4 rough diamonds the Washington Commanders could draft in 2023

Commanders could draft Tyjae Spears

• Running Back | Tulane Green Wave

Even though the Washington Commanders have Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson leading their running back room, Ron Rivera stated recently that he’d like to get another option into the fold. Considering how tight finances are currently, securing someone from the 2023 NFL Draft seems like the best course of action.

Tyjae Spears fits the bill in no uncertain terms. He might be going relatively unheralded compared to the likes of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, but that does not detract from his exciting athletic attributes that look tailor-made for Eric Bieniemy’s new offensive scheme.

There is a lot to like about the way Spears applied himself when tasked with starting responsibilities over his final two college seasons. The former Tulane stud has the explosiveness and elusiveness normally associated with productive NFL running backs, with his ability to factor into the passing game something else that won’t go unnoticed by league scouts.

This is where Bieniemy could bring the best out of Spears. His quick-twitch cuts make him the perfect security blanket out of the backfield, which represents a rough diamond that can be molded into a legitimate playmaker under the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator.

Spears won’t offer much from a blocking standpoint. But the Commanders wouldn’t need this element of his game provided the offensive line upgrades as expected.