5 boom-or-bust prospects the Commanders could draft in 2024
By Dean Jones
Commanders could draft Kingsley Suamataia
- Offensive Tackle | BYU Cougars
After the quarterback position, one cannot dispute the Washington Commanders' most pressing priority. They need to find a franchise left tackle capable of keeping the blindside clear of pressure consistently.
Again, this is something the Commanders haven't addressed with any great urgency during their free-agent moves. Charles Leno Jr. was released and swing tackle Cornelius Lucas re-signed on a one-year deal. This indicates Adam Peters is looking toward the draft for potential long-term assistance.
Fortunately for Peters and the Commanders, this is an outstanding group of offensive tackles emerging from the collegiate level. Many are expected to be taken in the first round, so the new general manager must watch the developments closely and be ready to strike in pursuit of securing their desired target.
Kingsley Suamataia could be a gamble worth taking. The athletic intangibles alone suggest he can carve out a successful career for himself, but there is a huge amount of work ahead for whichever team brings him on board.
The cousin of All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell has the size, length, and fluid movements to excel in pass protection. Suamataia's footwork is good and his core functional strength allows him to impact running downs. However, the BYU prospect is fundamentally flawed and needs to take on significant coaching to play a role immediately.
Suamataia is the definition of a boom-or-bust prospect. If he puts everything together, he's got the gifts to potentially become one of the league's best edge protectors. If he lands in the wrong fit or has too much pressure on his shoulders right out of the gate, that's when complications could occur.