There aren't many draft picks left from the Ron Rivera era. For every success story, there are three or four failures. The Washington Commanders are on the right track now, but it's got nothing to do with how the previous head coach approached his choices from the college ranks.
Many of Rivera's high-end picks failed to meet even modest expectations. Adam Peters got rid of almost all of them. Some have secured opportunities elsewhere. Others are looking for work after failing to catch on, which is a damning indictment of the evaluations and personnel decisions throughout a disastrous four-year period in franchise history.
One of Rivera's draft flops never got going in Washington. Phidarian Mathis was a luxury pick in the second round in 2022 when the Commanders had more than enough on their defensive front at the time. Injuries and poor performance meant the Alabama product barely got halfway through his rookie contract before Peters showed him the door.
Former Commanders second-round pick lands on the Buffalo Bills practice squad
Mathis landed on the New York Jets but couldn't make their 53-man roster this summer. Some wondered if that would be his last involvement in the NFL, but the interior defensive lineman has somehow fallen up for one last redemption chance.
Just when all hope seemed lost for Mathis, the Buffalo Bills signed him to their practice squad. They are dealing with some injury problems on their defensive front right now, and they cannot be left short after confirming their status as Super Bowl favorites with a stunning fightback triumph over the Baltimore Ravens.
Larry Ogunjobi is suspended, and DeWayne Carter is on injured reserve. Michael Hoecht is also serving a suspension, so there could be a chance for Mathis to get activated on game days with a smooth transition to a different environment.
Based on Mathis' recent career trajectory, that's highly doubtful. He's always had some useful physical gifts; it's putting them together that represents the difficult part.
The Neville High School graduate was lackluster over the Jets' training camp, leaving him facing an inevitable fate. Mathis must recognize this situation for what it is, which is a last-chance saloon opportunity to firmly establish himself and stick around with a legitimate challenger for the title this season.
Easier said than done. Mathis must hit the ground running, stay healthy, and make much better use of his physical attributes. Otherwise, this chance is going to fall by the wayside pretty quickly.
High stakes, indeed.