Washington Commanders 2023 NFL Mock Draft 9.0

Round 5

Riley Moss, Cornerback, Iowa – 6-1, 195

Riley Moss has always defied expectations. He was not expected to make the cut in high school. He was a two-star recruit to Iowa. The fifth-year senior runs a 4.4 40 and has a vertical jump of 42 inches. He is athletically gifted. Moss is very strong and quick on the boundary and within the perimeter. This Hawkeye can also slide inside and shut down slot receivers, tight ends, and running backs. He will need a year to adjust to the NFL, but should be a core special teams player from day one.

https://twitter.com/JimNagy_SB/status/1568702913031319554

Tape/games to watch:

Purdue, Illinois, South Dakota State, Northwestern, and Nevada

Additional Prospects to watch in round five:

• Kenny McIntosh, Running Back, Georgia
• Brodric Martin, Defensive Tackle, Western Kentucky
• Jaxson Kirkland, Offensive Guard, Washington
• Dontayvion Wicks, Wide Receiver, Virginia
• Nick Broeker, Offensive Guard, Mississippi

Round Six

Mohamoud Diabate, Linebacker, Florida and Utah (Transfer) – 6-4, 230

Diabate will need to make some adjustments to life in the NFL, but he has a chance to prove his worth in the East-West Shrine game. He has added about ten pounds of muscle to his frame in recent weeks. Very good in coverage, but needs work on pursuing running backs and closing gaps on running plays. Elevated his game considerably after transferring from Florida last year.

Tape/games to watch:

Colorado, Oregon State, Stanford, Southern California, and UCLA.

Additional Prospects to watch in round six:

• Jalen Graham, Linebacker, Purdue
• Nick Saldiveri, Offensive Tackle, Old Dominion
• Ryan Hayes, Offensive Tackle, Michigan
• Lance Boykin, Cornerback, Coastal Carolina
• Zack Kuntz, Tight End, Old Dominion

Jerrod Clark, Defensive/Nose Tackle, Coastal Carolina – 6-4, 340 (Compensatory Pick)

The Coastal Carolina program continues to churn out solid prospects each year and Jerrod Clark is another player to watch. He can improve his draft stock at the Senior Bowl and Combine this month. Good athleticism for a player of his size. Clark is a good run defender, but needs work on his pass rush. One of his better traits is to take on two blockers at a time and allow other linemen and linebackers with open lanes to the offensive backfield.

Tape/games to watch:

Louisiana, Georgia Southern, Southern Mississippi, Georgia State, and Buffalo

Round Seven

SirVocea Dennis, Linebacker, Pittsburgh – 6-1, 230

Dennis was a two-star recruit out of high school, but the Pitt Panthers decided to take a chance on him. His first year was unforgettable and the next two years were better, but more was expected of Dennis. At that juncture, he was good in the rushing defense, but opposing quarterbacks had their way with him. However, last season was different. Dennis became a solid pass rusher, a coverage ace, and a superb rushing defense asset. This has earned him an invitation to this weekend’s Senior Bowl where his stock could rise. For now, SirVocea Dennis is a late-round prospect at inside linebacker. He could be another of the hidden gems that the Rivera regime seems to have uncovered in the late rounds in recent years.

Tape/games to watch:

Louisville, Duke, Syracuse, Rhode Island, and Virginia

Additional Prospects to watch in round seven:

• Ryan Greenhagen, Linebacker, Fordham
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Quarterback, UCLA
• Cameron Mitchell, Cornerback, Northwestern
• Max Duggan, Quarterback, Texas Christian
• T.J. Bass, Offensive Tackle, Oregon

You have undoubtedly noticed the latest format changes to the bi-monthly mocks today and this is the format that we will use until the draft in late April. It should afford everyone the opportunity to learn more about the Commanders’ prospects and what to look for when draft day arrives.

We will be going to once-a-week mocks shortly after the opening of free agency.

FYI: We did not mock a quarterback today, but late-round prospects could be featured in upcoming mocks. We need to see what could happen in free agency first.

Feel free to drop your Commanders mock drafts in the comments below. You never know when one of your favorites could be featured.

There is Mock 9.0 for you today. Mock 10.0 is coming in about two weeks. See you as we go along.