Commanders 7-round mock draft: Trades, surprises in final 2023 edition

Commanders draft Cam Jones

• Linebacker | Ohio State Buckeyes

This is the last of the trade pickups. Getting Cam Jones late in the sixth round doesn’t exactly solve the Washington Commanders’ linebacker issues. But I have come to understand that they just don’t seem all that worried about this position.

In Jamin Davis and Cody Barton, Washington has two young, athletic starters who are still improving. In another year, Jones will be able to do anything David Mayo can do, only with more youth and athleticism.

Though I might have wanted to come out of this draft with another linebacker who could actually start should either Davis or Barton go down, Jones adds good depth as a situational player.

Commanders draft Nick Herbig

• Edge Rusher | Wisconsin Badgers

Washington’s final pick – I swapped our seventh-rounder in an earlier trade – is another guy who can play linebacker if need be. But this kid is a pass rusher, pure and simple.

At just 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, there will be plenty of concern as to whether Nick Herbig can get to the quarterback when going up against NFL-caliber linemen. I think it’s worth the risk.

Some players simply have a knack for finding the quarterback and Herbig has shown that throughout his college career. The Commanders have a recent history of loading up on edge defenders late in the draft, and with Thomas Incoom and Herbig, they would be adding two extremely productive players.

Neither has the ideal size you may want. But they both make plays. I like my chances of having at least one of them continue that playmaking in the pros.

So we address offense early, giving Eric Bienemy help on the line, a versatile player out of the backfield, and a promising quarterback to groom alongside Sam Howell. Then we load up on defense late with help at all three levels.

Soon, we can stop mocking and start examining what we actually have heading into 2023. I’m ready.