What draft experts said about new Commanders cornerback Trey Amos

USA Today

02-05-2025

What draft experts said about new Commanders cornerback Trey Amos
The Washington Commanders entered the 2025 NFL draft with only five selections. They had opportunities to trade back and add more. Still, Washington really liked who was on the board at No. 29 and No. 61. At No. 29 overall, the Commanders selected offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. With the 61st overall pick, Washington selected Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos.
General manager Adam Peters said they loved Amos so much that they considered selecting him in the first round. Fortunately for the Commanders, Amos was still on the board, and Washington landed a long, athletic cornerback who can press. If Marshon Lattimore is healthy next season, the Commanders suddenly have a much deeper cornerback room.
Like Conerly, Amos will likely start immediately.
Here's what some expert draft analysts had to say about Amos during the pre-draft process and what Commanders fans can expect to see:
"A one-year starter at Ole Miss, Amos was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Pete Golding's diverse coverage scheme (press man, off man, zone, etc.). After three years at Louisiana, he transferred to Alabama and played behind Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold. After Nick Saban retired, Amos made the move to Ole Miss, where he had his breakout season with an SEC-best 16 passes defended.
A good-looking athlete, Amos is a professional pesterer with the way he reads receivers, crowds break points/catch points and never stops ball searching with his length. Whether in man or zone, he has a feel for phasing up receivers from different alignments. His timed speed is better than his play speed, however, and there is some stiffness in his change of direction. Overall, Amos has an appetite for press, but I liked him best in zone (Cover 2, Cover 3, quarters), where he can trust his athletic instincts from depth to read and rally. His super-senior season convinced evaluators that he is a pro starter, similar in ways to Paulson Adebo."
"Long press cornerback who proved he could make the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC without a hitch. Amos can disrupt the release and plays with good short-area movement in man coverage. He can get a little lost at the top of the route and needs occasional safety nets over the top. He has twitchy feet to close and sees the action clearly from zone but can be hampered by indecisiveness, despite favorable instincts. Amos uses physicality and length to shrink the 50/50 odds in his favor. He can play in multiple coverage but is most consistent in zone. Amos needs to ramp up his run support and trust his eyes in space, but he has the goods to become a solid starting outside corner."
"Trey Amos enters the NFL draft after beginning his collegiate career at ULL, transferring to Alabama, and finishing his career at Ole Miss. Amos is a highly experienced defensive back who plays with a scrappy temperament, excelling both in stepping up in the run game and making plays in coverage.
In coverage, Amos has aligned in various roles, including press-man, press-bail technique, and off-coverage. However, he thrives in press-man situations, where he can position himself close to the line of scrimmage and leverage his length and physicality to dictate the rep from the outset.
In press-man coverage, Amos' length is his greatest asset. He effectively uses strong punches at the snap to disrupt receivers' releases and the timing of their routes. A big-bodied cornerback, Amos forces receivers to work around him before shadowing them in a trail technique, where he can eliminate underneath routes. His physicality is evident, as he frequently uses subtle contact to disrupt receivers' progress and create distractions.
Amos does an above-average job staying in phase with receivers on short to intermediate routes. On vertical routes, his length allows him to compensate for separation, enabling him to contest passes by disrupting the receiver's catch point, fitting his hands through theirs, and knocking the ball loose.
Although Amos plays a considerable amount of man coverage, his skill set suggests he is best suited for a zone-heavy scheme, such as Cover 2 or Cover 3, in the NFL. In zone coverage, Amos could take advantage of his physicality in press knowing he has help on the back end. He can also be more aggressive in jumping routes and taking angles to make plays on the ball, without worrying about being left without safety support. His football IQ and understanding of route combinations put him in excellent positions to anticipate plays and generate turnovers.
As a run defender, Amos is an effective boundary player who has consistently shown a willingness to step up and make tackles. He works hard to shed perimeter blocks and engage with ball-carriers, demonstrating his physical nature in this phase of the game.
The primary concern with Amos is the potential for penalties stemming from his physicality in coverage. While his disruptive playstyle can be effective, excessive grabbing or holding during routes may draw penalties for holding, pass interference, or illegal contact at the NFL level. Refining his hand placement and timing will be critical for his transition to professional play.
Amos possesses the ideal length, physicality, and mental temperament to be a productive cornerback in the NFL. While there are details in his coverage technique that require refinement, he appears best suited for a zone-heavy defensive scheme. With his combination of size and football IQ, Amos has the potential to develop into a reliable NFL cornerback."
Trey Amos is a physical and fluid cornerback prospect with the size, strength, and athleticism to compete at the next level. Known for his strong press technique and ability to match up against bigger receivers, Amos has the skill set to develop into a versatile corner capable of playing both man and zone coverage schemes.
Amos excels in press coverage, using his quick feet, lateral movement, and strong hand usage to control receivers at the line. His ball skills are notable, allowing him to high-point the ball and play through the catch point. However, his aggressiveness can cause him to struggle with eye discipline, leading to separation or loss of leverage. His transitions, particularly from a backpedal, can be inconsistent, which hampers his ability to recover downfield.
Amos is a willing and physical run defender, quick to trigger and take on blockers with his hands. He consistently disengages, using both strength and quickness to attack screens or ball carriers. His tackling is inconsistent, especially against bigger runners. He sometimes reverts to arm tackles, leading to missed opportunities.
Trey Amos projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a versatile starter. His combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills makes him an intriguing prospect. However, improving his tackling consistency and refining his technique in deep coverage will be key to his success."