Through five weeks, the Washington Commanders couldn’t ask to be in a better spot. Jayden Daniels looks like an absolute star, many of the team’s one-year rentals are panning out, and the burgundy and gold are atop their division, and 4-1 for the first time since 2008. However, there are holes on the roster that are expected to be addressed come the offseason, headlined by the corner spot.
While the prior regime likely failed on day-one corner Emmanuel Forbes, the talent in the upcoming class showcases varying body types and skill sets that could complement the current bodies in place for general manager Adam Peters. With plenty of draft capital, including four picks in the top 100 next spring, here are a few fits at corner that could slot in nicely for Washington, who currently hold the No. 29 overall pick.
Day 1: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Technique and footwork pop off the screen when studying Maxwell Hairston’s game. A fluid yet extremely twitchy corner above the 6-foot threshold, Hairston would immediately become CB1 in Washington in what is expected to be a corners room that will enjoy a healthy amount of change this offseason.
Washington looks to be out of the running to choose from the headlining trio of Travis Hunter (Colorado), Will Johnson (Michigan), or Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), but Hairston would be a heck of a consolation prize towards the backend of Day 1. HC Dan Quinn and DC Joe Whitt Jr have prioritized DBs with ball skills in the past, and Hairston’s six career interceptions will hold weight. Ohio State corners Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun are other potential options here that also project as immediate contributors.
Day 2: Aydan White, NC State & Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
Headlined by electric footwork and instincts, Aydan White is a well-rounded corner who could challenge for a top-two role in Washington. A fluid-moving athlete in zone with a quick trigger downhill, White is comfortable playing man at depth or near the line of scrimmage. His nine career interceptions and 22 PBUs paint the picture of a player on the outside who can not only take the ball away when targeted but is someone whose fundamental technique in space rarely puts him in spots to lose reps.
Jabbar Muhammad has remained one of my favorite prospects in college football since he patrolled the secondary for the Washington Huskies years ago. Built similarly to Mike Sainristil, whom the Commanders drafted in 2024, Muhammad can live on the outside at the next level due to his electric footwork and awareness in space. He’s never out of phase, consistently makes the right reads at depth, and is a defender that makes wideouts earn every target they get. He’s allowed just 55.1% of passes to be completed when thrown his way (227 targets).
Day 3: Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Get to know the name of Will Lee III, a riser in the process over the last few weeks. Aptly nicknamed the “blanket”, due to his ability to erase wideouts in coverage, his performance in Week 6 against Missouri showcased the type of perimeter corner he could be moving forward. In 43 coverage snaps, Lee was targeted seven times, where he allowed just one catch for -5 yards. It was another outing in which Lee was outstanding, and he now enters Week 7 with half as many PBUs (6) as catches allowed in coverage (12). At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Lee’s ability to continue to stack good weeks will see his draft stock kick into another gear.
