Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Decision time edition

Commanders draft Ricky Pearsall

• Wide Receiver | Florida Gators
• Round No. 3 | No. 78 overall

This is projected to be one of the deepest wide receiver classes in recent memory. There are playmakers everywhere you look with many coming into the NFL with genuine WR1 potential. The Washington Commanders didn't do much to strengthen the ranks in free agency. Therefore, Adam Peters needs to find someone who can make an instant contribution.

If someone like Ricky Pearsall was still available at this stage of the draft, it's something those in power might consider. He's not the flashiest wide receiver emerging from the college ranks, but he knows how to get open and boasts exceptional ball skills capable of making touch catches with ease.

Although Pearsall didn't benefit from consistent quarterback production during his final season with the Florida Gators, the dynamic pass-catcher still managed to put together some notable highlights. His hand-eye coordination is off the charts, which is matched by a surprising ability to collect the football under pressure to further bolster his credentials.

One of the most important things any team can do for a young quarterback is to find players capable of creating separation quickly. Pearsall knows how to manipulate opposing cornerbacks either from the slot or the outside. He also stops on a dime at the top of his route stems, which is always a significant asset for any defensive coordinator to counteract.

If offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can find ways for Pearsall to maximize his speed more effectively, he can become a genuine threat anywhere across the line of scrimmage. The Commanders already have Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson in the wideout room - placing someone like this alongside them could become a prolific trio right out of the gate within a more expansive system.

Pearsall has been unfairly tabbed as a slot specialist throughout the pre-draft evaluation process. While there is a lot of merit to placing him there frequently, adding a little more creativity could help the player reach new heights once he begins his NFL journey.