4 players the Commanders could have drafted over Camaron Cheeseman
By Dean Jones
Commanders could have drafted Jonathon Cooper
The Washington Commanders cannot be accused of a lack of attention to their defensive front both before and during the Ron Rivera years. Multiple first-round picks were spent on the pass-rushing and interior positions. Unfortunately, it didn't go as those in positions of power hoped.
While all four of Washington's star-studded defensive line had their moments, it was rarely complete. The Commanders pulled the plug on this particular experiment by trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the deadline - a decision that had Josh Harris' fingerprints all over it as part of his ambitious plans for the future.
As expected, Sweat and Young have left a gaping hole in terms of creating pressure. K.J. Henry's had his moments and Andre Jones Jr. looks like he can help as a rotational piece moving forward. After that, the cupboard is pretty bare.
If the Commanders had drafted Jonathon Cooper instead of Camaron Cheeseman during the 2021 NFL Draft, things might have been different. The edge presence was a solid if not spectacular performer at Ohio State, but he's emerged as a valuable contributor for the Denver Broncos since entering the league.
After flashing on the defensive rotation over the first two seasons, the Broncos got Cooper more involved under Sean Payton in 2023. He's turned out in 74 percent of defensive snaps and boasts 6.5 sacks to his name through Week 15.
The Commanders felt the full force of Cooper's ability in Week 2. He notched two sacks and eight tackles in Washington's triumph. He'd be a huge asset with Sweat and Young out of the equation.