The Washington Commanders have selected Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Conerly, a former five-star recruit from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, is a young player with the tools to be a prototypical starting tackle at some point in his career. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Conerly is a physical blocker in the run game who knows how to finish. In his first year as a starter, he posted a run-block grade of 66 on 317 running plays.

Where Conerly thrives the most, however, is as a pass-blocker. Back in 2023, he was part of an offensive line that allowed just five sacks all season. He allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits, which helped him post a 76.9 pass-blocking grade.

“He sees twists and blitzes developing and recovers with athleticism when beaten,” **wrote NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein.**

Conerly was even more effective in 2024. He allowed just one sack and five pressures — nine fewer than he did in 2023. That sack came in Week 2 against Boise State. He kept quarterback Dillon Gabriel off the ground for the rest of the season, allowing only two quarterback hits.

The Commanders have been dedicated to protecting Jayden Daniels — their No. 1 asset. They traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafted Brandon Coleman last season. Now, they add one of the top offensive linemen in this year’s class.