Aside from the Philadelphia Eagles, there might not be a happier fanbase in the NFL than the Washington Commanders. After years of mediocrity, they now have one of the brightest futures in the league with an already elite quarterback at the helm.
From four wins to an NFC Championship Game appearance, their turnaround has been swift—but entirely predicated on their offense. As a result, the offseason priority has to be shoring up a defense that was severely lacking. Yet, one NFL analyst believes the Commanders will go even further in on offense.
Washington Commanders Add Another WR After Deebo Samuel
The first big move of the offseason came from Washington itself, as the team gave up draft capital to acquire Deebo Samuel from San Francisco. After a down year in 2024, the Commanders are hoping to get the All-Pro version of Samuel.
Next on the priority list has to be defense. While they ranked sixth in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, they finished in the bottom half in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. As a result, much of their offseason focus needs to be on that side of the ball.
Yet, Charles Davis of NFL.com believes Washington can still do more on offense. Not satisfied with just Samuel, he projects them to select Matthew Golden with the 29th overall pick, forming a lethal trio for Jayden Daniels.
“The Commanders’ receiver room could be undergoing an enticing makeover, with the trade for Deebo Samuel being the first move. Golden would be a tremendous addition, fitting well alongside Samuel and WR1 Terry McLaurin.”
Golden was a steady contributor at Texas, and analysts have raved about his NFL potential after he totaled 22 touchdowns over three seasons. But for Washington—especially after the Samuel trade—the focus should be on defense.
That’s why the latest PFSN mock draft has them selecting safety Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina. Brentley Weissman believes the reasoning is simple:
“For this team to take the next step, Washington must build up this defense to ensure that Daniels isn’t forced into shootouts week in and week out.”
As for the Emmanwori selection, Weissman sees it as a no-brainer.
“Nick Emmanwori had one of the best workouts at the NFL Combine that we have ever seen by a safety. He is a freak athlete with truly unreal physical skills.”
While his athletic feats are eye-catching, his game tape at South Carolina speaks for itself.
“His tape also matches his athletic profile, and he projects as a versatile playmaker who can excel in the deeper areas of the field but also make plays in the box.”
With defense as the emphasis and a new wide receiver already in the fold, the Commanders might ultimately choose to go the defensive route with their first-round pick.