Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Aggressive trade edition
By Dean Jones
Commanders draft Caelen Carson
- Cornerback | Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Round No. 3 | No. 67 overall
Looking at the Washington Commanders defensively as it stands, their cornerback options are a little thin on the ground. Hopes are high that Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes can bounce back after indifferent campaigns in 2023. But with Kendall Fuller no longer around and Michael Davis the only legitimate starting-caliber option acquired in free agency, expect Adam Peters to address this issue with someone from the collegiate level.
Caelen Carson is an intriguing option at this stage of the draft. His frame looks NFL-ready and the player's physical profile suggests he can make an immediate contribution. That's always a risky thing to project where cornerbacks are concerned, but there is far more good than bad when examining his performance levels at Wake Forest.
Carson is a fluid mover who thrives in press coverage. He's got the athletic intangibles needed to keep up with wideouts downfield and the football IQ to identify route development quickly post-snap.
The player is a dominant force against the run, displaying aggressiveness and ferocious tackling capabilities that the Commanders sorely lacked from their cornerbacks last season. Improving his fundamentals and hand discipline will be a crucial part of his early development, but Carson looks like the sort of defensive back Dan Quinn's had plenty of success with in previous years.