Commanders 'Easy Pick' To Protect Star Quarterback Jayden Daniels

The New York Giants may have "won" the first round of the NFL Draft by landing an elite pass-rusher and their quarterback of the future. The Philadelphia Eagles - again - stole an athletic SEC defender. And the Dallas Cowboys added yet another offensive lineman named Tyler.

Quietly, hidden amongst the hubbub in the NFC East, the Washington Commanders did exactly what they set out to do this offseason and this draft: Find help for star quarterback Jayden Daniels.

After trading for receiver Deebo Samuel as a weapon and Laremy Tunsil as a protector, Commanders' general manager Adam Peters drafted more offensive line insurance around Daniels by nabbing Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. with the 29th pick.

The surprise team of 2024 that went all the way to the NFC Championship Game has now added a star receiver, a Pro Bowl left tackle and a promising rookie who - at 6-5, 311 pounds - had the fastest 10-yard takeoff of any offensive lineman at the Scouting Combine.

Conerly Jr. had been projected to go as early as 18th to the Seattle Seahawks in mock drafts. He raised eyebrows by holding his own in the Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State's Abdul Carter, who went No. 3 overall to the Giants.

"This was a pick from the entire building," Peters said. "Throughout the process we fell more and more in love with him. "Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Johnson, Dan Quinn - I mean everybody was just really pumped to get him. We were holding our breath for a while thinking he might go ahead of us so we were thrilled when he was there. It was an easy pick for us to make."