4 first-round mistakes that continue to haunt Commanders
By Dean Jones
Commanders overlooked Christian Darrisaw
One of Ron Rivera's biggest failings during his tenure was an inability to maintain offensive line consistency. He inherited a pretty decent line all things considered. It quickly disintegrated into one of the league's worst units.
Sam Howell becoming the NFL's most-sacked quarterback was a damning indictment of the lack of priority and failed acquisitions under Rivera's watch. The Commanders boast enough resources to turn this around with Adam Peters leading the charge. Unfortunately, that might not matter much to the team's current starting quarterback if those in power seek an alternative option under center as expected.
Had Rivera taken a closer look at Christian Darrisaw in the 2021 NFL Draft, it would have been a different story. The Commanders were desperately seeking a premier blindside edge protector after trading Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers. Rivera had the perfect chance to select a long-term option via the draft. He opted for a band-aid fix to his detriment.
The Commanders picked linebacker Jamin Davis instead. He's not had the desired impact despite being solid enough. Looking at how Darrisaw flourished with the Minnesota Vikings, this was a grave error in judgment.
Darrisaw is one of the league's best young left tackles. His impact was immediate, displaying exceptional technical prowess in pass protection and also boasting the core strength needed to assist on running downs for good measure. Something the Commanders have sorely lacked since Williams departed.