The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Commanders spent their marquee pick on Jayden Daniels, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. They executed a plan and it shows in the A-.
The cost of the Owens reach is exactly the players who went right after him. The dealing alone would carry a lesser class. The Burton pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
They punted on running back, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. It is not that Taylor-Demerson is a bad player; it is that the Commanders had louder needs to answer first.
Bottom line, with Jayden Daniels leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.3
· Pick 3
· Jayden Daniels
· QB
· rank 7
In the 3rd overall pick they get a passer to set the clock by. A clean fit for the roster.
R2.12
· Pick 44
· Chris Braswell
· LB-EDGE
· rank 42
By-the-book stuff, Chris Braswell at slot 44 squarely in line with his ranking. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R2.17
· Pick 49
· Kingsley Suamataia
· OT
· rank 57
Kingsley Suamataia at pick No. 49 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
R3.2
· Pick 66
· Kiran Amegadjie
· OT
· rank 63
A reasonable price with a little left over, Kiran Amegadjie in Round 3, Pick 2. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R3.7
· Pick 71
· Khyree Jackson
· CB
· rank 83
The board had cheaper options than Khyree Jackson at the Round 3 slot, and it noticed. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
R3.13
· Pick 77
· Calen Bullock
· S
· rank 82
A straight-up fair deal on Calen Bullock at pick 77, value and slot in agreement. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R3.14
· Pick 78
· Jermaine Burton
· WR
· rank 52
Jermaine Burton at No. 78 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R3.37
· Pick 100
· Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
· S
· rank 87
A want over a need in the 100th pick: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson adds a safety while running back and interior defensive lineman keeps waiting.
R4.15
· Pick 115
· Cedric Gray
· LB
· rank 115
Cedric Gray in pick No. 115 is fair value, right on his grade. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
R4.20
· Pick 120
· Blake Fisher
· OT
· rank 118
They took Blake Fisher at par in Round 4, Pick 20, which is nothing to complain about. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R6.22
· Pick 197
· Joe Milton III
· QB
· rank 200
A market-rate quarterback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Joe Milton III. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R6.31
· Pick 206
· Trey Knox
· TE
· rank 223
Trey Knox in pick 206 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
R6.39
· Pick 214
· Eric Watts
· DL-EDGE
· rank 230
They went early on Eric Watts in the 214th pick, and the value did not follow. A need, and now a little less of one.
R7.2
· Pick 222
· Tyler Owens
· S
· rank 255
Tyler Owens in No. 222 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
