5 prospects Commanders must consider on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft
By Seth Jones
The Washington Commanders have nine picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Six of them are in the first three rounds. It's the perfect opportunity for Adam Peters to speed up his substantial rebuild.
While the picks over the first two days are very exciting, it’s important to look at who the Commanders can take with their three selections in Rounds 4-7.
We are going to take a look at five players the Commanders should target on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, starting with a wide receiver prospect with exceptional bloodlines.
Commanders could draft Luke McCaffrey
- Wide Receiver | Rice Owls
Luke McCaffrey is the little brother of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. The Washington Commanders also happen to need wide receiver help badly.
After losing Curtis Samuel, the Commanders’ No. 3 on the depth chart is between Jamison Crowder and Dyami Brown. Olamide Zaccheaus is the only new arrival up to now, so Washington needs to take advantage of an exceptionally strong wideout class in 2024.
McCaffrey is projected to go in the fifth round according to most analysts. The Commanders may have a good chance of taking him at No. 139 overall in this scenario. He is very inexperienced after transitioning from the quarterback position at Rice, so he's a work in progress until further notice.
His experience at quarterback gives him elite football IQ, which allows him to create space and make himself open by identifying the holes in zone coverages easily. McCaffrey's swift footwork allows him to continuously flourish as a route runner. Even though his frame isn’t great at 198 pounds, he would automatically be the second-tallest wide receiver on Washington's roster at 6-foot-2.
McCaffrey might be more limited to playing an inside slot role as he tends to struggle with creating separation on deeper routes. This is a combination of his small frame and lack of vertical speed. Since the Commanders lost their primary slot option, he would be able to slide into that role perfectly.