The NFL draft is building for the future. In this case, it’s just a future command Coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew may not have.
It’s the strange dynamic that hovers over the entire franchise this season. By all signs, the franchise will soon be sold by owner Dan Snyder. And without the great Super Bowl this season, it’s hard to imagine a new owner wouldn’t want to bring his own people into running the team.
So whether they admit it or not, Mayhew and Rivera need players who can help right now, who are willing to take on some perhaps caliber of roles, so they can get their hands on it. as much support as possible during the midfield period of the second year Sam Howell. They can’t draft projects, especially early on. They may not be able to seize the opportunity.
They know they need NFL-ready players because deep down, they know they need to win.
They may not say it, but it’s a good bet that it will be the subject of the players they will draft. So here’s how to see how their eight picks in the NFL draft might play out:
1. Round 1, 16th place in the end: Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
Commander’s Corner Duo Benjamin St-Juste And Kendall Fuller was actually pretty good last season. However, both are not corner 1. Plus, Fuller is in the final year of his contract. The 5-11, 181-pound Witherspoon is generally considered one of the top three corners of this year’s division, but his neck was damaged by a hamstring injury that kept him out of the combined and contest day. his professional fight. He’ll have a private practice session for NFL teams on April 5, that might speak for itself. Scouts say he is an aggressive, physically fit player who is very attentive to the ball as he showed with three interceptions and 17 saves in 12 games last year.
2. Second round, 47th overall: Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave
Every young midfielder should have a good ending in their arsenal. Certainly, the Commanders still have Thomas brand, but he is 32 years old, played only 20 games in the past two seasons and looked like a shell of himself last season. Really, he’s just had a good season anyway. There are early upgrades in this draft, and the 6-6,253-pound Musgrave is a big one. He didn’t do much in college and was injured for most of last season, but those who saw him at the Senior Bowl raved about his potential. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go in the first round.
3. Third round, 97th overall: Ohio State Luke Wypler
The commanders are very uncertain about the future of C Chasing Roullier (broken leg in 2021, torn MCL in 2022) that they signed as a free agent Nick Gates, who carries their own risk of injury. Mayhew won’t even commit to having Roullier on the team. So some depth and youth in this position seems necessary. At 6-3, 303, Wypler is in good shape and is immediately playable, although a little more power might be needed.
4. Round 4, 118th place overall: Georgia WILL Christopher Smith
The Commanders like Kam Curl and hope to sign a contract extension with him, and they’ve had four interceptions out of them. Darrick Forrest last year, so they’re usually good at this position. Smith 5-11, weighing 192 pounds adds competition and depth. He’s a little shorter, but he’s fast, tough, and has very good coverage.
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5. Fifth round, 150th place overall: Missouri DE Isaiah McGuire
chasing children remains a mystery until he proves he has fully recovered from his ACL injury. He will also likely enter the final year of his contract if the team does not opt for his fifth year option. Montez’s sweat are also in their final year So they need reinforcements at the defense end. McGuire (6-4, 268) has made 14.5 clearances over the past two seasons and has proven to be a strong passer. His defense needs some work, but he could be a situational player behind Sweat and Young before he is capable of replacing either of them in the future.
6. Round 6, 193rd place overall: Oklahoma State RB Eric Gray
It remains to be seen what style of attack Eric Bieniemy can and will perform in Washington, where Commanders have always been a priority under Ron Rivera. They seem to want to stay that way behind a Brian Robinson-led running back committee. And while they like Antonio Gibson As a second return, he is in the final year of his contract and doesn’t seem to love his diminished role. The 5-9, 207-pound Gray is a double threat that can start at third or lower and become more of an over time. He has 1,366 yards of charge and 11 touches, and catches 33 passes like a senior of earlierso he can definitely handle any workload.
7. Round 6, 215th place in the end: Cincinnati CB President Bush
Second-tier depth is a must for teams in today’s fun NFL. Bush has good size (6 feet, 187) and speed (4.54) in the NFL. He was overshadowed in college by Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant, but he stood firm in 2021 as he was a full-back behind them and teams mostly threw at him. He had three interceptions that season and nine during his college career, so he definitely has a ball-seeing nose.
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8. 7th round, 233rd place overall: Indiana LB orange jones
The Commanders aren’t great at full-back, and the 226-pound Jones 6-1 might not be of immediate help. His pace (4.69) gives him a shot and could make him an exceptionally valuable player from the start. He actually started his college career as a safety net for the Sooners. He appeared to be on his way to a major senior year, but a leg injury forced him to cut five games short. He’s a physical player, but he may need to put on weight to survive the NFL’s defence.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFC East correspondent for FOX Sports, covering the Washington Commanders, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. He had spent the previous six years covering the Giants and the Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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