Washington Commanders 2022 NFL Draft board by position

Strong Safety/Buffalo Nickel Rankings

• Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
• Lewis Cine, Georgia
• Jalen Pitre, Baylor
• Bryan Cook, Cincinnati
• Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee
• Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH)
• Smoke Monday, Auburn
• Tycen Anderson, Toledo
• Dane Belton, Iowa
• Elijah Hicks, California

If Landon Collins returns (as some rumors suggest), investing in a strong safety is not likely.  Don’t you just love the name “Smoke Monday”?  He was born to be a football player.

Free Safety Rankings

• Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
• Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
• Daxton Hill, Michigan
• Nick Cross, Maryland
• Kerby Joseph, Illinois
• Amari Carter, Miami (FL)
• Isaiah Pola-Mao, Southern California
• Smoke Monday, Auburn
• Demarri Mathis, Pittsburgh
• Bubba Bolden, Miami (FL)

When Bobby McCain re-signed recently, free safety became less of a need.  However, the front office could decide to add immediate depth and a player with starter potential.  Also, Kyle Hamilton is an elite player and can fill many safety roles.

Special Teams

We will not list returners, long snappers, and kickers.  Here are three punters.  The highest ranked punter could become one of the greatest of all time.

Punter Rankings

• Matt Araiza, San Diego State
• Jake Camarda, Georgia
• Jordan Stout, Pennsylvania State

The only rationale for listing these punters takes us to Tress Way and a 2021 season when he had a few subpar games – at least by his standards.  The Washington Commanders are very unlikely to draft a punter, but one could be signed a few days later.  Way is going to be the Burgundy and Gold’s punter for many more seasons.

Feel free to use these rankings as a reference as we get closer to the draft.  Soon, we will have a mock draft with zero trades, the yearly prospects contacted extravaganza, a unique look at recent team drafts, and the final 2022 mock from yours truly.  Keep checking back each day.