5 prospects Commanders must consider on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft
By Seth Jones
Commanders could draft Tanner McLachlan
- Tight End | Arizona Wildcats
Tanner McLachlan is underrated and should be drafted higher. The former wide receiver turned tight end stands at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, so he won’t be someone you ask to block all the time, but he can be a fierce receiving threat.
The Washington Commanders signing Zach Ertz is perfect under the scenario of drafting McLachlan. The veteran can be his mentor since he is more of a receiving threat rather than a blocker, too.
Due to McLachlan’s experience at the wide receiver spot, he has straight-line speed that most linebackers will struggle to cover. He can sit in the soft spots of zones for easy completions, which is also a lot like Ertz.
McLachlan is just a natural athlete. This allows him to make tough catches in traffic, be extremely tough to tackle, and play bigger than his frame dictates.
Commanders could draft Mohamed Kamara
- Edge Rusher | Colorado State Rams
Mohamed Kamara is one of the most underappreciated players in the draft to me. After moving on from both Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline and striking out on landing any of the great edge rushers available in the offseason besides Dorance Armstrong, the Commanders need to prioritize getting another capable pass-rusher from the college ranks.
If the Commanders aren’t able to snag an edge rusher over the opening two days of the draft, Kamara would be an excellent consolation prize. His frame isn’t great at 6-foot-1 and 248 pounds, but he is extremely athletic and tested very well at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Kamara was third among all edge rushers at the combine for the 10-yard split with 1.58 seconds. You can’t factor results too much into draft prospects, but this is a great indicator for edge rushers transitioning to the NFL.
The Colorado State prospect wins by being quick and explosive. This turned him into a pressure and sack machine with the Rams, racking up 64 pressures and 13 sacks in 2023 and 29.5 quarterback takedowns throughout his college career. Even though the edge presence lacks the size you would want, he’s got the muscle and strength that allows him to create good leverage and win physically.