Commanders draft Alani Noa
- Offensive Line | USC Trojans
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 149
It's not just the center spot where the Washington Commanders need to bolster their offensive line. At the very least, they need better interior backup options, and with Chris Paul out of contract, they may also be looking for a new starting left guard.
Paul got another contract when his free-agent market wasn't hot this offseason, but aside from a few flashes, he has underwhelmed so far. The Commanders should be aiming for better, especially given the need to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels amid his troubling elbow issues.
Alani Noa is a decent mid-round option who could become something more. He doesn't have prototypical length, but he is immensely athletic and powerful for a man his size. The USC prospect can also gain leverage easily and has a strong base that makes him difficult to overcome.
Noa sometimes struggles to finish off blocks, which could prove problematic against NFL defensive linemen. But for a fifth-round pick, he's got enough to warrant a look.
Commanders draft Myles Graham
- Linebacker | Florida Gators
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 190
Sonny Styles looks like a superstar through three games. The Commanders struck gold with the linebacker, who looks set to hold down the fort on Washington's defense for the next decade or more if the same trend continues.
Molding the pieces around him is important, too.
Frankie Luvu might get another deal, but that's not guaranteed. Leo Chenal is under contract, but the fractured neck he sustained against the Seattle Seahawks is concerning. Kain Medrano is an unknown quantity, so finding another development project to mold who can also bring special-teams value wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
Myles Graham looks the part. He's got some sound starting experience at Florida, and he's played a leading role in their early-season surge. He lacks legitimate size, but he more than makes up for it with relentless pursuit, a high football IQ, and eye-catching instincts.
Graham may never be a starting NFL linebacker. But if he could become a useful rotational piece, that could be enough.
Commanders draft Ty Benefield
- Safety | LSU Tigers
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 228
The Commanders could very easily take a safety much higher than the seventh round. And depending on the severity of Nick Cross' internal issue, they just might.
Free agency also has good safeties available every year. But with Quan Martin out of contract and Jeremy Reaves struggling early, they might need another option.
Washington also has Tyler Owens, but he's seen more as an exceptional special-teams gunner. Daronte Jones' defense is built on physicality and aggression, and even though Ty Benefield remains an incredibly raw prospect, he has both traits in abundance.
Benefield is making the most of his transfer to LSU so far, making tackles and flashing influence at all three levels of the field. He has some positional issues at times, but the Commanders could bring him along gradually to ensure he is more technically sound when the time comes.
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