The Washington Commanders may have had pressing needs at defensive end, and one more big-name wide receiver wouldn't have hurt. Adam Peters chose to prioritize protecting franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels when he selected Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Conerly was picked after a sublime 2024 season in which he emerged as one of the best pass protectors in the entire country. Even after veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil was acquired via trade from the Houston Texans, the Oregon prospect sliding as far as he did was too enticing for Washington to pass up.
The rookie isn't being guaranteed a starting spot like most first-round picks. He got second-team reps over Washington's offseason program while competing with Andrew Wylie for the starting right tackle job. While the Commanders think Conerly can eventually move to left tackle, Dan Quinn is letting him cook on the right side for now. Even Tunsil can't hide his admiration.
"He's going to be a dog," Tunsil said of his new teammate. "Just the way he moves, the way he bends, athletic, smart, very intelligent. He has all the tools to be a damn good player in this league."
Commanders rookie OT Josh Conerly Jr. gets strong endorsement from Laremy Tunsil
Conerly gave up single-digit pressures during his final season with the Ducks, and most of those came against his best opponent in an Ohio State team that featured multiple future pro rushers. He has a legitimate claim to the title of best pass-blocking tackle in this class.
His biggest obstacle to professional success is a lack of amazing run-blocking skill and power. While that flaw could be minimized in a pass-happy Kliff Kingsbury offense, Conerly will have a very finite ceiling if he doesn't get a bit more aggressive in this area.
Wylie has started 29 games over the last two seasons, but he is in the last year of his contract and put up thoroughly average numbers last year. Right tackle may be a better spot for Conerly at this point in his career. Washington likely didn't give up as much as they did for Tunsil just for him to be a one-year rental.
Conerly still has a long way to go before he can emerge as a quality starter in the pros, but everything about his profile suggests that he is in line for a solid career as one of Daniels' chief bodyguards.
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