Commanders 2023 Mock Draft 7.0: Christian Gonzalez fills hole in secondary

Round Five

Andrew Voorhees, Offensive Guard, Southern California

Look for the offensive line to be a priority in the offseason, but head coach Ron Rivera said that he likes the current set of linemen on the Commanders roster.  Don’t believe it for a second!  It is understandable for a coach to stand up for his players during challenging times, but the offensive line will receive plenty of attention during the upcoming offseason.

At 6-6, 325 pounds, Andrew Voorhees has been a force for the Trojans over the last seasons and has played right guard, left guard, and left tackle.  His best fit is on the inside at the next level.

Darrell Luter Jr., Cornerback, South Alabama

Small college prospects have increasingly made their mark on the NFL in recent years and certainly in a good way.  Group of Five schools, FCS programs, Division III teams, and NAIA institutions should not be taken for granted.  London Fletcher is a product of John Carroll University and current Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Tariq Woolen of the Seahawks is a product of Texas-San Antonio.

One such product from the South Alabama Jaguars program is cornerback Darrell Luter, Jr.  He is a solid defender and would provide quality depth as a rotational piece.  He can play on the inside of the perimeter or beyond the blue line out on the boundary.  Forty years ago, a small college prospect from Texas A&I was drafted by Washington – his first name is Darrell – and he had a brilliant career at cornerback.  Can history be repeated here?

Round Six

Darius Muasau, Inside Linebacker, UCLA

The Commanders will need to find some depth at inside linebacker and preferably one that can be solid against the run and pass.  Native Hawaiian Darius Muasau enjoyed three superb seasons for the Rainbow Warriors and transferred to UCLA for his senior season.  It was the right move as he became one of the better linebackers in the PAC-12 (second-team all-conference).  Muasau also has the tools to become a special teams standout.

Anfernee Orji, Inside Linebacker, Vanderbilt (Compensatory Pick)

Adding a pair of inside linebackers for depth purposes could pay dividends for the Commanders in 2023.  The team has truly missed Cole Holcomb since he landed on injured reserve a few weeks ago.  Linebackers David Mayo and Jon Bostic are likely heading to retirement in a few weeks and a new duo at linebacker and special teams aces are needed.  Anfernee Orji is a tackling machine and has a knack for forcing and recovering fumbles.  He was the leading tackler for the SEC in 2022 and will add some spice to the special teams unit.

Round Seven

Isaiah Bowser, Running Back, Central Florida

Will the team move on from running back Jonathan Williams during the offseason?  Will the Commanders release J.D. McKissic in the coming weeks?  Is the team planning to sign a free agent running back in March?  So many questions, but one prospect looking to make an impression at the next level is Central Florida running back Isaiah Bowser.  Similar in size to Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson, Bowser is a superb rusher and is a quality option for short passes and screens.  He played three years at Northwestern before heading south to Orlando.

There is your latest mock draft as we close out the year.  Mock 8.0 will arrive following the regular season finale against Dallas.  See you as we go along.