Commanders 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft: Striking lucky edition
By Dean Jones
Commanders draft Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
- Cornerback | TCU Horned Frogs
As stated previously, the Washington Commanders need to find themselves another cornerback relatively early during the 2023 NFL Draft. Cameron Dantzler Sr.’s arrival this offseason doesn’t change this fact despite the potential attached.
There is a high probability the Commanders could draft one of the top-end prospects at No. 16 overall depending on how things shake out. Someone like Joey Porter Jr. would be hard to turn down, for example.
If the Commanders opted to wait a little longer, then Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson comes into the equation as a slot option. The experienced prospect might be a little on the small side, but that didn’t stop him from having a highly-productive college career at TCU.
Hodges-Tomlinson’s instincts are outstanding. The player reads opposing quarterbacks extremely well and has the closing burst needed to make things difficult for any pass-catcher in his path.
The nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson packs a powerful punch either in press coverage or assisting against the run. If Hodges-Tomlinson was over six feet he’d be a first-round lock, but that’s simply not the case and these size restrictions are going to hurt his stock when push comes to shove.
With that being said, if the Commanders put him as a slot-only option and rely on players such as Kendall Fuller, Dantzler, and Benjamin St-Juste on the outside, it could work out well.