Commanders draft Dont'e Thornton
- Wide Receiver | Tennessee Volunteers
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 205
Another important addition to the Washington Commanders this offseason also came via trade.
It cost Adam Peters nothing more than a fifth-round pick to land versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. from the San Francisco 49ers. Something that helps Jayden Daniels and gives Terry McLaurin the best running mate he's had since entering the league.
Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn re-signed. Hopes remain high that Luke McCaffrey can leap forward in Year 2 of his professional career. Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus have taken their chances elsewhere, so finding another potential diamond in the rough with a late-round draft pick is something Peters will contemplate.
Dont'e Thornton remains a work in progress as a route technician, but the physical tools are there to make a real difference with time to develop. Until then, his size and blazing speed to stretch the field offer something a little different from what the Commanders already possess.
This quickly became Thornton's specialty at Tennessee last season. The explosive wide receiver averaged an astonishing 25.4 yards per catch after securing 26 receptions for 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He's a little rough around the edges, but learning from the likes of McLaurin and Samuel makes the Commanders a sensational landing spot for the player.
Commanders draft Jermari Harris
- Cornerback | Iowa Hawkeyes
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 245
The Commanders have bolstered their defensive front enough to suggest Jihaad Campbell should enhance their pass rush in this scenario. Washington has a stronger cornerback unit, but another capable performer could be considered.
Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil are the focal points. Noah Igbinoghene re-signed after flashing promise last season. The Commanders also secured the services of two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones, which is going to help significantly.
Even so, the cupboard is relatively bare aside from that. Benjamin St-Juste joined the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. quickly became a lost cause and the first-round pick was released in-season. If the Commanders can find another development project capable of progressing quickly, the better their chances will be.
Jermari Harris comes with more intrigue than most at this juncture. The Iowa prospect is experienced, boasts outstanding leadership qualities, and thrives in man coverage. What he lacks in top-end speed, he more than makes up for with outstanding route anticipation and natural playmaking.
Not being a genuine speedster will go against him when push comes to shove. Harris is also an older prospect with injury red flags to investigate further. But if everything checks out, the Commanders might take a flier on the defensive back with their final pick.