Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Aggressive trade edition

Commanders draft Prince Pines

• Offensive Line | Tulane Green Wave
• Round No. 7 | No. 222 overall

This stage of the draft is a proverbial guessing game. Adam Peters was part of the brain trust that brought quarterback Brock Purdy to the San Francisco 49ers as Mr. Irrelevant. While this is a one-in-a-generation hit with the final pick, it shows the general manager has an eye for talent lower down the order.

As previously mentioned, this is a deep draft class for offensive linemen. The Washington Commanders filled out one significant need earlier by trading up into the first round for Amarius Mims. Using the team's last selection to fortify their interior depth is something those in power will no doubt discuss depending on the options available.

Betting on Prince Pines' athletic attributes becoming more is a low-risk, high-reward pick. The Tulane prospect is a physical specimen who hasn't quite put everything together as yet, although his brute force on running plays caught the eye consistently in college.

Things haven't looked as good in pass protection. Pines' technique tends to get sloppy and his inability to cope with more explosive interior rushers is concerning. However, his natural strength and flexibility indicate more is to come once the player gets to work with superior coaching at the next level.

If the Commanders came away from the draft with this haul, nobody would be complaining too much. But of course, Peters' first draft will be judged on the success of his chosen quarterback at No. 2 overall.