Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: New beginnings edition
By Dean Jones
Commanders draft Troy Fautanu
- Offensive Line | Washington Huskies
- Round 2 | No. 36 overall
One thing the Washington Commanders must avoid this offseason is penny-pinching along the offensive line. This was a core reason why Ron Rivera failed during his time as head coach. He inherited a productive unit and ended his tenure with one of the worst protections anywhere in the NFL.
Adam Peters knows how a good offensive line can make everything around them better. The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best in football - something he helped construct. Expect to see the same attention to detail in Washington during the weeks and months ahead.
The Commanders have enough salary-cap space to bring in a high-quality veteran or two in free agency. It would also be wise to address this critical need early in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fortunately for Washington, this is a deep group emerging from the college ranks.
Troy Fautanu flourished for the Washington Huskies last season. He operated as an offensive tackle, but many analysts project his best position to be on the interior once he gets to the pros.
Fautanu is intelligent and athletic in pass protection. He's got that ruthless aggression needed to impact running plays. His hand placement can be suspect at times, but there is a lot to like about the player's next-level potential overall.