Several of the Washington Commanders’ high-profile picks in the 2025 NFL draft are under pressure to make a second-year leap, but none more so than right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Unfortunately, there are growing number of reasons to be worried about the way the young offensive linemen is performing this offseason.
Conerly had produced up-and-down showings at training camp, before continuing to struggle during joint practices with the Miami Dolphins. Conerly’s erratic performances were obvious to “Last Man Standig” writer and host Ben Standig.
He noted “Conerly Jr., uneven for much of camp, mixed in quality work with reps where Miami’s edge rushers got around him. He was called for holding after taking Chop Robinson to the ground when the defensive end had a path to Daniels.”
Meanwhile, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic pointed out “Conerly has been on-and-off, at times impressing in one-on-one drills while at other times appearing to get beat in team drills, and vice versa.”
This is ideal time on the NFL calendar for a youthful player to work through the rougher parts of his game. Yet, Conerly’s ongoing struggles can’t be taken in isolation. Not when last year’s first-round pick was deemed a flop as a rookie.
Any worries about Conerly are heightened by the Commanders losing five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a potentially season-ending injury.
The Commanders need Conerly to stabilize one side of the line in Tunsil’s absence. Especially since another key starter is also struggling.
Josh Conerly Jr. Trending in the Wrong Direction
Conerly’s entering the second season of his $15,681,094 rookie contract, but the 22-year-old is still trending in the wrong direction. Expecting physical dominance from a player who endured a less than happy debut campaign is unrealistic, even if some of Conerly’s issues as a rookie need to be put into context.
The former Oregon stud entered the pros as a left tackle who was immediately asked to switch sides. Playing on the right put Conerly at the mercy of some of the toughest pass-rushers in the league.
He was up against four-time All-Pro Micah Parsons at times against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Conerly also had to deal with Las Vegas Raiders’ five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby a week later.
There was no easy introduction to life in the big leagues for Conerly. He couldn’t make his 6-foot-4, 315-pound frame count often enough, while his technique appeared raw.
Conerly’s growing pains were inevitable, but the Commanders would like more consistent progress as this stage of the offseason. Instead, he’s just one more reason to worry about a depleted line.
Commanders Face Other Problems Up Front
The Commanders quickly named Tunsil’s in-house replacement, but they can’t avoid a drop-off on star quarterback Jayden Daniels’ blindside. Especially if left guard Chris Paul also continues to look shaky.
Jhabvala explained how Paul’s “struggled this summer, often getting pushed back by Washington’s own defensive line or, on Wednesday, by Miami’s front. Those issues show Paul is already missing having Tunsil next to him.
Veteran center Nick Allegretti’s calf issue only adds to the Commanders’ problems along the interior. Former undrafted free agent Julian Good-Jones “cannot be Washington’s answer for any extended period,” according to Standig.
Good-Jones and a reshuffled O-line failed to impress against the Dolphins, per The Washington Post’s Tashan Reed. He saw how those struggles meant “the run game was a non-factor.”
– WAS offensive line struggled today – As a result, the run game was a non-factor – Jayden Daniels was still accurate and protected the ball – WRs looked good – WAS defense locked down – MIA offense is #notgood
Injuries and poor performances within the trenches won’t just have a negative effect on one phase of Washington’s offense. Daniels and 1,000-yard wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin can create a special passing game, but only if Conerly and Co. hold up in protection.
Commanders Have Growing Reasons to Worry About $15 Million Starter