Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Dreams come true edition
By Dean Jones
Commanders draft Jaylan Ford
- Linebacker | Texas Longhorns
- No. 179 overall
The Washington Commanders are desperately thin of options at linebacker - another area that Ron Rivera ignored aside from using a first-round pick on Jamin Davis. He's the only player guaranteed to be around under the new regime. That's a major problem if this defensive unit wants to bounce back next time around.
Cody Barton's arrival was a failure almost from the moment he took the field. Khaleke Hudson looks like a rotational piece. Davis has some qualities, but it's unlikely he'll get his fifth-year option picked up when the time comes next spring.
Again, I'd expect the Commanders to identify some free agents that could help. Other glaring needs should take priority earlier in the draft, but finding a diamond in the rough is something the Commanders must contemplate to speed up what looks to be a pretty substantial rebuild.
Jaylan Ford has flashed enough promise to suggest he can enjoy a successful NFL career. His 10-tackle outing in the college football playoff against Washington lent further weight to these claims, ensuring he went over 100 tackles during an encouraging campaign overall.
Ford is instinctive and has enough burst to close down space quickly. He is more of a downhill linebacker capable of wrapping oncoming runners up effectively and with aggression. The prospect is sometimes a liability in coverage, so this is an area the Commanders need to focus on from a development perspective if they end up bringing the Longhorn into the building.