If the Commanders want to select an edge rusher, who are the three players a draft analyst believes the Commanders should target in the draft?
Trevor Sikkema, draft analyst for Pro Football Focus (PFF), was a guest on the Kevin Sheehan Show (The Team 980) Thursday morning and provided one of the more in-depth, yet entertaining discussions of the 2025 NFL draft. Here is the link for the entire discussion if you are interested. https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-kevin-sheehan-show-04012
For now, what did Sikkema have to say about how he sees the draft might fall for the Commanders, particularly regarding edge rushers? Sheehan inquired regarding this year's class of edge rushers. He wanted to know in particular who might be a good edge setter vs the run and also develop into a good pass rusher that the Commanders might select at No. 29. The following are comments made by Sikkema to Sheehan:
- Mykel Williams (Georgia, 6-5, 260) "An excellent run defender; was thought to be a Top-10 pick, but didn't develop as pass rusher this year; hard to believe would be taken as early as No. 10 by Chicago, but if he gets all the way to 29, now you are getting a guy with a high floor, even if not great pass rusher. Washington would know they were getting a solid starter for the next four years and hopefully a second contract."
Sikkema then suggested that for edge rushers, there is a drop-off, so he suggested two edge rushers the Commanders might consider in the second round, if not selecting an edge at No. 29. They currently own the No. 61 selection.
- Landon Jackson (Arkansas, 6-6, 264) "Long, strong, edge rusher if you like that size."
- JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State, 6-4, 266) "He's somebody that could give you a lot of power and reliability on the edge. These are the three guys on the edge where Washington is drafting (29, 61) I would target."
Obviously, there are other edge rushers that Commanders fans have heard about; however, edge rushers like Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Mike Green (Marshall), and James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) are all evaluated as too explosive to still be around at No. 29.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Analyst names 3 edge rushers to watch for Commanders in NFL draft
