5 potential Commanders candidates to replace Charles Leno Jr.
By Dean Jones
Commanders could draft an elite OT prospect
Most - including me - think the Washington Commanders are going to select their future quarterback with the No. 2 overall selection. Even if Caleb Williams becomes the first player taken by the Chicago Bears, either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye wouldn't be a bad consolation prize by any stretch of the imagination.
That said, general manager Adam Peters will be examining other options closely throughout Washington's evaluations. If the new front-office leader feels like it would be more beneficial, trading down for a king's ransom is something to contemplate if the Commanders get an offer they cannot refuse.
In this scenario, acquiring an elite-level offensive tackle from the college ranks becomes a realistic avenue of pursuit. There are three prospects worth getting a prolonged look at early in the draft. All could be immediate upgrades on Charles Leno Jr. and starters for the next decade barring injury.
Joe Alt appears to be the most refined in all phases. The Notre Dame standout thrives in pass protection and is a mauler in the run game for good measure. There are very few flaws to his game, so it would be a case of fine-tuning from Washington's coaching staff rather than any drastic modifications if they went in this direction.
One could make a case for Olu Fashanu being the best pure pass protector in this year's class. He is incredibly athletic for a man his size and his college production at Penn State was sensational. He is a bit rigid in run support, which needs work once the player gets to the pros.
JC Latham rounds off the trio. He's a brute force and an accomplished prospect, not exactly surprising when one considers his background at Alabama. Taking one at No. 2 doesn't seem feasible, but all bets are off if the Commanders trade down for additional assets.