B
Washington Commanders
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Commanders and Cornelius: B.
by Duke Daddy ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
Somebody in pick No. 148 was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Commanders sat still while Ajani Cornelius, the No. 114 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
They punted on tight end, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. They left with wide receiver solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the tight end spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 29 they get a coverage-and-run second-level piece at a price that makes it sweeter. More want than need.
A tidy bit of business in the 61st overall pick, where Aireontae Ersery graded well above the range. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Darien Porter. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Taking Ajani Cornelius in No. 148 is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the Round 6 slot is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
CJ West at pick No. 238 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Trevor Etienne at pick 250 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.