Braeden Daniels - Former Commanders OL
- Round No. 4 | Pick No. 118
Ron Rivera had a desperate need to fix the offensive line during the 2023 NFL Draft. The head coach resisted the temptation to find productive prospects over the first two rounds. He turned his attention to Days 2 and 3 in pursuit of rectifying these issues.
Braeden Daniels was a college offensive tackle. Most analysts thought he'd be better suited to the interior, which was always the concern with Rivera picks. Turns out he wasn't great anywhere.
Daniels endured a rookie baptism over early workouts. He got placed on season-ending injured reserve to spare Rivera the blushes of his draft pick being cut without playing a competitive snap. Adam Peters wasn't going to be as lenient, so it came as no shock to see the Utah product cut loose.
The lineman has bounced around the league ever since. Daniels spent time with the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Eagles, and Cowboys. He was recently plucked off Dallas' practice squad by the Miami Dolphins, who'll give him a shot at making the 53-man roster this offseason.
- Draft grade: D-
This was a bemusing pick at the time and even more so now. It was another prime example of Rivera valuing position versatility over proven credentials, which became a leading influence in his eventual demise.
Ricky Stromberg - Former Commanders OL
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 97
Ricky Stromberg was the first offensive lineman taken by the Commanders in 2023. He came into the franchise after some decent college production at Arkansas, so it had some intrigue attached.
That never became anything more. Stromberg struggled to fully adjust. He was placed on injured reserve relatively early in the campaign. The Commanders weren't going to wait around on the off chance he raised performance levels, signing Tyler Biadasz in free agency to become their new starting center.
With Michael Deiter signed as the primary backup, Stromberg was released during final cuts. He landed on the Chicago Bears' practice squad and recently received a reserve/futures contract. Even so, this is a far cry from the expectations typically associated with a top-100 selection.
Stromberg was another major swing and a miss from Rivera. The injury problems didn't help, but it was clear from a long way out this pick wasn't going to go as expected. Peters recognized this and reacted accordingly.
- Draft grade: F
At least Stromberg isn't out of the league entirely. The Bears invested heavily in their offensive line this offseason, so his hopes of making the squad are slim. The Commanders are in a much better place with Biadasz, who quickly emerged as a dependable veteran presence that was sorely lacking previously.
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