4 Commanders who could see starting spots stolen by draft picks in 2024
By Dean Jones
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Benjamin St-Juste was tipped by many for a breakout campaign in 2023. The rangy cornerback had the athletic profile to take his game to new heights during a critical campaign for head coach Ron Rivera. While there were some nice moments, the former third-round selection failed to meet loftier expectations.
St-Juste looked like an assured coverage presence at times. His 17 passes defended were encouraging, but the Minnesota product struggled with consistency and got exposed frequently by opposing passing attacks, especially going deep downfield.
It didn't take long for offenses to target St-Juste as a potential weak link once Emmanuel Forbes was benched. He gave up 63.2 percent of targets thrown in his direction, conceding 769 receiving yards and an 87.3 passer rating when targeted. Couple this with his 10.7% missed tackle ratio, and it's not hard to see why the Washington Commanders might be tempted to seek alternatives via the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Kendall Fuller leaving in free agency for the Miami Dolphins, it would be a surprise if St-Juste didn't make the roster right now. That said, if the Commanders find a capable coverage presence from the college ranks who transitions into Dan Quinn's defensive scheme smoothly, the veteran will have a raised sense of urgency to bounce back in a contract year.