B-
Washington Commanders
A franchise passer in Maye headlines a B- weekend for the Commanders.
by Buck ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. Drake Maye is the Commanders' quarterback, full stop. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped wide receiver, which is a strange place to end up. That Murphy pick is the receipt they will wave around later. They are betting Suamataia proves the room right and everyone else wrong.
Tight end is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but wide receiver.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 2 they get a long-term answer under center. A real need, handled.
Kingsley Suamataia in No. 37 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They paid up for Graham Barton at the 40th overall pick when waiting would have done the job. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They let Ja'Tavion Sanders come to them and pounced at the Round 3 slot. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They barely believed it either: Gabriel Murphy still on the board at Round 4, Pick 1. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Tykee Smith at pick 103 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Tommy Eichenberg slid further than he should have, and pick No. 138 is lovely value for the linebacker. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
They did well to land Frank Gore Jr. in the 181st pick, just ahead of his grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They paid a round early for Erick All in pick 220, more than the board wanted. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Maurice Smith at the Round 7 slot jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.