B-
Washington Commanders
The Commanders kept it disciplined and banked a B-.
by jkn ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 4 reaches
The Commanders put a flag in the ground for Ainias Smith, 30 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
However the rest shakes out, Robinson at that price is a win they earned. With tight end, quarterback and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on defensive back is the choice that costs them.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped tight end, which is a strange place to end up.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but tight end.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 7 they get a plug-and-play piece up front at fair value. The biggest hole, addressed.
Chop Robinson at the Round 2 slot is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A need, and now a little less of one.
A surprising call. With tight end, quarterback and other spots still to address, they spent the 39th overall pick on Cooper DeJean, a defensive back they were not short of.
A premium they did not need to pay, Amarius Mims a notch or two before his time. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Bucky Irving at Round 3, Pick 37 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Tommy Eichenberg in the 107th pick, miles early. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
A big swing on Ainias Smith at Round 5, Pick 8, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They did well to land Cam Hart in pick No. 185, just ahead of his grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Landon Jackson in the 228th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.