Commanders deep dive: Day 2 NFL Draft haul can fast-track rebuild

Commanders get offensive spark with Luke McCaffrey and Brandon Coleman

Finally, some protection for Jayden Daniels arrived in the form of Brandon Coleman. He could be more suited to play at the left guard spot for the Washington Commanders, so don’t get your hopes up thinking they have a franchise-caliber blindside presence.

However, Kliff Kingsbury may decide to give him a shot given the options available as it stands.

The three-year starter at TCU has plenty of experience to transition into the NFL smoothly. Coleman was named Second Team All-Big 12 and was an honorable mention for Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2023.

Coleman displays good enough size to play on the edge. But he's got elite size at offensive guard, standing at 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds.

His athleticism is off the charts, and his frame allows him to have great length to make first contact with the defensive lineman. Coleman shows great use of hands, allowing him to excel in the run-blocking game while also being solid in pass protection. This resulted in only 17 quarterback hurries, three quarterback hits, and one sack conceded in 723 snaps during his senior season.

Luke McCaffrey was taken by the Commanders at No. 100 overall. He was not a reach. He was one of the best wide receivers available and filled a big need behind Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

The younger brother of Christian McCaffrey should instantly take the job as the starting slot in Kingsbury's offense. McCaffrey was named a First Team All-American in his senior year.

McCaffrey shows excellent football IQ after transitioning from a quarterback to the wideout spot. This allows him to read the defense and find the soft spots in zones, leaving him wide open. He can be useful in deep routes, but he will prove extremely useful in the short-intermediate game.

The former Rice standout shows an impressive catch radius, being able to make extremely difficult grabs. His route running is still developing as he has only been a wide receiver for two years, but it has shown constant improvement and can become an outstanding asset once his ceiling is reached.

How exactly will this Day 2 draft bounty fast-track this rebuild?

One thing Adam Peters did on Day 2 was fill multiple holes. He improved the defensive line, cornerback unit, offensive line, and wide receiver room. He not only did this, but instead of reaching for needs he went with who he felt was the best player available. That is how good teams are built, by taking the best player available at all times.

Don’t expect this draft to make the Commanders instant contenders. However, it has certainly put this team on the map and in the right direction to skyrocket.