The Washington Commanders’ remarkable turnaround season ended in crushing fashion, falling 55-23 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
The blowout loss exposed some glaring roster weaknesses — particularly the need for more firepower alongside Terry McLaurin and depth on the offensive line. In the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, the Commanders will likely focus on fixing those gaps and setting up quarterback Jayden Daniels for long-term success.
Commanders Projected To Draft Emeka Egbuka in 1st Round
Washington heads into the draft with clear priorities: Adding another wide receiver to ease McLaurin’s burden, reinforcing the offensive line, and strengthening its pass rush. Now, PFSN’s Joe DeLeone’s latest mock draft projects the Commanders will target one of college football’s most explosive playmakers with the No. 29 overall pick.
According to DeLeone, Washington could look to go back to the Buckeye well for Daniels, who finished with a No. 9 ranking and B grade (85.3) in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season, by drafting Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka. Known for his precise route-running and explosive agility, Egbuka is viewed as the perfect complement to McLaurin’s downfield prowess.
“What better way to help out your young quarterback than adding another Ohio State receiver? Emeka Egbuka’s impact in the slot thanks to his route running and quick feet would be an ideal fit alongside Terry McLaurin.”
Egbuka brings a dynamic skill set that would immediately boost Washington’s offense. At 6’1” with sharp footwork and elite separation skills, he can stretch defenses from the slot and offer Daniels another reliable target.
During his time at Ohio State, Egbuka racked up 24 touchdowns and 2,868 receiving yards, consistently proving himself as a dependable red-zone threat. His quickness off the line and ability to exploit coverage gaps could give the Commanders a much-needed boost in third-down-and-clutch situations.
Why Egbuka Fits Perfectly in Washington
As written in a previous PFSN article:
“When Daniels arrived in Washington as the No. 2 overall pick, few expected him to almost single-handedly take them from being one of the worst teams in the league to a playoff contender. Just a year ago, the Commanders had a 4-13 record, marking the fourth-worst win percentage in the season before making a Conference Championship Game appearance, trailing only the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars (0.188), 2006 New Orleans Saints (0.188), and 1967 Houston Oilers (0.214).
“This season, Washington flipped the script, finishing with a 12-5 record—its best since 1991, the year the organization last won the Super Bowl.”
However, as the aforementioned NFC Championship Game blowout revealed, Daniels needs more support to elevate this offense to a championship level. McLaurin can’t shoulder the entire receiving load, and Egbuka’s ability to create space from the slot could open up Washington’s passing attack in a big way.
Drafting Egbuka wouldn’t just give Daniels another elite target — it would diversify the offense and give opposing defenses more to think about.