5 running backs the Commanders could select in the 2023 NFL Draft

Commanders could draft Tyjae Spears

If the Washington Commanders decide to find a little more value from the 2023 NFL Draft running back class, then unearthing some mid-round gems seems like the best course of action. And once some critical position groups get reinforced, there will be room for a “best player available” selection or two later down the pecking order.

Someone like Tyjae Spears comes with a significant amount of upside. The one-time Tulane star has momentum on his side following a sensational campaign with the Green Wave in 2022, which was bolstered further by an eye-catching assessment period to see the player’s stock soar.

Spears is incredibly elusive in tight windows and has the speed to break off big plays at will when gaps arrive. His route-running out of the backfield is nothing short of outstanding, which is matched by soft hands and enough explosiveness to get out of his cuts quickly.

While Spears offers little as a blocker, that’s not what the Commanders would require with Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson on the books. Eric Bieniemy will find many creative ways to get Spears involved, which makes this an intriguing possibility and one Washington should seriously consider.

Just where Spears gets drafted is the big question. Most analysts have him as a late Day 2 pick, but if a certain team falls in love with his outstanding athletic traits, he could end up in the second round.