5 FCS draft prospects the Commanders should consider in 2024

Commanders could draft C.J. Hanson

• Offensive Line | Holy Cross Crusaders

C.J. Hanson logged more than 2,000 career snaps for the Holy Cross Crusaders throughout five seasons. Like Lance Sundell, he will need to bulk up to make an impact in the pros, but he has the frame to do it.

At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Hanson will be one of the taller and lighter interior lineman prospects in this year’s draft. He moves extremely well for a man of his size. Perhaps the prospect's biggest challenge will be to maintain that fluidity and balance as he adds bulk.

Hanson reminds me of Beau Benzschawel, another tall, light guard who stuck around on the Washington Commanders practice squad for a couple of seasons in 2021 and 2022.

I thought the same thing about Benzschawel - if he could add some bulk while maintaining his quickness, he could be a valuable asset. It never worked out for him and there’s no guarantee it will with Hanson. But it’s worth a risk in the seventh round or as an undrafted free agent.

Hanson has the physical gifts to thrive under proper coaching and conditioning. As we have documented, the Commanders were atrocious under Ron Rivera at developing young offensive linemen. Hopefully, things will be better with the new regime, and if they are, a player like this could become a potential diamond in the rough.