5 FCS draft prospects the Commanders should consider in 2024
By Jonathan Eig
Which FSC draft prospects should the Washington Commanders consider bringing on board during Adam Peters' first selection process in 2024?
No one can accuse new Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters of failing at due diligence. By my count, he and his staff have met with hundreds of college prospects over the past month. Since most of the attention in the run-up to any draft focuses almost entirely on the first round, I thought it was time to look at the tail end of the process.
Our focus is on prospects more likely to be selected on Day 3 of the draft, or perhaps not be taken at all and be available as priority undrafted free agents. These are all players from Division I FCS programs - the lower half of D1.
About 100 former FCS players made NFL rosters in 2023. Jacksonville Jaguars' tackling machine Foyesade Oluokum and Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Michael Pierce are two examples. Spencer Brown, Kendrick Bourne, James Bradbury, and Dallas Goedert are others. The list goes on.
When Peters was with the San Francisco 49ers, they selected Fordham’s Nick Zakalj in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. Might he dip back into the FCS talent pool in this year’s draft? Here are five prospects that might be good additions to the Commanders.
Commanders could draft Jalen Sundell
- Offensive Line | North Dakota State Bisons
North Dakota State has placed the most FCS players in the NFL over the past several seasons. There were five former Bison offensive linemen on NFL rosters last year, including high-profile prospects like Cody Mauch and Dillon Radunz.
Jalen Sundell played left tackle in 2023 and played it very well. But his less-than-optimum arm length means that NFL teams may look to move him back to the center spot. The Commanders need help at both positions.
There was a time when a 6-foot-5 lineman would never be considered for the center position. But that has changed. Sundell, who could probably carry more than the 300 pounds he played at last year on his long frame, has very good feet and was able to maul opponents in college. He will need to add strength to be similarly effective at the next level, but he would be an excellent developmental lineman for the Commanders.