2025 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Commanders choose edge rusher
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Everything is all gumdrops and lollipops down in the DMV. After a surprising season that saw Washington ride a rookie QB all the way to the NFC Championship, expectations are higher than theyâve ever been. As any Commanders fan will tell you, they would have won that game if ââthey didnât have all those turnovers and if the NFL would have just allowed Frankie Luvu to keep leaping over the neutral zone a dozen more times. Itâs a shame the refs awarded the Eagles 55 points, otherwise the Commanders would be Super Bowl winners once again.
Since then, GM Adam Peters is showing Jerry Jones what it means to go âALL INâ. The Commanders signed 23 players to 1-year contracts, most in the NFL. 12 of these guys are 30+ years or older. Some may say that this is Washingtonâs attempt to âWin nowâ but they are not exactly building for the future. It is imperative for jersey sales that they get a rookie who will be around long enough for fans to remember his name. But for which side of the ball?
The Commanders are reasonably set on offense. Currently the best blocker on the team is Jayden Danielâs Mom (AND AGENT!?) who has seemingly prevented Jayden from getting sacked by a female for 24 years. She truly is the Lane Johnson of Helicopter Moms. R.I.P. to poor Juju Watkins. Outside of that, Adam Peters has âupgradedâ the LT position by trading for Laremy Tunsil, who led the league in penalties last season with 19 fouls. Jayden Danielâs security blanket, Zach Ertz, was re-signed for another season. The GM must have been disappointed with the low level of tantrums he saw last year, so he traded for Deebo Samuel to bolster the wide receiver corp. This also gives Marshon Lattimore someone to slap fight with during practice. The running backs are either old or bullet riddled so that position is a definite need!
Saquon Barkley would gleefully tell you that the Commanderâs defense ranked 3rd worst in rushing yards allowed (2337 yards) and yards per carry allowed (4.8). The Commanderâs defensive line has a lot of question marks. Adam Peters overpaid for Javon Kinlaw, who is coming off a down year with the Jets. Daron Payne has been subpar since signing a big contract extension in 2022. Dante Fowler Jr., Washingtonâs 2024 sacks leader with 10.5, went to the Cowboys as a free agent. Jon Allen was due $15.5 million this season so he was cut and signed with the Vikings. Dorance Armstrong Jr. is a good pass rusher, but he statistically takes a breather on running plays. Deatrich Wise Jr., Jacob Martin, and Clelin Ferrell are random NPCs generated by an xbox that will battle it out for the other defensive end position. Jalen Hurts is looking at this defensive line and yawning.
Drafting a running back would help Jayden Danielâs Mom from spending hours washing grass stains from his jersey after every game. But as an Eagleâs fan and pretend Commanders GM, the philosophy is to build through the trenches first. Most importantly, The Washington Commanders need more explosiveness within their edge-rushing unit. Thatâs why the Commanders select Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge from Boston College.
Let me start out by saying, I am so sorry, Eagles fans. Ezeiruaku deserves to be an Eagle. He grew up in Williamstown, New Jersey, which is about 25 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Like Quinyon Mitchell, Donovan could have chased riches in the transfer portal, but he stayed loyal and remained at BC his entire college career. Heâs a Ted Hendricks award winner, He tied Harold Landryâs record for most sacks in a single season at Boston College, led the ACC in tackles for loss, won ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was a senior bowl standout and we know how much Howie loves those guys. It pains me as an Eagles fan to draft him to a rival when he feels like a natural Eagle.
Pros:
⢠60 total pressures were the 4th most among players in this draft class
⢠20 QB hits lead the whole draft class
⢠He was second in Run Stops (30) among edge defenders in this draft class.
⢠A healthy relationship with his Mom and has normal parental boundaries.
Cons:
⢠The experts say heâs a bit undersized. Just like they said about Nolan Smith and we all know how that turned out!
⢠Lacks the raw strength to overpower opponents
⢠At the combine, He did not run the 40 so I assume that means he might be kinda slow. Or heâs so fast, no one even realized he ran it.
⢠His name is really hard to spell.
⢠He went to college in Boston and Boston is the worst. He was coached by Bill OâBrien so it might take a while to get the stink off him.
In conclusion, Donovan has the potential to step in and make an immediate impact for the Commanders. He can get to the quarterback and is good against the run. The window to win is now and Dovovan might be a piece that helps them get to the Super Bowl. After years of having their owner run the franchise like a Batman villain, Commanders fans are finally feeling hopeful towards the future. But Philadelphians can tell you that success is fleeting under a Josh Harris ownership group, look no further than the flaming pile of soiled diapers that is now the 76ers. Enjoy it while you can, Commodes!
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Mailata_in_a_miata is a potential award-winning commentor based in the USA area who has commented on featured stories for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Daily News. Mailata_in_a_maita has commented on articles by award winning writers in his many years on bleedinggreennation.com. While he hasnât won any awards for his comments, because such awards donât exist, he totally, probably, (maybe?) could have won awards for his award worthy comments.
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Do you approve of this pick?
84%
15%
96 votes total
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2025 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami
4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU
5) Jaguars (eaglenomics): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
6) Raiders (dkays): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
7) Jets (Stick19154): Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
8) Panthers (89Tremaine): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
9) Saints (FierceDisc65): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
10) Bears (DrprofBubbles): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
11) 49ers (granthill7): Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
12) Cowboys (Be subpar for JaâMarr): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
13) Dolphins (thehead92): Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
14) Colts (green1us): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie): James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas): Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
17) Bengals (ablesser88): Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
18) Seahawks (herbalonius): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20) Broncos (Silverlark60): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
22) Chargers (LancGuy): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
23) Packers (Leo Bedio): Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
24) Vikings (krikkebelgium): Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
25) Texans (Aint1stULast): Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
26) Rams (Booth12): Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
27) Ravens (pheebthegoose): Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
28) Lions (Neil Dutton): Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)
31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)
32) Eagles (Philly21)
Now itâs time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.
Poll
Who should the Commanders pick at No. 29?
33%
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
(25 votes)
6%
WR Matthew Golden
(5 votes)
6%
CB Maxwell Hairston
(5 votes)
2%
CB Shavon Revel
(2 votes)
1%
CB Azareyeâh Thomas
(1 vote)
6%
EDGE Nic Scourton
(5 votes)
5%
WR Emeka Egbuka
(4 votes)
5%
OG Tyler Booker
(4 votes)
1%
OL Donovan Jackson
(1 vote)
1%
OT Aireontae Ersery
(1 vote)
20%
DT Walter Nolen
(15 votes)
9%
DT Derrick Harmon
(7 votes)
75 votes total
Vote Now
1) Titans: QB Cam Ward
2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter
3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter
4) Patriots: OT Will Campbell
5) Jaguars: DT Mason Graham
6) Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty
7) Jets: OT Armand Membou
8) Panthers: CB Will Johnson
9) Saints: EDGE Jalon Walker
10) Bears: TE Tyler Warren
11) 49ers: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
12) Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan
13) Dolphins: OT Josh Simmons
14) Colts: TE Colston Loveland
15) Falcons: EDGE Mykel Williams
16) Cardinals: EDGE James Pearce Jr.
17) Bengals: EDGE Shemar Stewart
18) Seahawks: QB Shedeur Sanders
19) Buccaneers: LB Jihaad Campbell
20) Broncos: RB Omarion Hampton
21) Steelers: QB Jaxson Dart
22) Chargers: DT Kenneth Grant
23) Packers: CB Jahdae Barron
24) Vikings: S Malaki Starks
25) Texans: OL Grey Zabel
26) Rams: WR Emeka Egbuka
27) Ravens: S Nick Emmanwori
28) Lions: EDGE Mike Green
29) Commanders:
