Latest news with #Conerly
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How does the Commanders offensive line look through OTAs this offseason?
How does the Commanders offensive line look through OTAs this offseason? What did Bobby Johnson have to say about the Commanders ' OTAs this past week? Many in the fan base might not even be aware of just who Johnson is. Johnson is the offensive line coach hired to work for and with Dan Quinn. Johnson thus is entering his second season with the Commanders on Quinn's offensive coaching staff. As for the identity of the Commanders' offensive line, Johnson says first, "That changes year to year, because your roster changes year to year. We've gotten new guys in, guys we've kept. We've got competition. We've got Laremy (Tunsil), Josh (Conerly), Nate Herbig." Indeed, all three of those are new additions to the 2025 Commanders. Tunsil and Conerly are expected to be the new starting offensive tackles, and Herbig (age 26) has started 30 NFL games, being brought in by GM Adam Peters to compete and strengthen the line at guard. Johnson then mentioned, "We've got guys like Trent Scott who have been here, and he ended up starting at the very end, the peak of the season." Yes, when right guard Sam Cosmi went down in the second-round playoff win over the Lions, Johnson determined Scott was the best reserve lineman, so he moved him from tackle to start at guard in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. Johnson likes what he sees thus far in the chemistry of the offensive lineman during the OTAs. "I think they are about the right things. I think we are going to continue to see the elevation of what we pride ourselves in as an organization. Like competing, being the hunters, being tough and resilient, coming up big-time in winning moments." Not mentioned by Johnson but certainly not forgotten is 2024 third-round choice Brandon Coleman. He started at left tackle most of the season, but is now listed as a tackle. So it will be interesting to see if Conerly is ready to start immediately and if the Commanders will use Coleman as a swing tackle, or might they even move him inside to guard. Left guard Nick Allegretti returns as well, and the Commanders still have Andrew Wiley, who has started the last two seasons at right tackle. It's possible he could move inside and start in Cosmi's absence as he recovers from his torn ACL last January. "After 15 years in the NFL and 30 overall, I've found a way to find the fun in everything," insisted Johnson. "The O-Line coaches, myself, Darnell Stapleton and Shane Toub, the big thing we try to do is find solutions. You can get bogged down looking at all of the problems. What are the solutions?" Johnson said it is fun to watch his players grow not only individually but also in how they learn to play together as a unit. Yes, the offensive line is certainly going to have a different look this season, and there is more depth as well. Johnson will be working hard to form a unit that protects Jayden Daniels more effectively and generates more of a power running game in the second half of the season.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders use NFL draft to quietly build around franchise QB Jayden Daniels
Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters, left, and head coach Dan Quinn, right, listen to first-round draft pick offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. during an NFL football news conference in Ashburn, Va., Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft got an offensive lineman to protect him for the foreseeable future and a receiver prospect to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the Washington Commanders should be better on defense after upgrading their secondary. Not exactly Christmas in April, but for a team fresh off a trip to the NFC championship game that found its franchise quarterback in Daniels and made trade splashes for Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was exactly the kind of quiet stockpiling of talent general manager Adam Peters could have hoped for going in with just five picks at his disposal. Advertisement Washington took Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. later in the first round and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second at No. 61. Amos was under consideration at No. 29, too. 'I didn't think Conerly was going to be there when we picked, and I certainly didn't think Amos was going to be there when we picked,' Peters said. "We feel like we got two players that were first-round quality, so we're thrilled and I think the board fell to us pretty well.' Add fourth-round receiver Jaylin Lane out of Virginia Tech, sixth-round linebacker Kain Medrano out of UCLA and seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona, and the Commanders can feel good about their offseason. Conerly flex Advertisement There is no obvious place for Conerly to play, with left and right guard and right tackle all possible. Maybe he's the swing tackle in his rookie year. But the Commanders value how well Conerly played against Penn State's Abdul Carter, who went to the NFC East Division-rival New York Giants with the third pick, along with Ohio State's pass rushers and other elite competition. 'He's not going to freak out,' Peters said. 'He's not going to panic. He's not going to do things that he doesn't normally do when he is face to face with a really great player.' The 21-year-old from Seattle said he's willing to play whatever position he's asked. He already has a fan in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who suggested to Peters that Conerly should be the choice. Advertisement With family members sitting a few feet away at his introductory news conference, Conerly described himself as reserved and chill until a play begins. 'Once the ball is snapped, it's a totally different thing,' Conerly said. 'I feel like you have to approach the line very cool, calm and collected, clear-headed so once that ball is snapped you're just going.' How Amos fits Peters and coach Dan Quinn have transformed the cornerback position over the past year. Trade deadline pickup Marshon Lattimore and Amos figure to start outside, allowing 2024 second-round pick Mike Sanristil to play inside to his strengths with Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene around as veteran depth. Advertisement 'All that's fluid, and we're going to get the guys who we think are the best on the field,' Peters said. 'There's no sacred cows on this team, so the best guys, whether it's two or three or even four, are going to play.' At 6-foot-1 and nearly 200 pounds, Amos is better sized for the professional game than Emmanuel Forbes, taken in the first round in 2023 by the previous regime and cut last season by this one. Amos had three interceptions and 50 tackles at Mississippi after three years at Louisiana Tech and one at Alabama. 'I feel like the whole defense is (predicated) on being aggressive, and I could bring more to that table,' Amos said. No trading down Advertisement Sending a handful of current and future picks to Houston for Tunsil and a fifth-rounder to San Francisco for Samuel seemed to set the stage for the Commanders to trade down once or twice to expand their rookie class. Peters received plenty of calls at Nos. 29 and 61, but opted to stand pat and take Conerly and Amos because of how highly he and his staff rated those players. 'If those guys were gone, then we would've traded back,' Peters said. "In the end, the options we had weren't worth the risk.' ___ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Commanders use NFL draft to quietly build around franchise QB Jayden Daniels
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft got an offensive lineman to protect him for the foreseeable future and a receiver prospect to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the Washington Commanders should be better on defense after upgrading their secondary. Not exactly Christmas in April, but for a team fresh off a trip to the NFC championship game that found its franchise quarterback in Daniels and made trade splashes for Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was exactly the kind of quiet stockpiling of talent general manager Adam Peters could have hoped for going in with just five picks at his disposal. Washington took Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. later in the first round and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second at No. 61. Amos was under consideration at No. 29, too. 'I didn't think Conerly was going to be there when we picked, and I certainly didn't think Amos was going to be there when we picked,' Peters said. 'We feel like we got two players that were first-round quality, so we're thrilled and I think the board fell to us pretty well.' Add fourth-round receiver Jaylin Lane out of Virginia Tech, sixth-round linebacker Kain Medrano out of UCLA and seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona, and the Commanders can feel good about their offseason. Conerly flex There is no obvious place for Conerly to play, with left and right guard and right tackle all possible. Maybe he's the swing tackle in his rookie year. But the Commanders value how well Conerly played against Penn State's Abdul Carter, who went to the NFC East Division-rival New York Giants with the third pick, along with Ohio State's pass rushers and other elite competition. 'He's not going to freak out,' Peters said. 'He's not going to panic. He's not going to do things that he doesn't normally do when he is face to face with a really great player.' The 21-year-old from Seattle said he's willing to play whatever position he's asked. He already has a fan in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who suggested to Peters that Conerly should be the choice. With family members sitting a few feet away at his introductory news conference, Conerly described himself as reserved and chill until a play begins. 'Once the ball is snapped, it's a totally different thing,' Conerly said. 'I feel like you have to approach the line very cool, calm and collected, clear-headed so once that ball is snapped you're just going.' How Amos fits Peters and coach Dan Quinn have transformed the cornerback position over the past year. Trade deadline pickup Marshon Lattimore and Amos figure to start outside, allowing 2024 second-round pick Mike Sanristil to play inside to his strengths with Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene around as veteran depth. 'All that's fluid, and we're going to get the guys who we think are the best on the field,' Peters said. 'There's no sacred cows on this team, so the best guys, whether it's two or three or even four, are going to play.' At 6-foot-1 and nearly 200 pounds, Amos is better sized for the professional game than Emmanuel Forbes, taken in the first round in 2023 by the previous regime and cut last season by this one. Amos had three interceptions and 50 tackles at Mississippi after three years at Louisiana Tech and one at Alabama. 'I feel like the whole defense is (predicated) on being aggressive, and I could bring more to that table,' Amos said. No trading down During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Sending a handful of current and future picks to Houston for Tunsil and a fifth-rounder to San Francisco for Samuel seemed to set the stage for the Commanders to trade down once or twice to expand their rookie class. Peters received plenty of calls at Nos. 29 and 61, but opted to stand pat and take Conerly and Amos because of how highly he and his staff rated those players. 'If those guys were gone, then we would've traded back,' Peters said. 'In the end, the options we had weren't worth the risk.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Commanders use NFL draft to quietly build around franchise QB Jayden Daniels
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft got an offensive lineman to protect him for the foreseeable future and a receiver prospect to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the Washington Commanders should be better on defense after upgrading their secondary. Not exactly Christmas in April, but for a team fresh off a trip to the NFC championship game that found its franchise quarterback in Daniels and made trade splashes for Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was exactly the kind of quiet stockpiling of talent general manager Adam Peters could have hoped for going in with just five picks at his disposal. Washington took Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. later in the first round and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second at No. 61. Amos was under consideration at No. 29, too. 'I didn't think Conerly was going to be there when we picked, and I certainly didn't think Amos was going to be there when we picked,' Peters said. 'We feel like we got two players that were first-round quality, so we're thrilled and I think the board fell to us pretty well.' Add fourth-round receiver Jaylin Lane out of Virginia Tech, sixth-round linebacker Kain Medrano out of UCLA and seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona, and the Commanders can feel good about their offseason. Conerly flex There is no obvious place for Conerly to play, with left and right guard and right tackle all possible. Maybe he's the swing tackle in his rookie year. But the Commanders value how well Conerly played against Penn State's Abdul Carter, who went to the NFC East Division-rival New York Giants with the third pick, along with Ohio State's pass rushers and other elite competition. 'He's not going to freak out,' Peters said. 'He's not going to panic. He's not going to do things that he doesn't normally do when he is face to face with a really great player.' The 21-year-old from Seattle said he's willing to play whatever position he's asked. He already has a fan in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who suggested to Peters that Conerly should be the choice. With family members sitting a few feet away at his introductory news conference, Conerly described himself as reserved and chill until a play begins. 'Once the ball is snapped, it's a totally different thing,' Conerly said. 'I feel like you have to approach the line very cool, calm and collected, clear-headed so once that ball is snapped you're just going.' How Amos fits Peters and coach Dan Quinn have transformed the cornerback position over the past year. Trade deadline pickup Marshon Lattimore and Amos figure to start outside, allowing 2024 second-round pick Mike Sanristil to play inside to his strengths with Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene around as veteran depth. 'All that's fluid, and we're going to get the guys who we think are the best on the field,' Peters said. 'There's no sacred cows on this team, so the best guys, whether it's two or three or even four, are going to play.' At 6-foot-1 and nearly 200 pounds, Amos is better sized for the professional game than Emmanuel Forbes, taken in the first round in 2023 by the previous regime and cut last season by this one. Amos had three interceptions and 50 tackles at Mississippi after three years at Louisiana Tech and one at Alabama. 'I feel like the whole defense is (predicated) on being aggressive, and I could bring more to that table,' Amos said. No trading down Sending a handful of current and future picks to Houston for Tunsil and a fifth-rounder to San Francisco for Samuel seemed to set the stage for the Commanders to trade down once or twice to expand their rookie class. Peters received plenty of calls at Nos. 29 and 61, but opted to stand pat and take Conerly and Amos because of how highly he and his staff rated those players. 'If those guys were gone, then we would've traded back,' Peters said. 'In the end, the options we had weren't worth the risk.' ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Josh Conerly Jr. says two key Commanders reached out after he was drafted
Josh Conerly Jr. says two key Commanders reached out after he was drafted Josh Conerly Jr. arrived in Washington on Friday, one day after the Commanders used their first-round selection on the Oregon offensive tackle. Conerly, alongside general manager Adam Peters, met with the media on Friday. Conerly described what was a whirlwind 18 hours, going from being drafted to being on a plane across the country with several of his family members. In the middle of those crazy 18 hours, Conerly received two calls from a pair of very important teammates. "I actually got a FaceTime from Laremy Tunsil last night and I missed it because the celebration was like right after," Conerly said. "But I also got to talk to Jayden Daniels, I don't know, what was that like 20 minutes ago maybe [laughs] and that was pretty cool. So, nice to get to meet him.' Daniels and his teammates returned to Ashburn this week for the start of the offseason program. Tunsil, acquired via a trade with Houston last month, will be Washington's left tackle next season, a position Conerly played at Oregon. Peters didn't reveal where Conerly would play in 2025, but he could also play guard if needed. It's expected that Conerly will play right tackle, while last year's left tackle, Brandon Coleman, will shift inside to guard.
