4 players the Commanders could have drafted over Camaron Cheeseman
By Dean Jones
Commanders could have drafted Ar’Darius Washington
The Washington Commanders are missing Darrick Forrest right now. His absence on the backend has been felt, exposing Kamren Curl in coverage and giving Percy Butler responsibilities he's not ready for in Year 2 of his professional career.
Another route the Commanders could have gone during the 2021 NFL Draft instead of long-snapper Camaron Cheeseman is Ar'Darius Washington.
The gifted young safety didn't enjoy the best luck upon arriving at the next level, being placed on injured reserve by the Baltimore Ravens and spending time on the practice squad thereafter. Another extended spell on the sidelines to start the 2023 campaign represented a blow, but the former TCU standout has caught the eye when called upon for a team that looks primed to secure the AFC conference's No. 1 seed if the same trend continues.
In just three games this season - one of which he's started - Washington has one sack, 11 tackles, and two passes defended. He's giving up just 7.3 yards per completion allowed. Something that cannot be said of most in the Commanders' secondary given how many splash plays they're constantly conceding.
Washington has also made an impact on special teams when called upon to further enhance his influence. It could go either way in terms of his long-term prospects, but he had far more upside coming out of college than Cheeseman. This remains the case despite the relatively small sample size.