Commanders could draft Darien Porter
- Cornerback | Iowa State Cyclones
The Washington Commanders have good cornerbacks on the roster with Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore. They have solid depth pieces that can start if needed, with Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene. Even so, there is still room for improvement.
Darien Porter has the rare gift of having size and speed for the position. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds with 33 1/8-inch arms to go along with his 4.30-second 40-yard dash speed. The fact that he's a track star turned football hopeful shows.
Porter is also a former wide receiver after starting his college career as a pass-catcher at Iowa State. He is still developing as a cornerback, which means Dan Quinn would have a project with a lot of potential on his hands.
Being a former receiver has its positives. It helps Porter with his instincts, route recognition, and ball-tracking skills. Add his speed to this, and he can run routes for receivers at times. He is also able to excel in both zone and man coverage schemes.
The Cyclones prospect needs to refine his technique. If Porter can achieve this objective, he has the potential to be a long-time starter at the cornerback position in the NFL.
Commanders could draft Dylan Sampson
- Running Back | Tennessee Volunteers
Running back is an overlooked need for the Washington Commanders. Adam Petters must address it with one of his early draft selections.
Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler lead the running back group currently. Both are solid backs, but neither is dynamic enough to be an every-down force at this point in their careers.
Dylan Sampson fits the description of a dynamic running back who is capable of playing on every down. He is smaller, standing at 5-foot-8 and weighing 200 pounds, but not diminutive enough to where he can't be a contributor for an NFL team. Besides, he makes up for his size with his 4.42-second 40-yard dash speed.
His production profile in 2024 is off the charts, putting up 1,488 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 258 carries. Sampson also caught 20 of 25 targets for 143 receiving yards.
Sampson has just about every trait you look for in a running back. He's got great vision, good burst, and explosiveness behind eye-catching footwork to make cuts and superb contact balance for his size. The rushing production backs this up.
Even though there is not a lot of receiving production, Sampson showed decent traits on film. He also displayed the willingness and effort needed to be a solid blocker.
There is a good shot that Sampson will be available in the third round, so he could be a target for the Commanders if Peters trades up or down.