4 Commanders players who could be traded during the 2023 NFL Draft

Cornelius Lucas – Commanders OT

Teams around the league are always looking for offensive line help in some capacity. Even if a particular franchise is cemented with its starting five, it’s always worth exploring opportunities to enhance depth with injuries so commonplace across the protection.

This is something Ron Rivera has been keen to bolster. The Washington Commanders signed Nick Gates and Andrew Wylie in free agency, which gives the team two experienced starters and might allow Sam Cosmi to get a prolonged look at the right guard position after struggling on the edge.

Depending on how many offensive linemen come into the organization via this year’s draft, one or two veterans might be expendable. Cornelius Lucas would fit into that category with further arrivals.

Lucas is a decent enough swing tackle that can step in at a moment’s notice. His production wasn’t terrible when on the field in 2023, giving up four sacks and conceding three penalties from 671 snaps en route to a creditable 67.7 grade from Pro Football Focus.

If the Commanders find themselves another high-end offensive tackle in the first three rounds and an interior presence is also taken at some stage, then trading Lucas – if there is sufficient interest – is worth considering. Something that would save the team $3.45 million against their salary cap at an important time.