One of the biggest reasons the Washington Commanders descended to NFL obscurity under the previous regime was a failure to draft effectively. Something general manager Adam Peters rectified with an outstanding first crop of recruits from the college ranks.
Ron Rivera's personnel evaluation became a glaring thorn in his side. Reclusive owner Dan Snyder gave the ex-head coach the final say on personnel decisions. Very few of his selections — especially at the top end in the first or second round — became successful in Washington.
Peters turned the tide quickly.
The front-office leader found a franchise quarterback with his first pick. He found a cornerstone cornerback, starters at defensive tackle and the offensive line, and several development pieces capable of becoming more over time. Nobody looked like a draft bust early. This a far cry from how things looked under Rivera's leadership.
What constitutes a draft bust? We'll use the barometer of being a selection in the top 100 who never reached their billing for one reason or another. That seems like a good measuring stick for this article.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders draft picks we can safely call busts after the 2024 season.
Commanders draft picks we can safely call busts after the 2024 season
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
- No. 74 overall selection | 2021 NFL Draft
The Washington Commanders gave Benjamin St-Juste one final chance to prove his worth as a starting cornerback heading into the 2024 season. This was a contentious issue among the fanbase considering how poor his production was in the three years before.
St-Juste had the size and length typically associated with cornerbacks within Dan Quinn's defensive scheme. Hopes were high that he could respond to positive coaching and make a difference. It didn't take long to realize this wasn't going to pan out as everyone hoped.
The same problems that blighted St-Juste earlier in his career reared their head again. He was targeted as a weak link by opposing passing attacks. There were deficiencies in coverage, especially against the top-tier wideouts around the league. The former third-round pick out of Minnesota was a walking defensive pass interference penalty in key moments.
This forced the Commanders into drastic action. They moved rookie nickel Mike Sainristil to the boundary and traded for four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. Noah Igbinoghene moved to the slot, which left St-Juste on the fringes for the most part.
St-Juste is out of contract this offseason and won't return. After blowing countless opportunities, he's got nobody to blame but himself.