Washington Commanders fans will finally get the chance to see their 2025 rookie class in action this weekend, as rookie minicamp is set to begin May 9. Here are some things to watch over the next few days.
The first-round pick in action
The offensive line is not normally the main attraction during an NFL practice, but most of the media's attention will be focused on No. 29 overall pick Josh Conerly Jr. and how the rookie looks learning the Commanders' offensive scheme.
General manager Adam Peters did a good job of hyping Conerly up in his press conference at the end of the first round. The Commanders could have traded back and acquired more picks -- something many analysts predicted they would do -- but passed on those opportunities because they believed Conerly was too good of a prospect. Although not a perfect prospect, he excelled in pass protection and only allowed two sacks over the last two seasons. They viewed him as an ideal protector for quarterback Jayden Daniels, their most valuable asset.
The Commanders haven't clarified exactly where Conerly will play, other than to say that he will not play left tackle since five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil will be at that position. It's reasonable to assume, however, that they will start him at right tackle and see how he performs. They also believe he can play guard and aren't ruling out a future position switch for him.
Conerly was praised for his athleticism and quickness in the predraft process. We won't get a comprehensive look at his skill set until padded practices in training camp -- it can be difficult to fully evaluate offensive linemen at this point in the year due to league rules around the offseason workout program -- but it will be good to get a glimpse of the talent that Peters and the Commanders fell in love with.
The draft class's overall athleticism
Although the Commanders have one of the smallest draft classes in the league this year, they aren't lacking raw athletic talent. Each player had top 25 Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) for their respective positions, and some of them outperformed their peers at the NFL Scouting Combine.
While contact in practice isn't allowed this time of year, the athletic skill sets of players like cornerback Trey Amos, linebacker Kain Medrano, wide receiver Jaylin Lane and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt should be enough to get fans excited about the potential roles on the team. Medrano and Lane, both likely to have special teams roles, posted two of the best athletic scores in the 2025 draft classes. Lane used his 4.3 speed to great effect as a punt returner for MTSU and Virginia Tech, scoring touchdowns for both programs.
Croskey-Merritt, who only played one game for Arizona in 2024 because of eligibility issues, is one of the most intriguing additions to the roster because of his athletic upside. Although he wasn't invited to the combine, he had a strong performance at the Big 12 pro day with a 4.45 40-yard dash and recorded a 41.5-inch vertical. Plus, his 2023 stats at New Mexico (1,190 yards with 17 touchdowns) were among the best in the country, so there's reason to believe his traits will translate to the professional level.
The undrafted free agents and tryouts
The Commanders have yet to release an official list of undrafted free agents who will join them for training camp, but there's reason to start getting acquainted with them this weekend. There are always a few players from the group who end up making the initial 53-man roster. Last year, that list included tight end Colson Yankoff and safety Tyler Owens, both of whom the team believes could have exciting futures.
There will also be several tryout players at the Commanders' facility looking to get noticed by either Washington or another NFL team. Gabriel Taylor, the brother of the late former Washington safety Sean Taylor, is reportedly going to be among the group of players trying out for the Commanders this weekend. Taylor had five years of college experience, all with Rice, and recorded 231 tackles with 24 pass breakups, four sacks, six forced fumbles and 10 interceptions.
It's unclear at this point what's in store for Taylor's future. It's not impossible for Taylor to get invited back for Washington's training camp, but he will need to earn that opportunity this weekend. It's also possible Taylor lands somewhere else as he travels around the NFL to work out for other teams. Either way, it will certainly be a special moment for Taylor to start that journey with the team that his brother played for.
