Commanders could revive a draft strategy everyone already dismissed

As preparation for the NFL Draft begins to take center stage over the coming weeks, the Washington Commanders will have no shortage of options to consider with their No. 7 overall pick.

The team's entire braintrust was on hand for Ohio State University's pro day. Top Buckeyes prospects include safety Caleb Downs, linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, and wide receiver Carnell Tate, with several more expected to be taken a little further down the pecking order.

Those players, along with Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., and more, will be top options for the Commanders to contemplate next month. Then, there is the option everybody wrote off — but it might be worth reconsidering after a strong free agency period.

Commanders could revisit trading back after satisfying major needs in free agency

Commanders insider Ben Standig, who covers the team independently, floated the trade-back scenario on an appearance with The Team 980 and discussed both sides of the dilemma. His argument for it is that, all things considered, this draft class is not considered very special.

"The guys at the tippy-top of this draft are not being viewed as ultimate blue-chip guys. It's not considered to be the same locks that you've seen in other years... there's more depth in this draft."

That is certainly as good a rationale for trading back as there comes, in addition to the fact that Peters absolutely cleaned up in free agency. Washington could have desperately used a safety like Downs, but now they have Nick Cross. The Commanders needed a pass-rusher like Bain or Bailey in a bad way, and now they have Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson.

That's not to say Peters shouldn't still consider adding a premier prospect, but the need for most of them isn't as critical. The most glaring hole now is wide receiver depth, and even that might be resolved with the signing of Brandon Aiyuk or Jauan Jennings, though the latter isn't reportedly an option right now.

Finally, another reason Washington should consider trading back is that the team currently only possesses six picks, and only two in the first four rounds, thanks to the deal for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Any capital the Commanders could re-acquire would be a positive, even if drafting is ultimately about quality over quantity.

A month ago, it seemed like a no-brainer that the Commanders needed to use their No. 7 overall pick. But now, it's a very real debate.

We'll see which way Peters and company decide to go.