Commanders draft Quincy Riley
- Cornerback | Louisville Cardinals
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 128
The Washington Commanders could still use one more cornerback to round off their rotation. Speculation around a bombshell trade for All-Pro Jalen Ramsey seems far-fetched. If Adam Peters is considering another option, it'll probably come via the college ranks.
Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil are cemented as the outside tandem as things stand. The Commanders signed Jonathan Jones in free agency, who'll be used in the slot more often than not. Noah Igbinoghene re-signed on a one-year deal after the best campaign of his professional career by a considerable margin.
Those in power have taken a keen interest in Quincy Riley throughout their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. They've met several times with the Louisville standout. Looking at his athletic traits and proven production, it's not hard to see why.
Riley has NFL-caliber fluidity. He's an instinctive player with exceptional ball skills. This makes him a potential turnover machine in the right fit, provided he's allowed to develop further before significant responsibilities come his way.
The Commanders have that luxury with the options available. Learning from the likes of Lattimore and Jones would be a dream come true for Riley, but his play strength must improve before confidence in his aspirations grows.
Commanders draft Kaimon Rucker
- Edge Rusher | North Carolina Tar Heels
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 205
If the Commanders pick up another defensive end earlier in the draft, identifying a versatile chess piece to move around and create mismatches could be a shrewd move later in the draft. If Adam Peters gets more picks, this possibility increases exponentially.
Someone like Kaimon Rucker fits the mold. The North Carolina prospect is going relatively under the radar compared to others. This is thanks in no small part to his lack of legitimate NFL size and length, which has significantly dented his stock.
Rucker isn't the prototypical edge rusher. However, he's the sort of prospect that head coach Dan Quinn's had success with previously from a physical standpoint.
He won't be a player who can make things happen with his hand in the dirt. Rucker isn't built for that. But if the Commanders find ways to maximize his explosiveness and enhanced pass-rushing skill set, Washington might be onto something.
This would probably be specifically saved for pass-rushing situations. Rucker struggles to shed blocks against the run and gets lost in a crowd too often. That limits his upside in the pros, but it wouldn't be costing the Commanders much to find out for sure at this stage of the draft.