Which players could the Washington Commanders have selected instead of defensive end Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft?
There were no doubting Chase Young‘s credentials coming out of Ohio State. The defensive end was seen as a generational talent after a phenomenal college career, which was further enhanced by an exceptional period of testing at the NFL Scouting Combine and other prominent assessment events.
Everyone knew what the Cincinnati Bengals were going to do at No. 1 overall. Joe Burrow was the consensus top choice and based on how the quarterback’s performed over the last three years, he’s more than living up to expectations.
The Washington Commanders picked Young at No. 2 overall. But after an encouraging rookie season, things have not gone according to plan thanks to injuries and poor performance levels.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to possess, especially where the NFL Draft is concerned. However, unless Young bounces back during the upcoming campaign, the Commanders would have been better off taking these four players instead.
Player No. 1
Commanders could have drafted Andrew Thomas
After the Washington Commanders traded stud left tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers for the equivalent of magic beans, those in power could have identified his successor via the 2020 NFL Draft. Andrew Thomas was taken No. 4 overall by the New York Giants and after a baptism of fire as a rookie, quickly emerged into one of the league’s premier blindside protectors.
Thomas was nothing short of phenomenal in 2022, giving up three sacks and conceding two penalties from 1,049 snaps en route to a whopping 89.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. The Commanders could have used someone like that protecting the quarterback last season.
Commanders could have drafted Justin Herbert
The Washington Commanders have been starved of a franchise quarterback for decades. There have been some who’ve shone briefly, but none emerged as that presence capable of leading the franchise into legitimate Super Bowl contention.
Washington was in a prime spot to land a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. They had Alex Smith as a veteran bridge and Dwayne Haskins was still around, but that shouldn’t have mattered from No. 2 overall in the draft.
Those in power decided to ride it out with Haskins and take Chase Young. Just a few short picks later, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Justin Herbert, who was a potential No. 1 pick before a disappointing final college campaign at Oregon.
Herbert had all the intangibles needed to make a success of his pro career. The Chargers were a high-octane offense that played to the signal-caller’s strengths, which ensured a smooth transition en route to silencing his doubters wrong.
There is still some hard work ahead for Herbert, but he’s been exactly what the Chargers hoped. Meanwhile, the Commanders continued on their quarterback carousel that now has Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett fighting it out for the starting job in 2023.
Commanders could have drafted Justin Jefferson
Taking a wide receiver so high in the draft isn’t normally the done thing. They’d have to be someone with the athletic attributes of Calvin Johnson for this to occur – a truly special playmaker capable of turning any game on its head.
That’s exactly what Justin Jefferson is.
Just how Jefferson slid so far down the 2020 NFL Draft is a mystery. He was a key cog in the all-conquering LSU offense that convincingly won the national championship, so the Minnesota Vikings must feel like they won the lottery when the wideout dropped into their laps at No. 22 overall.
It didn’t take long for Jefferson to firmly establish himself as an elite performer. His route-running, explosiveness, and ability to produce in big moments led to a record-breaking rookie season – something the player has continued over the last two years to emerge as arguably the league’s best at the position.
The Washington Commanders will be hoping Chase Young can stay healthy and become dominant. But imagine a wide receiver duo of Terry McLaurin and Jefferson, even though the three-time Pro Bowler would have been a big reach here based on pre-draft projections.
If they re-drafted the 2020 class, Jefferson would be a top-three pick. However, as the Commanders know to their cost, that’s not the case.
Commanders could have drafted Tristan Wirfs
As stated previously, the Washington Commanders made one of the worst decisions in recent memory when they traded Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers rather than pay him the going rate. Something the future Pro Football Hall of Famer is making them pay for with every season that passes.
Washington had Cornelius Lucas, who is solid if not spectacular. But there was a real opportunity to pick up a franchise blindside protector during the 2020 NFL Draft and offset Williams’ loss immediately.
Chase Young was arguably the right call to make despite the multiple first-round picks already on Washington’s defensive line. Therefore, it might have been prudent to focus on the other side of the football given how impactful Williams became.
Tristan Wirfs is another that came with Day 1 starting potential. Needs elsewhere meant he slid out of the top 10 before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the lineman at No. 13 overall.
Unlike Andrew Thomas, Wirfs’ transition to the pros went better than expected. He was a supreme difference-maker on the edge as Tampa Bay defied the odds to win a Super Bowl, giving up just one sack as a rookie and putting the league on notice.
The former Iowa stud has been supremely consistent ever since. Had the Commanders gone with Wirfs in hindsight, things might look far different.