Early signs at camp suggest this Commanders draft pick has a long way to go

One of Adam Peters’ top priorities heading into his second offseason as Washington Commanders general manager was to improve the offensive line. That made all the sense in the world.

Protecting the team’s most valuable asset, Jayden Daniels, is paramount. A top-10 line will make the run game more reliable in addition to keeping the franchise quarterback from taking a lot of hits.

Peters acquired three eventual starters on the line last offseason, and he was even more aggressive in 2025. The trade for elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil was a bombshell. Then, the Commanders used their first-round pick to draft a presumptive bookend on the right side, Josh Conerly Jr.

He also signed a couple of promising young veterans, Nate Herbig and Foster Sarell, to improve depth. Even if it takes right guard Sam Cosmi a good chunk of the season to return from his ACL tear, Washington's protection is in very good shape.

Commanders are experiencing growing pains with rookie Josh Conerly Jr.

The first crack in this plan came a few days ago with the surprise retirement of Herbig. Now, there have been multiple reports questioning how ready Conerly will be to take over as the starting right tackle.

It began when Lynnell Willingham from 106.7 The Fan reported being underwhelmed by the rookie’s performance in the early days of training camp. Then, Zach Selby from the team's website seemed to confirm those fears by describing Conerly as “raw.”

Before we throw in the towel and start doubting Peters’ ability to find talent, let’s take a step back.

Of course, Conerly is raw. He is a 21-year-old attempting to adjust to the speed and power of the NFL. Though he has had some work this summer, he has essentially been on the job for almost two weeks.

To expect a polished tackle at this point would be ludicrous. Joe Alt was the most prepared tackle prospect I have seen enter the league since Joe Thomas, and even he found life difficult on occasion last year with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Conerly looks nothing like a recent disaster on the offensive line. Early in training camp, it became clear that 2023 fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels could not play at the NFL level.

Five different clubs signed Daniels to their practice squad in 2024. He didn’t stick anywhere until the Miami Dolphins picked him up at season’s end. He is a long shot to make their squad this year. Ricky Stromberg, chosen one round ahead, has had a similar trajectory.

The former Oregon standout is not one of those players. Does that mean Conerly will eventually lock down the right tackle spot as expected? Of course not. Perhaps there are deficiencies in his game that will limit his career. But it is way too early to make that call.

Conerly has excellent physical gifts, but he has holes as well. His arms are shorter than ideal for a tackle. His upper body, though by no means weak, is not as powerful as some other prospects.

But again, he is 21 years old. He will gain mass and muscle. The leg burst and ease of movement that Conerly displays are genuine assets.

Physically, Conerly profiles a lot like D.C. native Anton Harrison. He was also a late first-round draft pick. The Jacksonville Jaguars took him in 2023, and he has been their right tackle ever since. He's been inconsistent at times, but head coach Liam Coen is expecting big things this season.

If Conerly is not ready to start at right tackle by Week 1, there is little cause for alarm. The Commanders have an insurance plan in place.

Andrew Wylie has started at right tackle for the past two seasons and is fully capable of doing so again. He is workmanlike and has been a slow starter through much of his career. But he is a proven commodity who tends to play better as the year goes on.

There’s a pretty good chance that Wylie and Conerly could share the position for a while. That is exactly what the Commanders did last season with the left tackle position.

With rookie Brandon Coleman needing a little more experience, Washington rotated snaps at left tackle early on between the third-round pick and veteran Cornelius Lucas. When the rookie was ready to take over full-time, that’s what he did.

Don’t be at all surprised to see that happen this year with Conerly and Wylie. It will not mean that he is a draft bust. It just means that at 21 years old, he may require a little bit of patience before becoming a starting-caliber performer.

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