What should the Washington Commanders do with their 2024 NFL Draft selections as the weeks wind down to the high-profile event?
It is officially draft month, Washington Commanders fans. We are just weeks away from discovering who general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn believe is the potential franchise quarterback after their thorough evaluations throughout the process.
These are anxious yet exciting times. You’re looking at a team with some building blocks on both sides of the ball such as wide receiver Terry McLaurin, together with defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen. But more is needed within a highly competitive NFC East.
Adding a quarterback to the mix would be a significant step forward for a franchise that wants to secure playoff football again and eventually, compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That might seem like a long way off right now, but a solid draft in 2024 will go a long way to speeding up this ambitious plan.
While it is widely regarded that the team will draft a quarterback at No. 2 overall, the biggest question lies in how aggressive Peters is on draft night. If a top offensive tackle falls down the order, could this team sacrifice substantial capital to get their blindside protector of the future?
It is certainly possible in an event full of surprises and unpredictability. Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we dove into another unique scenario that puts Washington in a better place than a season ago in our latest seven-round mock draft.
Commanders draft Drake Maye
- Quarterback | North Carolina Tar Heels
- Round No. 1 | No. 2 overall
There is a significant amount of quarterback prospect discourse on social media. It has gotten so bad that there’s no in-between. Even most level-headed Washington Commanders fans have said the same thing or feel the same way.
As someone who hasn’t dove into doing a full player evaluation on the quarterback prospects as yet, it’s been disappointing to see the lack of nuance and middle ground from afar. Either way, a section of fans will be disappointed about the selection of one signal-caller over another.
Still, this shouldn’t influence what the Commanders should do come draft night. Whatever happens, fans should feel a sense of confidence. There is going to be a talented signal-caller available that could change the trajectory of the franchise.
So, why not Drake Maye?
He’s a decisive player, boasting unbelievable gifts that have some people believing he’s the best overall quarterback in the draft. Maye offers the arm talent, mobility, pocket awareness, and high-ceiling that can lurch him into being a top 10 player at his position.
With that out of the way, who is going to be protecting Maye on the edges? Well…
Commanders trade back into Round No. 1
In this hypothetical shocking move, the Commanders spend significant draft assets in an aggressive trade-up back into the top 15 of the draft order. This is a move that fans may not favor overall, but this is a possibility that must be considered.
Commanders draft Troy Fautanu
- Offensive Tackle | Washington Huskies
- Round No. 1 | No. 14 overall
It's been made known that the Washington Commanders are looking for a quality starter at both left and right tackle. As of right now, there isn't a sense that the front office led by Adam Peters is going to be as aggressive in selecting a franchise blindside force in the draft as fans may want. However, it's important to know that things can change during the fast-moving selection event.
With this trade up into the top 15, Peters can secure their potential cornerstone left tackle with the selection of Troy Fautanu.
At 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, and the requisite arm length needed for offensive tackles, Fautanu offers incredible movement skills and lateral mobility. This allows the Washington prospect to mirror pass rushers in his sets with consistency.
He is also a menace in the run game. Once he gets grips on opposing defenders, Fautanu displays explosiveness and leg drive that makes him a force on wide zone, down blocks, and second-level assignments.
If you’re looking for a play-style comparison, former Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is a good place to start. There’s plenty of technical ability that will allow him to succeed early and often in both facets of the game. If the Commanders like him, they have to go up thanks in no small part to his exceptional pre-draft assessment testing.
Commanders trade down from No. 67
We have another trade.
The Commanders moved back 13 more spots to search for better value at positions of need as their original third-round pick left very little to work with. This is a move Washington might consider regardless of what they do after the No. 2 overall selection.
Commanders draft Caelen Carson
- Cornerback | Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Round No. 3 | No. 80 overall
There is a definitive need at cornerback for the Washington Commanders. It would be surprising if those in power didn’t come away with one from their top 150 selections. There may not be elite talent at the top like in years past, but there is still plenty of depth with potential Day 1 contributors.
There are several potential options available at No. 80 overall that the Commanders could consider. One of those players is Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson, one of the most underrated defenders in the ACC during the 2023 campaign.
Throughout preliminary viewings of the former Demon Deacon, the 6-foot, 199-pound cornerback doesn’t have the size that Dan Quinn might look for in his defense. However, Carson does show functional athleticism and disruption at the catch point. He's also able to fight through contact in run support, which is another massive positive that won't go unnoticed by NFL teams during their respective assessments.
Carson has a great chance of getting substantial playing time considering the lack of depth in Wasington's cornerback room. With the roster continuing its rebuild throughout the next season or so, he has a chance to be a potential impact contributor for the Commanders with a smooth transition.
This is also a tremendous landing spot for any young defensive back considering Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s previous development success with players such as Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.
Commanders draft Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
- Safety | Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Round No. 3 | No. 100 overall
Fans should expect the Washington Commanders secondary to be full of youth this upcoming season and in the years to come. The depth and overall talent level on the backend aren’t ideal for a head coach whose calling card has been on the defensive side of the ball. That could change once the 2024 NFL Draft concludes.
Will there be better execution and discipline overall by the group itself? It's not unrealistic to expect that. Quinn is someone who will make it an emphasis to have a competitive unit with a rookie quarterback on his hands.
To round out the first 100 selections in the draft, the Commanders go with an underrated safety prospect in Texas Tech’s Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. This was one of the better defensive backs in the Big 12 during the 2023 season, earning all-conference honors and turning in an awesome NFL Scouting Combine performance with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical jump.
Taylor-Demerson offers quality range, processing, and playmaking ability that the Commanders could be looking for on the backend. Despite being an undersized defensive back, the former three-star high school recruit offers the versatility to play nickelback and single-high safety.
Those are two areas that require improvement and a fresh injection of energy despite the presence of former second-round selection Quan Martin.
Commanders select Kiran Amegadjie
- Offensive Tackle | Yale Bulldogs
- Round No. 4 | No. 115 overall
It would be beneficial for the Washington Commanders to add more depth and competition through the draft. This is a rebuilding team and it would not hurt to see what their youth movement could provide in the coming seasons.
This is a league that doesn’t have the best depth up front on the offensive line. There are several factors for that, but it ultimately comes down to player development and the lack of sufficient options emanating from the collegiate ranks. This year is one of the best years in quite some time where teams can add depth to any spot on the protection.
Kiran Amedadjie is a high-ceiling FCS prospect who could become the first player from the Division One subdivision to be drafted as a result. He might be a raw player, but his movement skills and functional athleticism could be a tremendous fit within offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s blocking scheme.
The former Ivy Leaguer and Yale Bulldog is a massive human at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds with 36-inch arms. The power and explosiveness he brings to the table are worth taking a chance on. Add on to his experience at guard and Amedadjie brings versatility to an offensive line that needs additional support behind the Commanders' projected starting unit.
Commanders select Xavier Thomas
- Defensive End | Clemson Tigers
- Round No. 5 | No. 152 overall
Every so often, there will be one or two late-round edge forces that emerge as a key piece to a team’s defense. An unknown coming into the fold can become either a quality starter or a rotational pass rusher. This separates the contending organizations from the also-rans, giving them a boost for nailing one of their late-round selections.
The Washington Commanders, as previously mentioned, will have plenty of young contributors this upcoming season and likely the following year. This applies to their defensive end options despite the acquisition of several veterans in free agency.
Enter, Xavier Thomas.
While isn’t exactly an unknown commodity in the draft community due to his former five-star high school profile, he has flown under the radar as a potential gem on Day 3 of the draft. He also attended Clemson, which is where the Commanders went for K.J. Henry in the fifth round last year.
Thomas offers a pass-rush skill set that could make him a valuable asset to an NFL team. He’s a great athlete who will end with explosiveness and bend once he reaches the top of the arc to the corner. The defensive end flashed on occasion for the Tigers but has never been able to put together a stellar campaign.
A team like the Commanders could help exploit the potentially hidden skill set Thomas may possess. Something they did effectively with Henry during his rookie year.
Commanders select Tahj Washington
- Wide Receiver | USC Trojans
- Round No. 5 | No. 152 overall
Despite the presence of Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, the Washington Commanders would be wise to dip into an exceptionally deep wide receiver pool at some stage during the 2024 NFL Draft. Why? No team can ever have too many prolific pass-catchers who can either become weekly contributors from a starting role or depth options.
Tahj Washington was a key playmaker for quarterback Caleb Williams - the perceived No. 1 pick in 2024 - and the USC Trojans. He was productive with at least 50 receptions over the last couple of seasons. He’s undersized but brings a unique skill set to the table. Something that's also familiar to offensive Kliff Kingsbury, who worked closely with the player last season before coming to the Commanders.
Washington will likely be a slot receiver but can win as a route runner and provide quality run-after-catch ability that could benefit Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense. Get the redshirt senior and former Memphis transfer going on spacing concepts and let him do damage.
Perhaps the Commanders will seek a more physically imposing wideout given the options available currently. However, the most important thing for any first-year quarterback is having wideouts capable of creating separation quickly and doing damage with the football in their hands. In that sense, Washington ticks the boxes.
Commanders select Jalen Crumedy
- Defensive Line | Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Round No. 7 | No. 222 overall
The sixth and seventh rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft may not provide as much value as in years past. The projected Day 3 value has somewhat been affected by the ever-changing landscape of college football due to the rise of N.I.L. and the transfer portal. This is something teams are taking into account as part of their ever-changing strategy.
If you were curious about why there were lots of trades during free agency, it’s likely due to how they view the depth of the backend of the draft class. Giving up late-round picks for veterans is seen as a worthwhile gamble to most teams, especially those with chances to contend.
I expect the Washington Commanders' seventh-round selection to be more of a depth player or even a potential camp body. Jalen Crumedy makes the most sense from a positional need and value perspective.
The former Mississippi State Bulldog is a solid athlete who plays with a good get-off. One thing that will stand out with Crumedy is his non-stop motor and high-level effort as a player, especially in run game pursuit and as a pass rusher.
That’s worth a late-round selection, especially considering the Commanders still have questions surrounding Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway. Giving Crumedy a chance to develop on either the 53-man roster or the practice squad wouldn't be the worst idea.