The dust has settled on what turned out to be a solid draft from the Washington Commanders. There are still some roster holes to fill before the new campaign, but general manager Adam Peters managed to maximize his resources at a critical time.
The Commanders' roster got better. There is a much greater balance now, and one could even suggest the defense looks stronger than the offense. However, fans were left uneasy after Washington chose other options over the defensive secondary.
It was a contentious issue, but assistant general manager Lance Newmark laid out precisely why a defensive back didn't come on board with any of Washington's six selections.
Commanders played their draft board effectively, which was the right call
Newmark pointed out that the Commanders didn't believe the value was there compared to other positions. They didn't force anything. They focused on talent rather than need. And they were right to approach things in this manner.
"I think [with] every pick, you kind of approach it the same, whether it's the first round or the seventh round, to be honest with you," Newmark said. "You just always look at...what's his path to making our team? What's his path to impacting our team? What are our options? What are we turning down to take this player? When we were picking a player in those rooms, it just didn't make the most sense as the best decision at that point."
While it was surprising, the Commanders have been calculated in their defensive reinforcements this offseason. They might be a little short of dependable options, especially at cornerback, but Washington's improvements on the front seven and a new scheme being implemented by coordinator Daronte Jones should make things easier.
The Commanders will likely add to the room if the right opportunity comes along in free agency. They have cash to spend with $49.5 million in available cap space. Good players will be released throughout the offseason, and Peters will be ready to strike.
More importantly, it showed the Commanders had clarity and alignment in their draft process.
Intending to take the best prospects available and actually doing so are two very different things. Peters didn't chase anything, opting to trust his board and push forward with the strategy he believes was the best way for Washington to progress.
A cornerback or safety would have been nice. Mansoor Delane and Caleb Downs were the reported fallback options if linebacker Sonny Styles didn't make it to them, but they weren't needed. And given how good the Ohio State prospect is in coverage, it adds another fascinating wrinkle to Jones' defensive system.
There is a long way to go before the campaign begins. Fans shouldn't panic, because if Peters' previous attitude is any indication, more moves will be on the way.
Add us as a preferred source on Google