Commanders drafted Antonio Williams
- Wide Receiver | Clemson Tigers
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 71
It was pretty common knowledge that the Washington Commanders were going to bolster the firepower around quarterback Jayden Daniels. The wide receiver class, in particular, has too many questions behind Terry McLaurin. Adam Peters needed to rectify this issue with another dynamic figure at some stage.
There is speculation around Brandon Aiyuk, but he is far from a sure thing. Unless one of the young guns like Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane takes a meteoric step forward, the Commanders are one McLaurin injury away from catastrophe.
Fortunately, this didn't go unnoticed by Peters, who spent the No. 71 overall selection on Antonio Williams.
This is an interesting pick. Williams was projected as a first-round selection before his final campaign with Clemson. Injury problems and the Tigers' complete capitulation from the No. 1 seed to missing the college football playoffs entirely caused his stock to slide. Washington remained confident in his outlook, and Dabo Swinney believes he can make an immediate impression.
Draft Grade: A
Williams knows how to get open. He's not the biggest, but he's a smooth route runner with assured hands and elusiveness after the catch. While he might only be a slot specialist, he does have inside-out versatility, which is something David Blough will be salivating over.
Commanders drafted Sonny Styles
- Linebacker | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 7
The Commanders knew they faced an anxious wait before going on the clock at No. 7 overall. General manager Adam Peters and his staff did all the hard work, but everything was beyond their control.
Sonny Styles was a primary target. The Ohio State linebacker left a considerable impression on Peters and Dan Quinn throughout the assessment phase. He even told the head coach he would be back soon. Even so, very few thought he would be available.
Most experts had Styles going in the top five. Others thought a team would jump ahead of Washington to secure his services. The second scenario occurred, but the Kansas City Chiefs went up for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane instead.
Styles fell into Washington's lap, and Peters was not going to waste such a fortunate gift.
This could instantly change Washington's defense. Styles is supremely athletic, can come downhill with force, and impact the game on blitzes. His previous experience in the safety role makes him a significant asset in coverage, which the Commanders didn't have before his arrival.
Draft Grade: A
There are very few flaws to Styles, both on and off the field. His leadership and football intelligence are just off the charts. This was a home run, and everyone in Washington knows it.
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