5 former Commanders draft picks who might be done in the NFL
By Jerry Trotta
3. Bashaud Breeland — Fourth Round, 2014
Washington drafted Breeland in the fourth-round back in 2014 and he featured regularly in the team’s secondary for four seasons. In unexpected fashion, Breeland started 14 games and played over 80 percent of the snaps as a rookie.
In total, the former Clemson star started 57 of 60 games for Washington, tallying 270 tackles, eight interceptions and 60 passes defended. In the final year of his rookie deal in 2017, he posted his best season to date, finishing with a 72.0 coverage grade and 19 passes defended, which was tied for the sixth-most in the NFL.
Despite that, Washington let Breeland test free agency and he ultimately signed a one-year contract with Green Bay. From there, he joined the Chiefs for two years which included winning the Super Bowl in 2021, but his career has since gone off the rails in Minnesota, where he’s had several off-field missteps.
Still just 30 years old, Breeland has the talent to be a rotational corner, but his temperament and surprising nosedive in coverage could make it difficult for him to find another job. It’s tough to say whether he’ll revive his career.