4 bold predictions for the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Commanders trade down twice in the first round
When one examines Ron Rivera‘s draft history, the likelihood of maneuvering up and down the board depending on how things play out seems almost guaranteed. Something the head coach didn’t dismiss when probed about the possibility during his recent media availability.
In reality, moving down from No. 16 overall seems like a smart play. This could change if a top-end prospect starts falling for some unbeknown reason, but the Washington Commanders are in salary cap hell right now, so the more picks on cheap contracts they can get, the better.
According to multiple reports, there are a few teams looking to move down the first-round pecking order. This isn’t deemed as the strongest draft class by most in the league, so the Commanders would need some assistance with a quarterback falling to maximize compensation in this scenario.
However, if they trade down and a team wants to move back into the first round for someone, then working out two deals is well worth considering. Something that would provide more picks this year and generate additional capital for a much better-looking class n 2024.
If this bold prediction came to fruition, then it might hold more weight to the claims Washington was loading up for a run at quarterback Caleb Williams next year, which was recently revealed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated citing sources.