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

The Washington Commanders have seen their seasonal fortunes bounce back and forth at various points in the 2022 season.  It is also affecting what the team may do during the upcoming offseason.

What will happen in the coming weeks?  Will the Washington Commanders punch their ticket to the playoffs with any momentum going forward?  Will the Burgundy and Gold fall short in their quest for a wild card playoff berth?  So many questions will be answered over the next two weeks, including the question that centers on when the offseason will officially kick off.

We do know that the 2023 offseason is just around the corner.  It’s obvious when you look at the 2022 calendar that is plastered to your refrigerator door.  The Commanders are facing some very tough decisions during the offseason including the search for a franchise quarterback, the rebuilding of their offensive line, finding a shutdown cornerback, adding a reliable inside linebacker, and uncovering a franchise tight end.

A few of these needs will be filled via free agency and several players will be added in the 2023 NFL Draft.  Can the Commanders fill all of these needs in the coming weeks and months?  Welcome to Mock 7.0 as we close out the final week of 2022.

Our mock drafts since late fall have focused on many of these positions and today you will see more of the same.  However, we will feature another paradigm shift – not that it is fashionable to do so, but it is advantageous for the team to explore each need in-depth and find the best prospects possible.

Our mock draft today will feature trades and some surprises.  Buckle in and let’s close out 2022 with a blockbuster mock draft!

Round One

***Trade***

The Commanders trade down a few positions in the first round and they are able to acquire a third-round selection and a conditional 2024 seventh-round draft pick.

Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon

After spending his first two years as a starter for Colorado, Christian Gonzalez transferred and took his elite cornerback skills to Oregon for one more season.  Gonzalez recently declared for the 2023 draft.  He comes from an athletic family – two sisters are world-class sprinters (an Olympian and an NCAA record holder) while his father was a basketball star at UTEP.

At 6-2, 200, Gonzalez has the superior size that scouts look for in the modern NFL.  He is typically matched with the number one receiver on the boundary and near the perimeter.  His speed allows him to shine in press coverage or in any zone defense.  Gonzalez is a solid tackler and is very instinctive.  He has lockdown potential and arguably the top cornerback prospect in the 2023 draft.  A starter from day one.

Round Two

Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee

Darnell Wright stands 6-6 and weighs in at 335 pounds – great size for a tackle at the next level.  He was a starter at right tackle for his first two seasons with the Volunteers and switched to left tackle in 2021 out of necessity.  In 2022, Wright returned to his familiar right tackle position and continued to play at a high level.  The four-year starter is a late second-round or early third-round prospect, but taking him a bit early at this juncture of the second round makes a lot of sense for the Commanders.

Drafting a right tackle will allow Sam Cosmi to slide over to right guard – a better fit for the former Longhorn standout.  Wright is a powerhouse in the rushing offense and he is a force in pass protection.  When Charles Leno moves on or retires, Wright could slide over to the left tackle slot.

Round Three

John Michael Schmitz, Center, Minnesota

One thing is certain.  The Washington Commanders have faced a lot of bad luck at the center position over the last two years.  Honestly, it is time to invest in this position and fully fortify it to the maximum.  This position is often overlooked by the media and fans, but the coaches know and understand the importance of the position.  With talented center Chase Roullier missing many games due to injuries over the last two seasons, the Commanders need to invest in the future at center.

John Michael Schmitz has seen his stock rise this fall and while some scouting services are ranking him as a second-round prospect, he is much more likely to fall to the third round.  At 6-4, 320, Schmitz is a force in the middle of the line and could be a day-one starter at the next level.  We featured him in an earlier mock this fall.

Tucker Kraft, Tight End, South Dakota State (Compensatory Pick)

Logan Thomas has been plagued with injuries over the last two seasons and, quite frankly, he has regressed in 2022.  While there is plenty of promise with John Bates (as a blocker), Armani Rodgers, Curtis Hodges, and Cole Turner, a primary receiving tight end is desperately needed.

Tucker Kraft could be the receiving tight end that the team is seeking.  Here is what we said about him in a recent mock draft.

"Tucker Kraft has the size (6-5, 255) that the Rivera regime likes in a tight end.  He is a solid receiver and has steadily improved as a blocker in 2022.  The Jackrabbits had him playing close to the tackles and in the slot at times.  Kraft will need a bit of time to fit in Scott Turner’s offense, but he could begin to have something of an impact in the latter half of his rookie season."

Also, Logan Thomas can be released as a post-June 1st cut and the Commanders could save several million dollars on the 2023 salary cap.  He is unlikely to re-capture his 2020 form and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Commanders moving on from the former Hokie standout.  Kraft can fill that void.

Round Four

***Trade***

The Commanders move down in this round and they are able to add a fifth-round selection.

Jalen Graham, Linebacker/Safety, Purdue

All-everything safety Kamren Curl has missed three games this year due to injury.  The Commanders suffered two losses in those games and had to fight until the end to win the other contest.  In other words, when Curl is out of the lineup for any game, the defense tends to suffer without him.  Depth at the position is needed if the team wants to weather the loss of any top talent, especially Curl.

Adding depth to the position is difficult.  Curl is something of a hybrid safety and linebacker and finding such a player to provide depth and a rotational option is very difficult.  However, a solution could be on the horizon.  Jalen Graham combines both of these positions, but he is more of a linebacker.  Graham is very comparable to Curl and has a lot of the same attributes – a solid tackler, good in coverage, a run stopper, a pass rusher, and he will snag an occasional interception or recover a fumble.  In other words, Graham is a jack of all trades, but a master of none.  He is the hybrid reserve and rotational piece that this team needs.

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.