Did Commanders tip their draft intent with free-agency moves?

Are the Washington Commanders saving their first-round pick in the coming NFL Draft for a pass-rusher?

Free-agent signings and trades shored up needs at receiver, offensive line and in the secondary. But there’s still one gaping hole: a dominant pass-rusher.

Washington hasn't re-signed Dante Fowler Jr., who tallied 10.5 sacks last season. Instead, it concentrated on big interior defensive linemen and reserve ends, leaving one critical piece remaining for the draft. 

Washington drafts 29^th overall in the first round, meaning it won’t get top prospects like Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. or Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart unless it moves up.

Still, solid pass-rushers are usually plentiful in the draft. Washington may focus on Marshall’s Mike Green or Georgia’s Mykel Williams.

Green seems a little undersized at 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds, but his first move is considered elite quickness. Green began as a linebacker at Virginia, sat out 2022 and then found success at Marshall. His 17 sacks last season led the FBS and set a Sun Belt record.

Williams (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) earned a serious look with two sacks and five quarterback pressures in the 2024 SEC Championship. He can play multiple defensive-line techniques, providing versatility.

Washington is looking to bolster a line that was unpredictable last season. The Commanders allowed 30 or more points seven times, including during a 55-23 NFC Championship loss to Philadelphia. An inconsistent pass rush and run defense has been revamped with bigger interior bodies to clog the middle and allow an edge-rusher to receive single-blocking.

Washington released eight-year veteran tackle Jonathan Allen and spent $45M over three years on former New York Jets tackle Javon Kinlaw. A 14^th overall selection in 2020 by San Francisco, injuries undermined two seasons for Kinlaw before he spent 2024 in New York with 12 starts. 

That Commanders GM Adam Peters was on the 49ers staff that drafted Kinlaw likely influenced a deal. Washington wanted Kinlaw (6-foot-5, 319 pounds) alongside Daron Payne inside.

So there’s one piece still lacking: a dominant pass-rusher. Peters’ first draft showed a willingness to select for need instead of simply choosing the best player available. This time, Adams may once again take his biggest need first: edge-rusher.