The Washington Commanders got the centerpiece of their defense, hopefully, for the next decade when they selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
There’s a real chance they may have already drafted another superstar on that same defense in 2025, with cornerback and 2nd-round pick Trey Amos (No. 61 overall)..
Pro Football Focus NFL reporter Bradley Locker put Amos on his NFL All-Breakout Team for 2026 after he started 8 out of 10 games for the Commanders as a rookie before his season ended with a fractured fibula in a Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions.
“Last year’s second-round selection didn’t enjoy the kind of rookie showcase he desired, concluding with a 55.8 overall PFF grade with a 58.8 PFF coverage mark,” Locker wrote. “While Amos was certainly victimized at times, he reflected his talent by earning at least a 68.5 coverage grade in five of his 10 contests, and his 51.43% lockdown rate was 26th among all cornerbacks. Further, Amos broke up an eye-catching 17.6% of his targets. Washington’s defense should be considerably better at all three levels in 2026 after the team’s offseason overhaul. With new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones specializing in the secondary, that marks another boost for Amos.”
Commanders Got ‘Best Value’ With Trey Amos
Following the 2025 draft, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski called Amos one of the “Best Value” picks that year.
“This year’s 61st overall draft pick is a physical 6’1″, 195-pound man-press corner who can immediately slot into the starting lineup,” Sobleski wrote. “Plenty of buzz existed prior to the draft that identified Amos as a late first-round possibility … the Commanders should be thrilled he was still on the board.”
In college, Amos played for 3 teams in 5 seasons. He started his college career with 3 seasons outside the Power Four at the University of Louisiana before spending one season at Alabama in 2023 and his final season at Ole Miss, where he was an All-SEC selection with 50 tackles, 13 pass deflections, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions.
Amos only solidified his draft stock at the NFL scouting combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. One thing he also has that NFL teams value is experience, as he played in a whopping 61 games over those 5 seasons.
“Long press cornerback who proved he could make the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC without a hitch,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Amos can disrupt the release and plays with good short-area movement in man coverage … he has the goods to become a solid starting outside corner.”
Commanders Made CB Move in Free Agency
The Commanders made sure to strengthen the outside cornerback spot opposite Amos in free agency by signing Amik Robertson to a 2-year, $16 million contract. They didn’t use any of their 5 draft picks on a cornerback.
“Washington badly needs more bodies at the position considering they entered this period with only two guaranteed roster players at the position: Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote. “The Commanders need to keep adding to this spot. But with Robertson they add someone who can play inside or outside — much like Sainristil. It provides Washington with more versatility for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, who has been known for his coverage disguises. Robertson has started 25 games in his five-year career, and though his best spot has been the slot, he can move around.”
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