5 players the Commanders could have drafted over Ricky Stromberg
By Dean Jones
Commanders could have drafted Jake Moody
- Kicker | No. 99 overall
The Washington Commanders have had their fair share of kicking problems in recent years. Ron Rivera kept faith with Joey Slye for too long and paid the price. Brandon McManus' release soon after signing in free agency means this is a problem area that could hold the team back in 2024.
Ramiz Ahmed and Riley Patterson couldn't meet the required standard. The Commanders made a low-risk trade for Cade York, but he didn't kick at all in 2023 after a rapid freefall following an impressive start to his rookie campaign.
Considering how things turned out with Ricky Stromberg, the Commanders could easily have taken Jake Moody instead and been in a better spot. Selecting a kicker this high in the draft is a luxury saved for contending teams like the San Francisco 49ers. This never entered Rivera's head one suspects, but the benefits far outweighed anything the former Arkansas star brought to the table in hindsight.
Moody went through a couple of rookie jitters - especially from beyond 50 yards. But he'd be an instant upgrade on anything the Commanders have churned out at the spot since Dustin Hopkins.
Commanders could have drafted Mekhi Blackmon
- Cornerback | No. 103 overall
Instead of taking two straight defensive backs to begin the 2023 NFL Draft, perhaps Ron Rivera should have taken a balanced approach. He was smitten with Emmanuel Forbes Jr. to his detriment. This blinkered his decision-making process, even when Christian Gonzalez fell from his top 10 projection and into Washington's lap.
Forbes went through another rollercoaster offseason, although the new regime is willing to give him another regular season before deciding on anything more drastic. Had Rivera not become fixated on one prospect and examined the wider pool, Mekhi Blackmon could have entered the equation.
The former USC star went at No. 103 overall to the Minnesota Vikings - shortly after Ricky Stromberg - and immediately flourished. Blackmon got significant responsibilities from defensive coordinator Brian Flores immediately and excelled. It wasn't perfect, but it was far better than Forbes managed to put together during his disastrous first year in a professional environment.
Unfortunately for Blackmon, his positive momentum came screeching to an abrupt halt thanks to a torn ACL suffered during their first session of training camp. He'll miss the entire campaign and faces a long road back to full health. Looking at the player's overall demeanor, he'll tackle this challenge with his customary enthusiasm.