A-
Washington Commanders
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Commanders and Mondon Jr.: A-.
by camcheese54 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 6 reaches
If you want a masterclass in dealing, watch the Commanders, who turned every swap into a profit this weekend. It holds up to a second look, which is why it earns the A-.
The Mondon Jr. value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They will answer for taking defensive back early while cornerback, quarterback and other spots went begging. Bell has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced.
The cornerback hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
Add it up and few war rooms did better this weekend, Patrick Paul and all.
Pick-by-Pick
They paid up for Patrick Paul at the Round 2 slot when waiting would have done the job. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Johnny Wilson at the 39th overall pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Sedrick Van Pran. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A surprising call. With cornerback, quarterback and other spots still to address, they spent the 71st pick on Rod Moore, a defensive back they were not short of.
A wild overpay on Jaheim Bell in pick No. 100, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They reached a country mile for Ricky Pearsall at slot 107, and the board is aghast. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
You do not let a linebacker like Smael Mondon Jr. reach the 127th overall pick and blink. They did not. A minor itch, scratched.
A premium they did not need to pay, Donovan Edwards a notch or two before his time. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They let Zion Tupuola-Fetui come to them and pounced at the Round 6 slot. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Value said wait; Hayden Hatten in slot 228 says they were not listening. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.