders have craved for years. Maximizing the window of his rookie contract is crucial.

Terry McLaurin remains an elite-level performer. Luke McCaffrey has potential. But the rest of Washington's wide receiver unit comes with questions about their future beyond the current campaign. Additional reinforcements are needed during the 2025 offseason. Whether it comes through a big splash in free agency or via the draft is another matter.

Someone like Tez Johnson is worth the risk at this stage. He's an electrifying threat with the football in his hands, getting to top speed quickly and emerging as a significant downfield threat at Oregon.

Johnson's size might restrict him to slot duties in the NFL. But the possibilities of how he could be utilized are endless within Kliff Kingsbury's scheme if he's not a head coach somewhere else.

Commanders draft Jihaad Campbell

• Linebacker | Alabama Crimson Tide
• Round No. 4 | No. 131 overall

Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu have become a dominant partnership quickly. The Washington Commanders identified both veteran linebackers as men who could play a leading role in the franchise's renaissance. Their influence on and off the field has been astonishing so far.

The Commanders cannot sit on their hands in pursuit of improvements. They need to solidify depth with only Jordan Magee seen as a long-term option behind the starting duo. It's also worth remembering that Wagner is out of contract next spring, but the future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer should get another deal if he wants one.

Jihaad Campbell has the sideline-to-sideline capabilities and straight-line speed that should fit well into Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s system. The former five-star high school recruit is not the finished product just yet, but he can play a key role on special teams while working on other areas of his game behind Luvu and Wagner in this scenario.

Commanders draft Alfred Collins

• DefensiveTackle | Texas Longhorns
• Round No. 6 | No. 184 overall

The Commanders have got some decent production from their defensive tackles since Jonathan Allen went out of the lineup through injury. Fans were concerned about how things would fare on the interior without the team leader. It's gone off without a hitch so far.

Johnny Newton and Phidarian Mathis have taken the mantle impressively. Daron Payne is also firmly establishing himself as an alpha without Allen to lean on. That said, the Commanders could still identify another development project via the draft to further bolster the ranks.

This need becomes more glaring depending on what the future has in store for Allen. Alfred Morris makes a ton of sense here. He's a stout asset against the run with heavy hands and a core base. The prospect is technically flawed and needs to refine his pass-rushing moves, but this looks like a good environment to learn.

Commanders draft Kyren Lacy

• Wide Receiver | LSU Tigers
• Round No. 6 | No. 204 overall

This might be a good time to reunite Jayden Daniels with one of his former college teammates at LSU. The Washington Commanders could double-dip at the wide receiver position given how many are out of contract next spring. Making the most of his rookie contract before a potential record-breaking deal is essential.

The Commanders picked up an explosive presence earlier in this draft with Tez Johnson. Kyren Lacy is more shrewd in his route running, boasting the size to counteract press coverage with relative comfort and emerging as a red-zone threat along the way.

Lacy isn't the quickest, but he knows how to get open on short-to-intermediate routes. His transition should go off smoothly given his previous connection to Daniels after the wideout brought in 30 receptions for 558 receiving yards and seven touchdowns from the Heisman Trophy winner in 2023.

Commanders draft Fa'alili Fa'amoe

• Offensive Tackle | Washington State Cougars
• Round No. 6 | No. 206 overall

The Commanders' offensive line has emerged as one of the genuine bright spots from a sensational campaign so far. This unit got the attention it deserved from general manager Adam Peters this offseason and the results speak for themselves. They're a consistent, functional unit capable of outstanding run blocking and giving Jayden Daniels a sound base from which to thrive in the passing game.

No team ever gets anywhere by standing still. Veteran Cornelius Lucas is out of contract next spring and might not return despite his impressive recent form. Andrew Wylie is doing enough to see out the final year of his deal in 2025, but finding a physically imposing development project to enhance depth wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Fa'alili Fa'amoe has the athletic scope to make a solid career for himself with further refinement. He's a fluid mover for his size, so there's a lot to like about his chances of significant progress under offensive line coach Bobby Johnson's guidance.

Commanders draft Xavier Watts

• Safety | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Round No. 7| No. 236 overall

Washington's starting safety tandem of Quan Martin and Jeremy Chinn could be a long-term partnership to solidify the backend of Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense. The duo has the explosiveness and hard-hitting tendencies that the defensive coordinator loves. It was a slow start, but they've come to life in recent weeks with more experience working as a pair.

The Commanders have some concerns about depth. Darrick Forrest is out of contract and probably won't be back. The jury is still out on Percy Butler. Those in power are taking their time with Tyler Owens after the undrafted free agent made the 53-man roster. Dominique Hampton's been a healthy scratch more often than not and is listed as a linebacker.

Xavier Watts is worth a shot with Washington's final selection. He's a little undersized but is an aggressive tackler. The defensive back is also a ballhawk in pass coverage, securing no fewer than 10 interceptions over the last two seasons.

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