5 defensive prospects the Commanders should monitor at 2024 Senior Bowl

Which defensive prospects should the Washington Commanders keep a close eye on during this week's Reese's Senior Bowl festivities?

We've already highlighted five offensive players the Washington Commanders should focus their attention on throughout this week's Senior Bowl practices and the game itself. Now, we'll give the defensive prospects some love.

As all Commanders fans are painfully aware, the defense was not supposed to need much help by this point. A defensive line comprised of four first-round draft picks, two other recent first-rounders at linebacker and cornerback, plus three Day 2 picks over the last three drafts were supposed to leave this unit well-stocked.

That didn’t work.

The Commanders are in the unenviable position of having to rebuild a defense that sunk to the very bottom of the league under the previous coaching regime. This year’s draft - with five picks in the top 100 and two more by 150 - should be the first step toward the molding of a more productive group.

It is already likely that the Commanders will use their top selection at No. 2 overall, and perhaps all of their top picks, to bolster their offense. That becomes even more likely should offensive-minded Ben Johnson become the new head coach. But there will still be a lot of defensive talent available in the middle rounds.

That’s what we will focus on for the sake of argument. Five Senior Bowl attendees from each position group who is currently projected to be taken somewhere between Rounds 3-6 in the 2024 NFL Draft.