After a meteoric rise from relentless disappointment, the Washington Commanders look to bolster the roster that brought them to the NFC Championship this past season. While it’s hard to say that Washington lucked into their recent success, they certainly played above their talent level. It’s nothing to scoff at, no one expected a team that picked second overall in the previous year’s draft to be playing for a chance at the Super Bowl the next.

It shouldn’t be surprising that the roster will need reinforcements to establish themselves as a legitimate contender. The Commander’s front office, led by general manager Adam Peters, has recognized that and has spent significant capital on acquiring players like tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel via trade. However there still lacks a sense that the offense has been overhauled into one of the league’s best. Picking 29th, the Washington Commanders can and should use this pick on a player to truly establish an elite unit.

The Case For Wide Receiver

After the best year of his career, WR Terry McLaurin vindicated Commanders fans who had long claimed that he was a good quarterback away from entering the truly elite group of the league’s best wideouts. Opposite to him, the Commanders have, well, no one that fits the mold of a legitimate WR2. While the acquisition of Deebo Samuel from San Francisco is certainly interesting, he will play a gadget role in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and has injury concerns to boot. Noah Brown, back on a new short-term deal, is a big body who did play well in an injury-shortened 2024 season but did not produce to the level a true second option should.

Luke McCaffrey was drafted in the third round of last year’s draft as a project who would eventually play in the slot. That leaves Michael Gallup, whom Washington signed after he took a short one-year retirement in 2024. While it’s a fun, cheap experiment, Gallup hasn’t had a very productive season since 2020. Though his volume of targets did decline in a crowded Dallas room. None of these options inspire confidence that Washington has a reliable target opposite McLaurin.

So what options are there in the draft? Luckily, this is a pretty strong receiver class. Realistically, Washington won’t be in a position to take Heisman winner and dual use phenom Travis Hunter, or the highly praised and big-bodied Tetairoa McMillan. While those two make up the high end of the class, there may be a few options down the board. With some luck, the three guys could potentially slide down the board if things go right.

First is Texas’s Matthew Golden. A legitimate speedster, Golden ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the combine, and it shows on the field. Golden’s game-changing speed and electric route-running ability will add a true deep threat for QB Jayden Daniels to flash his excellent accuracy down the field to. Think Dyami Brown’s role with the team last year on steroids.

Second is Mizzou’s own Luther Burden, who was getting some preseason Heisman hype last summer. Despite a dip in production, Luther Burden still flashes traits that project to him being a true problem for future defenses. He showcases his ability to gain separation, along with his strong hands at the catch point and devastating ability after the catch. Lastly, former Buckeye Emeka Egbuka is another well-rounded pass-catcher who combines dangerous speed with lethal route-running technique. All three of these players are favored to go ahead of 29, so Washington will need the board to fall their way if they want to add a true first-round type of receiver.

The Case For Running Back

Brian Robinson Jr., taken in the third round of the 2022 Draft, has shown flashes of starting potential but has never truly delivered the production fans would like to see, sticking right around the sub-800-yard range with limited receiving upside. Austin Ekeler, while having a decent bounce-back season in 2024, isn’t getting any younger and certainly cannot be a true RB1 at this point in his career.

Some may view a first-round running back as a vanity pick despite this being a stacked class, and many of the guys who could be available at 29 are guys who offer upside that adds another foil to a Washington offense that is already a headache to stop. While Jayden Daniels leading the team in rushing was certainly a feat, it would be ideal to have a truly elite ground game to fall back on outside of him, and that type of upside is certainly there in this class.

The Case For Offensive Line

Amid the free agency frenzy, Washington traded for Pro-Bowl Caliber Tackle Laremy Tunsil. He will replace the committee of Brandon Coleman and Cornelius Lucas, who both split snaps at left tackle. Lucas signed a deal with the Browns, and Coleman’s role is yet to be announced. Most signs point to him kicking inside to guard. On the other side of the line, T Andrew Wylie had his contract restructured recently.

This could be a sign that the Commanders are looking for a long-term solution at his right tackle spot. There are a few tackles who could be around at 29, like Oregon’s Josh Conerly, West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum, or Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery, all of which would be decent value at that spot and would certainly solidify this offensive line going into the future.

The Case For Tight End

This one is certainly the most far-fetched, as they brought back the surprisingly productive Zach Ertz on a one-year deal and selected Ben Sinnott in the second round of last year’s draft. Still, outside of a few plays here and there by Sinnott and blocking specialist John Bates, Zach Ertz was the only tight end who produced for the Commanders last year.

If they’re looking to add a solidified successor, it’s unlikely that Penn State’s Tyler Warren, seen as the best tight end prospect in the draft, gets to them. Colston Loveland out of Michigan will probably also go higher, but he’s more likely than Warren. In effect, a lot would need to go right for Washington to justifiably take a tight end in round one (though Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. certainly has some intriguing upside).

End Of My Commanders Rant

Certainly, at the height of their excitement this century, Commanders fans should look forward to draft night because this front office’s actions tend to matter more than their words. Last year, Adam Peters said his philosophy was primarily to build through the draft. Countless signings, trades, and draft picks thrown away later, we can see this plan may have changed. Still, Peters has revived Washington from the brink and has certainly earned the trust of Commanders fans in his move. A month out, there are still many conversations to be had about this year’s draft in Green Bay, but it should get a little clearer each day, at least in theory.