C+
Washington Commanders
Grand theft in the 180th overall pick: the Commanders steal Ford and grade out a C+.
by Dukes55 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 1 reaches
The trade table was where it all came apart. The Commanders shipped out far more than they hauled back, and no amount of spin dresses up the bill. It lands right in the middle: a C+, no more, no less.
The Ford value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped tight end, which is a strange place to end up. The Commanders indulged a want in Eichenberg while a need in tight end, edge rusher and other spots stayed open.
Terence Steele gives the group a proven body among the projects.
It grades out a shrug today, with plenty of room to move either way.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 30 they get a blindside protector at fair value. The biggest hole, addressed.
A premium they did not need to pay, Troy Fautanu a notch or two before his time. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
No drama and no debate, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. went about where he belonged in No. 43. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Kingsley Suamataia in slot 62. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A tidy little value on Ja'Lynn Polk in pick 75, a step better than break-even. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Rod Moore in the 93rd pick. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Christian Haynes at No. 100. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A surprising call. With tight end, edge rusher and other spots still to address, they spent the 102nd pick on Tommy Eichenberg, a linebacker they were not short of.
Taking Jaylan Ford in pick No. 180 is close to grand larceny; a linebacker that good had no business lasting this long. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
A quiet steal in Round 7, Pick 3: Willie Roberts for less than the market said. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.