Why Trey Amos Was a Draft Day Steal

Elite Talent Stopper: How Trey Amos Dominated Top Competition

When the Washington Commanders selected cornerback Trey Amos with the 61st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they acquired a defensive back with proven success against elite competition.

What makes this Ole Miss standout particularly valuable is his exceptional performance when matched against top receivers.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Amos's statistical profile against top receivers is remarkable:

• Ranked in the 96th percentile when matched against highly graded receivers

• Led Ole Miss with 13 pass breakups in his final collegiate season

• Recorded 3 interceptions in 2024, tied for the team lead

• Accumulated over 30 pass breakups throughout his college career

• Consistently limited explosive plays in coverage

These metrics aren't just impressive—they're elite. Washington's analytics department uses advanced statistics to evaluate prospects, and Amos stood out across multiple categories.

A "Blue" Designation

Commanders GM Adam Peters explained Amos's analytical success:

"He was really in the 96th percentile against the really high-graded players... In terms of yards per coverage snap, not giving up a lot of explosives, all those different metrics. And he was really in the 90th percentile in like five or six different metrics, which really made him in their grading system a blue player, which is as high as you can get."

This "blue" designation represents the highest possible grade in the Commanders' evaluation system. When a player performs at an elite level against other elite talent, it suggests their skills will translate to the professional level.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Peters highlighted how Amos's daily practice matchups at Ole Miss helped prepare him for NFL competition:

"We had Trey Harris on a 30 visit who was a big strong dude too and he talked about how they battled every day in practice... it's iron sharpening iron, so to speak. And so he's played against a lot of really good players and he doesn't back down to anybody."

This competitive mentality is precisely what Washington's coaching staff values. Amos is battle-tested against SEC talent, widely considered the closest approximation to NFL-level competition in college football.

The Senior Bowl Showcase

Peters was equally impressed with Amos's pre-draft performance against other top prospects:

"You saw it on the tape. You saw it in person. I saw it in person at the Senior Bowl, during the one-on-ones, and the way he challenges guys and how strong he is... The NFL's a tough physical game, and so when you can do that and not only physically but mentally, then that certainly gives you an advantage."

Fitting into Washington's Secondary

Amos joins a revamped Commanders secondary that already features established veterans like Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones, and second-year standout Mike Sainristil. Peters was clear about Amos's projected role, describing him as "really more of an outside guy" and noting that his "best position is outside."

With Lattimore likely to occupy one starting outside cornerback position, Amos will compete for the other boundary spot, potentially allowing Sainristil to move to his natural slot position after spending much of his impressive rookie campaign playing outside.

The addition of Jones provides additional veteran leadership and versatility, having played 132 games with 71 starts during his nine seasons with New England.

This alignment maximises each player's strengths, with Lattimore and Amos handling outside duties whilst Sainristil, Jones, and Will Harris provide inside coverage and depth.

What It Means for Washington

The Commanders are getting a cornerback who excels when the stakes are highest. In a division featuring talented receivers like CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, and Malik Nabers, having a cornerback who has proven himself against elite talent is invaluable.

If Amos's college performance against top competition translates to the NFL level as Washington's analytics department predicts, the Commanders may have found not just a starting cornerback but a potential difference-maker in their secondary for years to come.t