3 Commanders who got extremely lucky with 2022 draft results

2. William Jackson III

Throughout the pre-draft process, the Commanders were linked with a variety of defensive players. While Kyle Hamilton was the prospect most heavily linked with the team, the likes of Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley and Trent McDuffie were seemingly all on Washington’s radar leading up to draft night.

While Gardner and Stingley were both top five picks, McDuffie was in play, especially after they traded down to pick No. 16 overall. Yes, Jahan Dotson wound up being the pick, but there were ample cornerbacks available in Round 2, too.

In retrospect, the Commanders could’ve traded up for one of Roger McCreary, who went No. 35 overall to Tennessee, Kyler Gordon, who went No. 39 to Chicago and Andrew Booth, who surprisingly lasted until pick No. 42 to Minnesota.

Even if trading up wasn’t in the cards, Alontae Taylor, Martin Emerson, Cordale Flott, Marcus Jones, Coby Bryant, among others, were all there for the taking when Washington picked in the second and third rounds. Either way, the fact the team didn’t take a corner until the seventh makes William Jackson a winner.

If Washington opted for one of McDuffie, McCreary, Gordon or Booth, Jackson would’ve felt immense pressure to keep his starting spot after he allowed a 95.1 passer rating and five touchdowns while committing eight penalties and missing five games due to injury in his first year after signing a three-year, $40.5 million contract ($26 million guaranteed) with the franchise.

The 2022 season was always going to be big for Jackson, but his role as a full-time player is definitely secured after the draft because the Commanders have serious depth concerns at the position behind Jackson and Kendall Fuller.