B-
Washington Commanders
A passer of the future in Penix Jr., and a B-, for the Commanders.
by njclanton ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Commanders spent their marquee pick on Michael Penix Jr., and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback.
On value alone, James makes the weekend a net positive. Overpaying at the table undid a lot of the good work elsewhere.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. The offense got the lion's share of the attention.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 11 they get their quarterback of the future. A clean fit for the roster.
By-the-book stuff, Xavier Legette at slot 36 squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Good price on Ja'Tavion Sanders in the 40th overall pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Cooper Beebe at pick 67 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at the Round 3 slot. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
DJ James in the 100th pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A quiet steal in No. 139: Isaac Guerendo for less than the market said. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Sataoa Laumea reach Round 5, Pick 16 and blink. They did not. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Chau Smith-Wade in slot 163 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.