Which players have shown their worth as the best NFL Draft picks from Ron Rivera’s tenure with the Washington Commanders so far?
Ron Rivera completely changed the culture – on the football side at least – almost as soon as he came into the Washington Commanders as head coach. No longer would the team focus primarily on big-money free agents – it was now about drafting, developing, and rewarding players in pursuit of building a contender.
Although the success has been mixed in terms of results, there is a solid nucleus in place that could evolve into something more in the coming years. Whether Rivera will be around to oversee this with new owners set to be confirmed is another matter.
Rivera’s adopted a business-as-usual mindset this offseason, which is understandable in the circumstances. He cannot do anything outside of his control, but hitting on Washington’s eight selections during the 2023 NFL Draft would be a step in the right direction.
Before looking forward, we ranked the five best draft picks of Rivera’s tenure with the Commanders so far.
Draft Pick No. 5
Benjamin St-Juste – Commanders CB
- Round No. 3 (No. 74 overall) | 2021 NFL Draft
There were a few eyebrows raised when the Washington Commanders selected Benjamin St-Juste in the third round. However, there was a lot to like about the former Minnesota standout’s contribution to date.
Cornerbacks tend to take longer than most in terms of adjustment from college to the pros. This proved to be the case with St-Juste, but he was a lot more productive in coverage in 2022, which could mean a big campaign ahead entering Year 3 of his professional career.
Jamin Davis – Commanders LB
- Round No. 1 (Pick No. 19) | 2021 NFL Draft
When the Washington Commanders picked up Jamin Davis at No. 19 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, it was seen as a coup. The prospect had the athletic attributes to go much higher, but positional importance saw him drop to a level where those in power felt like it was a risk worth taking.
Regardless of where prospects are picked, being a first-round selection comes with additional expectations. Davis has found it difficult to meet this more often than not, but his growth last season was encouraging overall, and a solid foundation from which to build this time around.
The Commanders are expecting a lot from Davis in Year 3. The one-time Kentucky star must be dominant with so many questions surrounding the linebacking depth, although it would be a surprise if Ron Rivera didn’t bolster the defensive second level with the latest batch of college recruits at some stage.
Davis has tremendous instincts and boasts the straight-line speed needed to get to the contact point quickly. There are some issues regarding gap discipline against the run that need work and the player’s ability in coverage should also improve, but there remains hope he can become what Washington hoped for with another strong offseason.
Anything less would be a major disappointment. One that would give the Commanders another tough decision surrounding a fifth-year option.
Antonio Gibson – Commanders RB
- Round No. 3 (Pick No. 66) | 2020 NFL Draft
Much has been made about running back value in the modern-day NFL. Teams are increasingly reluctant to pay players at the position given their short shelf-life, which is also transitioning to the draft with very few ending up being high-end first-round selections in recent years.
There are always rough diamonds at the college level that come from nowhere to become productive NFL players immediately. While Antonio Gibson had a superb career with Memphis before coming to the next level, some analysts weren’t convinced he could become a force during his pre-draft evaluation process.
This was not an opinion shared by the Washington Commanders. Gibson was taken No. 66 overall in 2020, immediately earning prominent involvement in the run game and also as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Gibson earned his first 1,000-yard rushing season as a sophomore, which was another positive step en route to proving his doubters wrong. However, the introduction of Brian Robinson Jr. forced him into a rotational role in 2022, which he adjusted to well all things considered.
If there was one knock on Gibson, it’s from a yards-per-carry standpoint. But considering where the Commanders picked him up and the promise of more to come under Eric Bieniemy, he deserves a spot on this list.
Darrick Forrest – Commanders S
- Round No. 5 (Pick No. 163) | 2021 NFL Draft
What separates the good teams from the leading Super Bowl contenders is how they navigate the mid-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft. One only has to examine how many superb additions the Kansas City Chiefs have made in this stage of the selection process to see how beneficial it can be.
It’s been a mixed bag in this regard for the Washington Commanders under Ron Rivera. However, they have managed to hit one or two home runs that quickly emerged into productive contributors.
Darrick Forrest certainly fits the bill. The gifted defensive back was an unheralded prospect coming out of Cincinnati, with the coaching staff taking their time with the player throughout a rookie campaign of little involvement on the defensive rotation.
This patience paid off in the best possible way last season. Forrest was an absolute revelation on the backend, providing a forceful presence on running downs and an absolute ballhawk with nine passes defended and four interceptions in coverage for good measure.
Forrest has all the makings of a true draft steal if he keeps this up in the coming years. The Commanders have issues within certain areas of their defense, but they can relax safe in the knowledge the former fifth-round pick is on an upward curve en route to great things moving forward.
Kamren Curl – Commanders S
- Round No. 7 (Pick No. 216) | 2020 NFL Draft
There is little debate about who the best draft pick made by Ron Rivera is during his three-year stint with the Washington Commanders so far. Kamren Curl was a seventh-round roster bubble candidate coming into the organization, but it didn’t take long to realize they might have something special on their hands.
Curl fought with every inch to earn a prominent spot on defense immediately. Not only this, but the safety performed far better than most envisaged considering where the Commanders picked him up in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With 270 tackles in three seasons, the Commanders got far more than they bargained for where Curl is concerned. Something that should rightfully come with a new contract soon heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
The former Arkansas player developed an exceptional safety tandem alongside Darrick Forrest in 2022 that was among the league’s best. If Curl improves further next season, then a first Pro Bowl selection could be well within reach.
If Curl keeps this up, he could become one of the biggest draft steals in Commanders franchise history. That’s a lofty goal to aim for, but one he is well on course to attain after a sensational start to his NFL career.