B-
Washington Commanders
The Commanders found their guy under center in Daniels: B-.
by Big Lenny ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 2 steals
· 5 reaches
When the story of this class is written, it opens with Cedric Johnson at Round 5, Pick 16, a reach of 73 spots that the board flatly disagrees with. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.
The whole projection now runs through Jayden Daniels; hit there and everything else looks smarter. Landing Devonshire that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. Leaving running back unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 2nd pick they get a franchise quarterback at fair value. A real need, handled.
A tidy bit of business in Round 2, Pick 4, where Kool-Aid McKinstry graded well above the range. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Patrick Paul. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Kingsley Suamataia at the Round 3 slot is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Value said wait; Johnny Wilson in slot 78 says they were not listening. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Theo Johnson at pick 100 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Xavier Thomas at No. 139 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Cedric Johnson in the Round 5 slot is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
You do not let a cornerback like M.J. Devonshire reach pick No. 222 and blink. They did not. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.