Commanders News: Draft grade, Andre Jones, Ron Rivera and Emmanuel Forbes
By Dean Jones
Commanders draft grade from Mel Kiper Jr.
It was a solid draft overall for the Washington Commanders in 2023. They addressed key needs in the secondary and offensive line over the early stages and managed to scoop up some potential contributors further down the pecking order for good measure.
Every little helps where the Commanders are concerned heading into the new campaign. There’s a lot on the line for head coach Ron Rivera, who’ll be working under extreme pressure once the sale to Josh Harris and his ownership group is officially confirmed by the NFL.
ESPN’s respected draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. liked what he saw from Washington’s draft, giving them a B grade as a result of their acquisitions. However, he was quick to point out that passing on Hendon Hooker and Will Levis is not a route he’d have gone down.
"“So the Commanders really are going to go into the season with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett as their quarterbacks, huh? They passed on Will Levis and Hendon Hooker. I would have done differently, but at least I liked who they added in Round 1. The quarterback question likely will linger into 2024, and I’m not sure Washington hit all of its needs outside of the secondary with this class.”"
The plan was always to give Sam Howell a legitimate chance to become the team’s starting quarterback long-term. If it doesn’t work out, then a potential new coaching regime might look to enhance their fortunes at football’s most prestigious position early in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Much will depend on how these incoming college recruits perform. But it could have been much worse for the Commanders all things considered.