3 mistakes Commanders can’t afford to make in 2022 NFL Draft

1. Not Drafting a WR With First Two Picks

We like to think the Commanders have already decided to draft a wide receiver with one of their first two picks, but given the team’s propensity to leave fans with their jaws on the floor on draft night, we won’t believe it until we see it.

We can’t speak for everyone, but we keep picturing a scenario in which Washington takes Kyle Hamilton, Derek Stingley or another defensive back at pick No. 11 and turns around to draft a linebacker once pick No. 47 rolls around.

That would be a nightmare scenario for the Commanders, who wouldn’t pick again until the fourth round at pick No. 119. At that point in the draft, their best options would (potentially) be Clemson’s Justyn Ross, Boise State’s Khalil Shakir, Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr., Ole Miss’ Dontario Drummond or Rutgers’ Bo Melton.

Here’s a list of the most notable WRs drafted in the fourth round or beyond over the last seven drafts: Amon-Ra St. Brown (fourth), Gabriel Davis (fourth), Hunter Renfrow (fifth), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (fifth), Russel Gage (sixth), Cedrick Wilson (sixth), Tyreek Hill (sixth), Jamison Crowder (fourth) and Stefon Diggs (fifth).

The lesson to be learned from that list? It’s not impossible to find great receiver value beyond Round 4, but the fact there’s only nine examples over the last seven drafts isn’t an encouraging sign when you consider how many receivers come off the board in the final four rounds.

There’s no need to overthink this. Whether it’s in Round 1or 2, a receiver needs to be one of the cards the Commanders pull with one of their first two picks.