Commanders draft Trey Zuhn III
- Center | Texas A&M Aggies
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 187
One of the most contentious issues during the Washington Commanders' offseason was the release of starting center Tyler Biadasz. This caught everyone by surprise, but general manager Adam Peters believes it's in the team's best interests to move forward without him.
The Commanders have done almost nothing to fill the gaping void. Nick Allegretti will get the chance to compete for the job after a surprising extension ahead of time. Head coach Dan Quinn also hinted at possibly using Brandon Coleman as the offensive line's anchor, which could be an intriguing dynamic to watch.
Either way, more is needed. This is a decent draft class for centers, and Trey Zuhn III represents decent value at this stage.
The Texas A&M prospect is a physical force. He has impressive size, length, and footwork. Zuhn boasts violent hands, a strong anchor, and, for a taller interior lineman, extremely effective leverage.
Commanders draft Jack Kelly
- Linebacker | BYU Cougars
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 209
The Commanders gave their linebacker unit an injection of energy by signing Leo Chenal in free agency. With Frankie Luvu moving back to an off-ball role, and hopes still high around Jordan Magee, this looks like a potentially productive trio.
Another option should still be considered during the draft. The Commanders clearly like Ohio State prospect Sonny Styles, but he might not be around at No. 7. If Adam Peters waits a little longer, Jack Kelly could be a Day 3 pick capable of slotting seamlessly into Daronte Jones' schematic concepts.
Kelly is a sideline-to-sideline presence who thrives in run-and-chase situations. He's a swarming presence with the physicality and aggressive tendencies needed to be successful. The BYU prospect is also a threat to disrupt in opposing backfields, as evidenced by his 30.2 percent pressure rate on pass-rush reps last season.
If Kelly can refine his tackling technique and be more consistent with his angles, this could be a high-value pick.
Commanders draft Noah Whittington
- Running Back | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 223
The Commanders could very easily take Notre Dame running back Jeramiyah Love at No. 7 overall if he is available. The dynamic prospect is the best backfield threat in this class, and it's not particularly close. However, Adam Peters could be looking for a little more value when push comes to shove.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick last year, which was a bona fide steal. It looks more like a committee approach after the signings of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford, so adding another intriguing late-rounder wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
Washington has shown interest in Oregon's Noah Whittington throughout the pre-draft process. He's not the most physically imposing, but he's a smooth, patient runner with enough athleticism to carve out a successful career.
Whittington has now fully recovered from an ACL injury to become a late bloomer. He's well worth a risk here.