A-
Washington Commanders
The Commanders left with their quarterback, and a A- to match.
by Meandwarf ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 13 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The search is over. The Commanders handed the keys to Bo Nix, and the whole operation now runs on his development. One of the weekend's best, top to bottom, and a A- to show for it.
The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Bethune.
Spending an early pick on DT-EDGE with interior defensive lineman open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. That interior defensive lineman hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.
It is a haul that will look even better come September.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 26 they get their quarterback of the future at fair value. A real need, handled.
A clean, defensible pick in the 36th pick with a little surplus value in Graham Barton. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jermaine Burton in the 67th overall pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Adisa Isaac at Round 3, Pick 4 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They paid a round early for Zak Zinter in pick No. 85, more than the board wanted. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They bypassed pressing needs at interior defensive lineman to take Maason Smith, a DT-EDGE that was not the priority.
TreVeyon Henderson is a better player than pick 100 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Tommy Eichenberg in slot 102 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A minor itch, scratched.
The board had cheaper options than Max Melton at pick 103, and it noticed. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Nothing to complain about; Theo Johnson went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Josh Proctor at the 181st pick is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A quiet steal in No. 206: De'Corian Clark for less than the market said. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Tatum Bethune at the 223rd overall pick is the proof. Stacking talent where they were already deep.