Commanders sitting on gold mine with breakout star ready to take over in 2025

The Washington Commanders are moving forward with a heavy reliance on veteran players again next season. They also need some of their fledgling stars to step up and develop into high-caliber performers as head coach Dan Quinn's squad looks to emulate their incredible early achievements.

Seasoned players will get you so far. But long-term growth is predicated on drafted players or young gems acquired by other means stepping up and making progress. And the Commanders have several lively candidates for genuine breakout campaigns in 2025.

The likes of Jaylin Lane, Trey Amos, Luke McCaffrey, Ben Sinnott, and Jordan Magee have been lauded by the coaching staff over Washington's offseason program. They've all got immense potential, but none of these players have the scope to move the needle like Josh Conerly Jr.

Commanders are making Josh Conerly Jr. earn it, but he's making encouraging strides

Washington prioritized the protection in front of quarterback Jayden Daniels this offseason. Adam Peters struck a bombshell trade to acquire five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans, but that wasn't enough. He also used the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Conerly, who figures to start at right tackle from the moment he steps onto the field in Week 1 against the New York Giants.

The Commanders are making Conerly earn it. He played mostly with the second string at voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp. This is something the coaching staff did with last season's draft picks with great success, so it's no surprise to see them adopt the same method.

Conerly is switching over to the right after spending his college career at Oregon on the blindside. His technique and footwork are already NFL-ready. Once the playing strength improves and he becomes more impactful on running plays, the Commanders will have a special talent on their hands.

The raw talent is there with Conerly. The coaches see it. The front office does too. His smooth transition also didn't go unnoticed by Tunsil, who lavished praise on his new offensive tackle partner with an extremely bullish projection about his long-term outlook.

If the Commanders' big investments in Tunsil and Conerly pay off, it's got the scope to change everything. Daniels was a stud last season. If he gets extra time and security in the pocket, there's just no telling what the dynamic signal-caller could accomplish.

Peters faced a nervous wait until Conerly fell into their laps at No. 29 overall. Don't be surprised if this becomes a bona fide steal quicker than expected.

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