Commanders deep dive: Is 2023 the worst draft class in franchise history?

Commanders mid-to-late round value

Of the Washington Commanders' seven draft picks in 2023, only one player is rated clearly above the player selected immediately after him at the same position. That is sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez. Jr., who has been in on fewer than six percent of the team's offensive plays this season.

But at least his Pro Football Focus rating is significantly higher than Deuce Vaughn’s. He is the microscopic pass-catching running back playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry is in a virtual tie with Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks. The defensive end has at least been on the field more than his rookie counterpart, but he has still only played on just under 15 percent of the snaps this year primarily due to the Commanders' decision to trade Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the deadline.

And the situation is pretty much the same with seventh-round pick Andre Jones Jr. and his fellow first-year-pro. Neither has played very much. The Los Angeles Rams’ Desjuan Johnson has been slightly more productive.

I am not counting the Philadelphia Eagles' Moro Ojomo as a defensive end, though he was drafted as one. He will play tackle for Philadelphia. But if I did, he would also have a better PFF score than Jones.

So, at the bottom of the draft, Washington seems to have gotten about average value.