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While many fans expected the Commanders to either trade back from the 29th overall pick or take the best defensive player available (with good odds on edge rusher and cornerback), Adam Peters instead opted to draft an offensive tackle — 21-year-old Josh Conerly Jr out of Oregon.
This was not wholly unanticipated. In the Pick-5 draft prediction contest here on Hogs Haven, 25 of the 67 entrants scored points by listing Conerly as a likely draft pick on their entries. The selection of Conerly demonstrates that the front office has clear priorities and plans for the draft.
Conerly may need a bit of time to build NFL strength, and he should have as much time as he needs, with no pressure to have to start immediately for the Commanders, but having every opportunity to do so if he can win the battle for the starting spot.
There will be competition at the right tackle spot in training camp, with Conerly seemingly likely to open the season as the backup to the winner of the competition between 2nd yr tackle Brandon Coleman and 7-yr veteran Andrew Wylie, with the loser likely moving to a guard position, but in Dan Quinn’s competition-based culture, nothing is written in stone and every player will have an opportunity to win a job. In his Thursday night press conference, Adam Peters said that the only T/G spot he believed is locked down is Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, and confirmed that Conerly, Coleman and Wylie are all capable of playing both guard and tackle. Peters also talked about how Conerly “went toe to toe with Abdul Carter, who is the best pass rusher in the draft. He did well against a lot of really good players.”
Having traded for LT Laremy Tunsil in March, Adam Peters is certainly sending a message that investing in the team’s offensive line is an absolute priority. What looked like a thin and injury-affected unit (Sam Cosmi’s ACL) in February now looks much deeper and more talented.
Adam Peters also confirmed in his Thursday press conference that Conerly was the highest-rated player on the board and that as a group, they decided that with Conerly available at 29, they would not trade out of the draft slot. He also described how highly the Commanders west coast scout Paul Skansi spoke about Conerly during the college season. Peters opened up his press conference by saying “this was a pick from the entire building”, stressing how much the entire organization believes in the player.
Now that you’ve had a minute to digest the draft pick and it’s potential implications for the Commanders roster, we offer you another opportunity to grade the pick.
Comments & Results
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POLL QUESTION
