Washington Commanders fans spent the last several days poring over NFL Scouting Combine reports, looking for a couple of magic elixirs to cure an aging, ailing defense.
But if the Commanders are going to turn the defensive performance around, it will take a lot more than one high-profile pick. Washington needs reinforcements at multiple levels. With some cash on hand, Peters will no doubt look to add players through free agency.
He also currently has four Day 3 picks. Peters needs to maximize each of them. The Commanders must focus on finding quality depth, immediate special teams help, and perhaps an unpolished gem who can grow into a long-term starter.
More than one analyst rates Ohio State safety Caleb Downs as the best overall football player in this year’s draft. But with so many needs, Peters may not opt for a safety so early. Safeties rarely go in the top 10 picks.
If he passes on Downs and does not trade back, Peters will probably miss out on Dillon Thieneman, the consensus No. 2 safety. There are a half dozen other back-end defenders with Day 2 grades, but there are also some very intriguing prospects who did not even receive an invite to Indianapolis.
Here are three such examples.
NFL Combine snubs who could help improve the Commanders' safety room
Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
Isaiah Nwokubia is an experienced, productive safety with decent size and speed. But he is not the fluid athlete that would cause him to rise high up on draft boards. He was occasionally exposed last year by quicker wide receivers when matched up in man coverage.
However, if new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is looking for a versatile safety to play primarily in zone, Nwokobia could be a steal in the late rounds.
Though he played a lot of deep safety in college, he also showed that he was very effective closer to the line of scrimmage, playing in the box or as a slot corner. Nwokobia makes up for his average explosiveness by being very quick to diagnose plays and break on receivers. He is a strong downhill tackler against the run, though he occasionally shows some of the same trouble in space that plagued Quan Martin last year.
Nwokobia is not a surefire star. But in the right scheme — one that favors zones and allows him to cheat forward — he can provide solid play from the back end.
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Cole Wisniewski reminds me a lot of former Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler, who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round last year. He was tearing it up in the offseason before an injury ended his rookie campaign, and he could be a real surprise next season.
Wisniewski offers similar traits. He is a legitimate safety with solid coverage skills, but he plays like a linebacker. That’s in part because he began as a linebacker at North Dakota State before transferring to Texas Tech. Scouts will question his speed and his ability to play deep, but he has been very good in short zones and is a sturdy tackler.
Jalen Stroman, Notre Dame
If the name looks familiar to Commanders fans, that’s because Washington drafted his brother Greg in the seventh round back in 2018. He was a promising cornerback who struggled with injuries but still managed to bounce around the league for six seasons. Jalen Stroman initially followed his brother to Virginia Tech before transferring to Notre Dame last year.
He has a bigger, sturdier frame than his brother, with legitimate safety size. He has enough speed to play deep, but is better off playing in the box. He has also been a very good special-teams player in college and probably has a floor that matches Jeremy Reaves' early seasons.
Washington did not seem sold on Percy Butler in 2025. Perhaps that will change with a new defensive coaching staff in place, but if the Commanders are looking for more production at a bargain rate, Stroman is a solid investment.
Since these three hopefuls were denied the opportunity to showcase their talent at the Combine, it will be interesting to see what they do at their Pro Days, which are coming up over the next month.