Commanders draft Christian Gray
- Cornerback | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 185
The Washington Commanders could use some help at the cornerback position. Marshon Lattimore could be released with $18.5 million in salary cap savings attached, which is highly likely considering he struggled to meet expectations before suffering a torn ACL.
Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are the only two corners guaranteed to be back. More is undoubtedly required, and although Christian Gray isn't the finished product by any stretch of the imagination, he's got enough solid qualities to become a dependable part of the rotation with additional polish.
Gray is sticky in coverage and anticipates things well. He's not the biggest, so landing in a scheme that suits his strengths is desirable.
Commanders draft Emmett Johnson
- Running Back | Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 198
The Commanders might be on the lookout for another running back at some stage during the offseason. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is doing more than enough for another deal. Although Jacory Croskey-Merritt's production has dipped after a sensational start, he remains an intriguing part of their long-term plans.
Emmett Johnson is in the midst of a fantastic campaign with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He's a dual-threat force with the patience, vision, and contact balance to be a valuable contributor almost immediately. Considering he's projected to be a Day 3 pick right now, someone could have an absolute steal on their hands.
Commanders draft Aaron Graves
- Defensive Line | Iowa Hawkeyes
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 200
Washington could use another young asset in the defensive trenches. This need becomes more glaring if Pro Bowler Daron Payne departs or 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton doesn't show signs of life over the Commanders' remaining six games of the campaign.
Someone like Aaron Graves makes a ton of sense here. He's got four years of starting experience with Iowa, putting up decent numbers and growing in stature each year. There is some technical refinement needed, especially against the run, but his high work ethic should ensure that improvements arrive quickly when he lands his NFL opportunity.
Commanders draft Alex Harkey
- Offensive Tackle | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 221
No team should ever settle on its offensive line, regardless of how well they are performing. The Commanders have a bookend tackle tandem in five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil and first-round rookie Josh Conerly Jr., but depth behind them could be scarce if some veterans leave in free agency.
The Commanders could use another development project to sit and learn behind the starting duo. Alex Harkey is a former teammate of Conerly's at Oregon. He could go a lot higher than this, but Washington would be wise to scoop him up if the athletic edge force makes it this far down the pecking order.