Commanders laughably disrespected in post-draft power rankings

The 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview and the Washington Commanders‘ strategy strongly suggested the front office thinks highly of the roster. With multiple picks expected to be immediately contribute to a roster that finished with seven wins a season ago, the team should get back into the playoffs.

That notion considers their favorable schedule, expected improvement at quarterback and assumes their injury total regresses, too.

In a vacuum, it would be a disappointment if Washington doesn’t make the postseason. Do NFL writers and analysts feel the same way?

It depends who you ask, obviously. According to NFL Media’s Dan Hanzus, the Commanders have massive room for improvement. That would actually be an understatement, as Hanzus’ post-NFL Draft power rankings shockingly have Ron Rivera’s group as one of the seven-worst teams in the league.

The Commanders were blatantly disrespected in NFL Media’s post-draft power rankings.

No, this isn’t a joke. Hanzus has the Commanders at No. 26 in his power rankings, behind the Panthers, Jets and Seahawks, respectively, and just ahead of the Lions, Giants and Falcons, whose rosters are a borderline laughingstock.

In fairness to Hanzus (sort of), he had Washington ranked No. 26 before the draft, so they didn’t lose or gain ground following the showcase. But the fact he has the club lagging behind the Panthers, who are locked into Sam Darnold as their starter, the Jets, who, despite winning the draft, have major questions at QB in Zach Wilson and on defense, is a blatant slap in the face.

That’s to say nothing of the Seahawks, who are likely to start Drew Lock at quarterback. The last time Lock was entrusted with a starting role (2020) he was one of the worst QBs in the NFL, finishing 4-9 while completing less than 60 percent of his passes and tying for the league lead with 15 interceptions.

Even beyond Lock, the Commanders’ roster is much more deeper and talented than Seattle’s. We’re not asking for Washington to crack the top 10, but in what world do they deserve to be 11 spots behind the Eagles? For all of the upgrades Philly made this offseason, are they really that much better than the Burgundy and Gold?

Getting beyond that, the Commanders are one spot behind the Lions, who won three games last campaign, two spots behind the Giants, who are smack in the middle of a rebuild with a new head coach and general manager, and three spots ahead of the Falcons, who could very easily end up with the No. 1 pick next year.

What planet are we on? In what universe does Washington deserve to rank closer to the basement of the NFL than the middle of the pack? Is it bias against Carson Wentz? A lack of belief in Ron Rivera? Is this roster massively overrated?

What gives? Is the loss of Brandon Scherff, a guard, not a tackle, expected to be that debilitating? Whatever was Hanzus’ rationale behind these rankings, it just goes to show that Washington — more so than seemingly any other team in the league — has to prove itself on the field before it can earn the respect of the national media.

Some things never change.