It's been an up-and-down start to life in the NFL for the Washington Commanders' 2024 draft class. All hope is far from lost just yet, but the jury is still well and truly out for most.
Things began phenomenally. The Commanders surged way above expectations in the first season under head coach Dan Quinn, reaching the NFC Championship game against all odds. The drop-off was just as drastic in 2025, so a massive effort is needed to turn the tide this time around.
With two seasons of mixed experiences, demands will be much higher for Washington's 2024 cohort. They need to step up and firmly establish themselves. Some look more capable than others, but any regression at this juncture is not going to be looked upon favorably by fans or those in positions of power.
That's for the future. For now, we regraded the Commanders' 2024 NFL Draft class after two rollercoaster campaigns in Washington.
Re-grading the Commanders' 2024 NFL Draft class after two rollercoaster seasons
Javonte Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB
The Commanders spent their final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and the seventh-round edge rusher flashed some brief moments of promise during his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, his momentum took a severe hit when he suffered an early injury, ending his 2025 season after just three games.
Washington wasn't going to wait around. Adam Peters signed Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu to bolster their edge rushing options this offseason. As such, Jean-Baptiste faces a fight to reestablish himself this summer.
- Grade after Year 1: A
- Grade after Year 2: B
Dominique Hampton
Dominique Hampton's story is a strange one. Washington drafted the safety but swiftly moved him to linebacker when things weren't quite going according to plan on the defensive back end. He made the roster but was seldom used as a rookie, so the stakes were high last summer.
Hampton couldn't fully establish himself. A disastrous preseason outing led the Commanders to cut ties way ahead of schedule. This was a swing and a miss for Adam Peters.
- Grade after Year 1: Incomplete
- Grade after Year 2: F
Jordan Magee - Commanders LB
Even though Jordan Magee has suffered problems on the health front, the flashes he's displayed when in the starting lineup offer reasons for encouragement. More importantly, the coaching staff remains bullish about his chances of earning increased responsibilities under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Magee is fast, physical, and gets around the action quickly. Much more is required this time around, but there could be an opening for extended involvement alongside Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal if the Commanders don't draft another linebacker.
- Grade after Year 1: B
- Grade after Year 2: B+
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