Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after scoring a touchdown. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders protect Jayden Daniels in latest NFL mock draft

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By Jeremy Brener | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Washington Commanders are committing to building in the trenches and they proved that this offseason.

"Only his second year as the starting LT at Utah, but there was a reason the Utes felt comfortable enough moving Spencer Fano to the right side. Lomu has a long frame and plays with surprisingly good footwork. Not to oversell it, but if I squint, I see shades of Joe Alt because of the length and athleticism," Wilson wrote.

Lomu could build Commanders offensive line

Lomu has a lot of potential and this year will be big for him to see how well he can perform. If he plays like he did in 2024, there's a case to be made for Lomu to be taken in the first round.

The Commanders would be an interesting fit for Lomu, but possibly a smart one. The Commanders have Tunsil at left tackle signed on until the 2026 season. Washington could assess Tunsil's performance in his first year with the team as a 31-year-old. If he performs well, Lomu could be an understudy for a year and replace Tunsil once he becomes a free agent.

There's also a world where Tunsil's age begins to show and he isn't the answer the Commanders had hoped for. If this is the scenario that plays out, Lomu could be a plug-and-play prospect. He could also compete with Conerly, this year's first-round prospect, for the vacated left tackle role.