The 2025 Draft Thread

[skinsinparadise]

“Ekeler, Zaccheus, Crowder, Dyami has yawn games”

God. That’s also just a yawn list of players. We had that plus McLaurin? It’s a miracle we did as well as we did against the NFC with that skill group, OL, CB room, etc. It’s a testament to Jayden and the coaching staff.

I honestly am fine with our skill position group, but still don’t love them. Team by team, where would you rate our WR’s, TE’s, RB’s, as a whole, against the NFL? I’d say average. Maybe. That’s probably fine with our OL and a top 5 QB.

Still, I think you’re right. Deebo is exactly the right kind of piece to counter the Eagles. I think our team success is really going to be affected of how much Deebo has left. We aren’t going to get 1400 receiving yards Deebo, but if he is an impact YAC player and can come up big in big games, we might have someone that can impact games for us more than they would for other teams, like Ertz, last year.

Regarding Robinson, I agree 100%. I think he’s ok. Up and down. Average. He’s not a, “weapon”. I still think getting an actual weapon at RB and TE could take us to a different level.

I don’t think Croskey-Merritt is a bell cow, but, if he can be a real impact player for us, that would be an enormous boost. Lane also could be a help as a WR4 type. And I think there is some overlap in how Deebo has been used and Lane. Hand offs. Reverses. Etc. if Lane can have some impact as a speed/YAC guy underneath, that could also help us against the Eagles.

This team feels like it’s an offseason away from having a roster that is 85% of the Eagles/Lions last year. On both sides of the ball. But a roster that’s 85% of the 2024 Eagles, with a non-rookie Jayden Daniels…

Regarding Whitt, I don’t want to agree, but my gut agrees . I’m not sure about him. Maybe it’s a different era, but it felt like a guy like Gregg Williams could get average production out of any defensive roster and could get top 10 production out of a slightly more talented roster. Whit didn’t have much talent last year, but the defense didn’t play above their talent level the way the offense did. Our CB room looks so much better than the beginning of last year. Our run defense should be better. I want to see if he can scheme up a solid defense without having dogs at edge.

Also…



Conerly seems a little bit like a Jayden Daniels at OT. I think he has a chance to be really, really good, between the talent, and the reported work ethic.

As far as Whitt. To me he's TBD. I am just not on the he's untouchable train.

A. the CB whisper stuff we heard about before he came here. That didn't materalize. St. Juste, Forbes were arguably even worse last season. Lattimore was good in NO but atrocious here. Not saying that's on him but he certainly didn't come off as a dude who made lemons out of lemonade at that spot.

B. The 4th quarter collapases. It was the 3 worst defense in the NFL in the 4th quarter.

C. Hearing about how the defensive run game struggled in part because players weren't following their assigments. I had a good look at that rewatching the game. I don't get why the defensive staff gets a complete pass for that?

Having said that, i do think you can learn from season 1 to season 2, when you are new to running the defense. So I have an open mind to him being the goods. But to me its up in the air.

The best thing this defense does IMO is manufacture pressure even though they don't have that one stud. But from what I've gathered that's Quinn's contribution to the unit and wheel house.

Overall, I love this coaching unit on the aggregate. My one beef with them as a unit is for a staff that preaches ball is life they certainly aren't great at practicing that credo. The kicker for why the Eagles had this team's number was that team lived that credo and our team didn't. And ball is life cuts both ways, it also means holding on to the ball. And 9 turnovers against the Eagles in 2 games is embarassing. That's a rout. If I were the Eagles I'd giggle every time Quinn or whomever says ball is life as this team's credo.

I mentioned how an Eagles reporter said on 106.7, watch out for the Eagles punching the ball out. And the Washington radio host (forgetting which one it was) said yeah sure. And then the Eagles reporter goes you don't understand, they really practice the hell out of punching the ball out. Disgesting that all, while the Eagles defense is clearly more talented, I do get the vibe that they practice turnovers at a level of intensity in practice that this team doesn't quite match.

 

[heisenberg]

He hit like a MF though and we don't have that guy on our roster now. Unless Tyler Owens crazy ass wakes up anyway.

A defense will never scare anyone without an enforcer and we didn't replace that.

Will harris is pretty good in that role.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I mentioned how an Eagles reporter said on 106.7, watch out for the Eagles punching the ball out. And the Washington radio host (forgetting which one it was) said yeah sure. And then the Eagles reporter goes you don't understand, they really practice the hell out of punching the ball out. Disgesting that all, while the Eagles defense is clearly more talented, I do get the vibe that they practice turnovers at a level of intensity in practice that this team doesn't quite match.

The thing that really bugged me was exactly what you are alluding to - the two sides of it. They fumbled in the first game. From a preparation/coaching standpoint, they really needed to be ready to protect the football in the second game. Instead, not only do they fumble, but at really critical times too. Huge swings.

 

[NoCalSkins]

Finshed watching the last Eagles-Commanders game.

Some takeaways based on my opinion

My main takeaway from the game was that getting the most out of a mid-tier roster isn't always going to be enough to beat a team with little to no weaknesses. Washington just had too many problem areas on the roster that could be exploited. The Lions game, despite being a huge win, exposed some of it on defense despite the fact that they were able to generate turnovers. That game still ended up way more close than you'd assume especially considering one turnover lead to a Pick 6.

Against the Eagles it just felt they were worn down by superior talent. The margin for error when there is such a talent mismatch is so low. The game felt competitive until the Eagles scored the TD on that 4th down play where Luvu was blatantly held. The details of the game are a bit hazy but I think after the McLaurin TD it was 12-20 maybe and the next time the offense touched the ball they were down by another two scores.

 

[Old school]

When looking at the quality of our roster, we are definitely not "there" yet but we are heading in the right direction. We are not close to what the Eagles have (and what Detroit had before all these injuries).

My question is; how would you compare our current roster to the Chief's roster (minus Mahomes) over the last few Superbowl years. I think Mahomes elevated them just as JD5 did (and will continue to do for us). Despite our holes/weaknesses, I don't think you can overestimate how valuable a true franchise QB is.

 

[Gooseneck]

 

[NoCalSkins]

When looking at the quality of our roster, we are definitely not "there" yet but we are heading in the right direction. We are not close to what the Eagles have (and what Detroit had before all these injuries).

My question is; how would you compare our current roster to the Chief's roster (minus Mahomes) over the last few Superbowl years. I think Mahomes elevated them just as JD5 did (and will continue to do for us). Despite our holes/weaknesses, I don't think you can overestimate how valuable a true franchise QB is.

I think QB's the caliber of JD5 & Mahommes are the reason why the respective teams are playing post-season games against teams as talented as the Eagles. You put Hurts on the Commanders or last season's Chiefs and those teams aren't going very far.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

When looking at the quality of our roster, we are definitely not "there" yet but we are heading in the right direction. We are not close to what the Eagles have (and what Detroit had before all these injuries).

My question is; how would you compare our current roster to the Chief's roster (minus Mahomes) over the last few Superbowl years. I think Mahomes elevated them just as JD5 did (and will continue to do for us). Despite our holes/weaknesses, I don't think you can overestimate how valuable a true franchise QB is.

I agree although I think the term "franchise QB" is overused and therefore very confusing as a term.

I would rather just say that JD5, Maholmes, and Josh Allen are on a level by themselves. I am not sure there is any other QB in the league who is asked to do as much and delivers on a consistent basis. Actually to be honest, of the three, JD5 seems to clearly have been asked to do more as a rookie, given the comparable state of each team's defense. I think you can fairly easily make that argument.

 

[skinsinparadise]

My main takeaway from the game was that getting the most out of a mid-tier roster isn't always going to be enough to beat a team with little to no weaknesses. Washington just had too many problem areas on the roster that could be exploited. The Lions game, despite being a huge win, exposed some of it on defense despite the fact that they were able to generate turnovers. That game still ended up way more close than you'd assume especially considering one turnover lead to a Pick 6.

Against the Eagles it just felt they were worn down by superior talent. The margin for error when there is such a talent mismatch is so low. The game felt competitive until the Eagles scored the TD on that 4th down play where Luvu was blatantly held. The details of the game are a bit hazy but I think after the McLaurin TD it was 12-20 maybe and the next time the offense touched the ball they were down by another two scores.

It's a football cliche that you can't turn over the ball more than once and still win unless you do the same to the other team but that wasn't happening, we don't do turnovers typically. The first game, 2 turnovers, then 5, then 3 fumbles in the playoffs. If you are going to give the ball away like that then you have to be the Eagles, the team that is so much more talented that you could survive a less talented team with that many more chances. 10 turnovers against the Eagles is insane

Yet, the first game was close right through the 4th quarter. they somehow overcame it in the 2nd game and won. The third game, they turned the ball over, everyone on offense except for Daniels and Ertz came to play yet if they score in the 4th quarter, that time where Ekeler fumbled when they were in scoring position, they were in striking distance. Eagles are more talented. But rewatching those games brings home to me that Daniels >>> Hurts. And i don't think its that close. Imagine if you flipped those QBs onto these rosters?

Love Quinn and everything he's done. But I do think they walked into that playoff game without really thinking a heck of a lot about all the turnovers they gave up the previous 2 games. Rewatching it slowly, Dyami holding the ball in one hand, etc. It didn't feel like in preperation for the rematch they made this case that while this team talks about ball is life -- the Eagles actually live that credo against us -- so protect the ball. Maybe Quinn did emphasize it. No way to know. But it didn't feel like it watching that game over.

Do I think the Eagles are a better team? Of course. Lol, sorry Brian Robinson who declared publiclly (strangely) the opposite. But lets even say Brian Robinson was right where he was so convinced that Washington is the better team that he didn't care if the Eagles got it as bulletin board material -- still you aren't winning if your best game against your divisional rival is a turnover ratio of 2:1 against you. It's absurd. And I hope they learned the lesson that no it was no fluke that the Eagles did it to them the previous game. If they needed to see it happen to them three times to believe it, OK, hopefully its sunk in now.

I do think a better running game. WRs who can do YAC. A defense that isn't split open in the run game where even I can torch them for 100 plus yards with holes that size. They could beat that team. I started watching game 2 between them, Barkley's first run, look at that hole. The deeper you give into Barkley's master class against this team, the easier its to see its abot their O line opening grand canyon size holes to run through.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

It's a football cliche that you can't turn over the ball more than once and still win unless you do the same to the other team but that wasn't happening, we don't do turnovers typically. The first game, 2 turnovers, then 5, then 3 fumbles in the playoffs. If you are going to give the ball away like that then you have to be the Eagles, the team that is so much more talented that you could survive a less talented team with that many more chances. 10 turnovers against the Eagles is insane

Yet, the first game was close right through the 4th quarter. they somehow overcame it in the 2nd game and won. The third game, they turned the ball over, everyone on offense except for Daniels and Ertz came to play yet if they score in the 4th quarter, that time where Ekeler fumbled when they were in scoring position, they were in striking distance. Eagles are more talented. But rewatching those games brings home to me that Daniels >>> Hurts. And i don't think its that close. Imagine if you flipped those QBs onto these rosters?

Love Quinn and everything he's done. But I do think they walked into that playoff game without really thinking a heck of a lot about all the turnovers they gave up the previous 2 games. Rewatching it slowly, Dyami holding the ball in one hand, etc. It didn't feel like in preperation for the rematch they made this case that while this team talks about ball is life -- the Eagles actually live that credo against us -- so protect the ball. Maybe Quinn did emphasize it. No way to know. But it didn't feel like it watching that game over.

Do I think the Eagles are a better team? Of course. Lol, sorry Brian Robinson who declared publiclly (strangely) the opposite. But lets even say Brian Robinson was right where he was so convinced that Washington is the better team that he didn't care if the Eagles got it as bulletin board material -- still you aren't winning if your best game against your divisional rival is a turnover ratio of 2:1 against you. It's absurd. And I hope they learned the lesson that no it was no fluke that the Eagles did it to them the previous game. If they needed to see it happen to them three times to believe it, OK, hopefully its sunk in now.

I do think a better running game. WRs who can do YAC. A defense that isn't split open in the run game where even I can torch them for 100 plus yards with holes that size. They could beat that team. I started watching game 2 between them, Barkley's first run, look at that hole. The deeper you give into Barkley's master class against this team, the easier its to see its abot their O line opening grand canyon size holes to run through.

Absolutely amazing season, but a really bizarre ending in terms of either coaching on ball security or execution. Hard for us to know where that failed, but easy for us to see that as the key problem. Due to JD5 largely, we actually had a ridiculous chance to win still even late in that game. What I also think about sometimes, and kind of sucks, is what will happen when teams have more prep time for him. I am sure he will get a large amount of NFCE time devoted to him by DCs. They really struggled against him on off-script plays where he scrambled. Drives that would have been totally dead were given life and then he turned those into big points quite frequently. Very few QBs could pull off what he did multiple times. I think the big hope of all of the OL moves and WR moves is that we won't rely on that, which should have been our priority. Thankfully, it was!

 

[NoCalSkins]

It's a football cliche that you can't turn over the ball more than once and still win unless you do the same to the other team but that wasn't happening, we don't do turnovers typically. The first game, 2 turnovers, then 5, then 3 fumbles in the playoffs. If you are going to give the ball away like that then you have to be the Eagles, the team that is so much more talented that you could survive a less talented team with that many more chances. 10 turnovers against the Eagles is insane

Yet, the first game was close right through the 4th quarter. they somehow overcame it in the 2nd game and won. The third game, they turned the ball over, everyone on offense except for Daniels and Ertz came to play yet if they score in the 4th quarter, that time where Ekeler fumbled when they were in scoring position, they were in striking distance. Eagles are more talented. But rewatching those games brings home to me that Daniels >>> Hurts. And i don't think its that close. Imagine if you flipped those QBs onto these rosters?

Love Quinn and everything he's done. But I do think they walked into that playoff game without really thinking a heck of a lot about all the turnovers they gave up the previous 2 games. Rewatching it slowly, Dyami holding the ball in one hand, etc. It didn't feel like in preperation for the rematch they made this case that while this team talks about ball is life -- the Eagles actually live that credo against us -- so protect the ball. Maybe Quinn did emphasize it. No way to know. But it didn't feel like it watching that game over.

Do I think the Eagles are a better team? Of course. Lol, sorry Brian Robinson who declared publiclly (strangely) the opposite. But lets even say Brian Robinson was right where he was so convinced that Washington is the better team that he didn't care if the Eagles got it as bulletin board material -- still you aren't winning if your best game against your divisional rival is a turnover ratio of 2:1 against you. It's absurd. And I hope they learned the lesson that no it was no fluke that the Eagles did it to them the previous game. If they needed to see it happen to them three times to believe it, OK, hopefully its sunk in now.

I do think a better running game. WRs who can do YAC. A defense that isn't split open in the run game where even I can torch them for 100 plus yards with holes that size. They could beat that team. I started watching game 2 between them, Barkley's first run, look at that hole. The deeper you give into Barkley's master class against this team, the easier its to see its abot their O line opening grand canyon size holes to run through.

Oh for sure and I think most of my ire coming out of the NFCC game from last season was the seemingly crowning of Hurts as something he's not due to the talent around him. The same was sort of being said about Purdy out here on the West Coast until the 2024 season when the roster took some injuries and we got a better look at what Purdy would be without an absolutely stacked roster around him (the roster was still very much playoff caliber and Purdy wasn't terrible, just normal). I remember during the season seeing the Chiefs and thinking this might be the season they could get-got in the playoffs or SB because it really seemed like Mahommes was having to will that team to wins more than in previous seasons and they still managed to get to the super bowl, where as with the Eagles, they had so much talent on that roster they were able to drag Hurts to wins despite very pedestrian performances. And I am not really meaning this to bash Hurts, I think he does have a knack for coming up big in moments during the big games, but it is just undeniable what the O-line allows a QB no one would consider elite, to do on a consistent basis whether in the passing game or the damn near risk aversion scrambling/running he mostly takes advantage of.

 

[bifflog]

I mean if we're waiting to match the Eagles, talent for talent, player for player, we're gonna be waiting a while yet. The winner of the Super Bowl more often correlates to the team with the best QB than the team with the most overall talent, and that is our path for the near future and I don't really have a problem with that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Oh for sure and I think most of my ire coming out of the NFCC game from last season was the seemingly crowning of Hurts as something he's not due to the talent around him. The same was sort of being said about Purdy out here on the West Coast until the 2024 season when the roster took some injuries and we got a better look at what Purdy would be without an absolutely stacked roster around him (the roster was still very much playoff caliber and Purdy wasn't terrible, just normal). I remember during the season seeing the Chiefs and thinking this might be the season they could get-got in the playoffs or SB because it really seemed like Mahommes was having to will that team to wins more than in previous seasons and they still managed to get to the super bowl, where as with the Eagles, they had so much talent on that roster they were able to drag Hurts to wins despite very pedestrian performances. And I am not really meaning this to bash Hurts, I think he does have a knack for coming up big in moments during the big games, but it is just undeniable what the O-line allows a QB no one would consider elite, to do on a consistent basis whether in the passing game or the damn near risk aversion scrambling/running he mostly takes advantage of.

Eagles with a major head start of course because during the Ron years here -- he basically put together the worst roster in the NFL while at the same time Roseman amassed the best one.

Amazing that this team can go toe to toe with that team so fast.

Good work from Peters and Quinn clearly. And Jayden playing so well is a close as an equalizer we got.

I thim Hurts is a good QB. But IMO, Jayden is at least a peg better and i think that gap will continue to grow. And for that reason, I think we got a shot to take down Philly as soon as next season.

 

[The Chump Bailey]

But IMO, Jayden is at least a peg better

I agree and for myself, this is the lone area where I think the Commanders are better than the Eagles.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I agree and for myself, this is the lone area where I think the Commanders are better than the Eagles.

Agree, although i think we are starting to close the gap in some spots.

 

[NoCalSkins]

I mean if we're waiting to match the Eagles, talent for talent, player for player, we're gonna be waiting a while yet. The winner of the Super Bowl more often correlates to the team with the best QB than the team with the most overall talent, and that is our path for the near future and I don't really have a problem with that.

Oh absolutely, and look the Eagles are built the way they are out of necessity. The lack of an elite QB that everything branches out of. The Eagles showed it could be done, however it isn't the way you prefer to build because it is hard to keep an NFL roster stacked with that kind of talent. When you have a Top 5 NFL QB it alleviates the need to be great everywhere and also helps get the defense built. I don't recall Tom Brady having elite talent at the skill position players year in & year out. Yes, he did some magical things with Randy Moss in the short term, but Brady made a name for himself behind a stout O-line and mostly pedestrian skill position players that were hard workers and fit the system they ran there.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Oh absolutely, and look the Eagles are built the way they are out of necessity. The lack of an elite QB that everything branches out of. The Eagles showed it could be done, however it isn't the way you prefer to build because it is hard to keep an NFL roster stacked with that kind of talent. When you have a Top 5 NFL QB it alleviates the need to be great everywhere and also helps get the defense built. I don't recall Tom Brady having elite talent at the skill position players year in & year out. Yes, he did some magical things with Randy Moss in the short term, but Brady made a name for himself behind a stout O-line and mostly pedestrian skill position players that were hard workers and fit the system they ran there.

Yes I agree, and this is probably my biggest concern with the build of this team right now. In my mind, Brady's biggest success comes from exactly what you are saying:
- solid O-Line
- average skill position, some above-average
- solid D, all-around, DL, LB, S, CB

I feel like the Comms right now are looking like
- solid O-Line
- solid WR
- average RB, maybe above-average
- above-average D overall. DL is hopefully above-average. LB is hopefully above-average. CB is hopefully above-average.
So many hopefully because of all of the change in the D, but I think you kind of expect a ceiling at "above-average" right now, not as high as "solid" which is basically a cut above that.

I don't think the structure looks the same, and I think in general the better build may not have looked this way. However, you *had* to take that Deebo deal I think, I think the value was pretty high. I also think, as skinsinparadise has said, the cupboard was so bare, it just isn't always possible to jump from 0 to hero when you have that starting point. I am hoping we'll see a lot more solid D upgrades going forward though, I am a bit nervous about Kinlaw.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Oh absolutely, and look the Eagles are built the way they are out of necessity. The lack of an elite QB that everything branches out of. The Eagles showed it could be done, however it isn't the way you prefer to build because it is hard to keep an NFL roster stacked with that kind of talent. When you have a Top 5 NFL QB it alleviates the need to be great everywhere and also helps get the defense built. I don't recall Tom Brady having elite talent at the skill position players year in & year out. Yes, he did some magical things with Randy Moss in the short term, but Brady made a name for himself behind a stout O-line and mostly pedestrian skill position players that were hard workers and fit the system they ran there.

O lineman and CBs don't typically hit the ground running, they tend to take a little time. During the season, you typically see progress. Look at the Eagles rookie CBs for example, they really came on in the 2nd half of the season.

If we have the same luck with Conerly and Amos, this could be our season.

On paper, when Cosmi comes back, its a loaded O line. If Amos emerges and Lattimore finds his old self, its a loaded CB crew. Heck even if just one of those two things happen, Lattimore or Amos emerge it should be a good CB crew.

When we played the Eagles last season, we had a weak secondary and weak o line. I think if things break right, its going to make a big difference from going from a below average O line and secondary to above average.

Then the wildcards are WR. I'd bet on Deebo and Lane and Gallup >> Zaccheus, Crowder. And do the bigger bodies help stop the run on the D line?

It feels like if they sign an edge whether its Von Miller or Z. Smith or some dude who is better than what we got gets released by a team who drafted an edge -- the team would have few weaknesses.

I'd love and edge and another veteran safety. On offense, I don't think they need anything aside from how confident are they in Croskey-Merritt? i like him but not sure how that will play out. O line doesn't just look much better but its also much deeper. Ditto Wr.

D line is deep but lacking a pass rusher with juice. CB is deep. LB isn't deep but its passable as to depth IMO. Safety worries me as to depth.

 

[DWinzit]

O lineman and CBs don't typically hit the ground running, they tend to take a little time. During the season, you typically see progress. Look at the Eagles rookie CBs for example, they really came on in the 2nd half of the season.

If we have the same luck with Conerly and Amos, this could be our season.

On paper, when Cosmi comes back, its a loaded O line. If Amos emerges and Lattimore finds his old self, its a loaded CB crew. Heck even if just one of those two things happen, Lattimore or Amos emerge it should be a good CB crew.

When we played the Eagles last season, we had a weak secondary and weak o line. I think if things break right, its going to make a big difference from going from a below average O line and secondary to above average.

Then the wildcards are WR. I'd bet on Deebo and Lane and Gallup >> Zaccheus, Crowder. And do the bigger bodies help stop the run on the D line?

It feels like if they sign an edge whether its Von Miller or Z. Smith or some dude who is better than what we got gets released by a team who drafted an edge -- the team would have few weaknesses.

I'd love and edge and another veteran safety. On offense, I don't think they need anything aside from how confident are they in Croskey-Merritt? i like him but not sure how that will play out. O line doesn't just look much better but its also much deeper. Ditto Wr.

D line is deep but lacking a pass rusher with juice. CB is deep. LB isn't deep but its passable as to depth IMO. Safety worries me as to depth.

I agree that the weakest links to the new roster are Edge (probably pass rush specialist) and Safety. Then just a question mark for the Biadasz backup. I am seeing a battle of a number of our IOL for that role, some have a little experience there already but not much.

It is truly amazing how close AP has the team in such a short time. Suck it Danny

 

[Anselmheifer]

Anyone else find it really ironic that the Ravens are cutting their kicker but drafted Mike Green?