B
Washington Commanders
Williams is the plan now, and the Commanders grade out a B.
by teddyk ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 3 reaches
The search is over. The Commanders handed the keys to Caleb Williams, and the whole operation now runs on his development. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B.
They banked enough surplus on Barrett to cover a lot of smaller sins. Leaving cornerback unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. Spending an early pick on OLB-EDGE with cornerback and interior defensive lineman open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to.
Every board in the league had Robinson lower, and that gap is the story.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 2 they get the face of the franchise at fair value.
Steal is underselling it; Malik Nabers at Round 2, Pick 4 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid up for Patrick Paul at the Round 2 slot when waiting would have done the job. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Jackson Powers-Johnson is a better player than No. 67 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Javon Solomon adds an OLB-EDGE and leaves cornerback and interior defensive lineman untouched.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Darius Robinson. A need, and now a little less of one.
They took Ben Sinnott at par in pick No. 141, which is nothing to complain about. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Nice patience on Frank Gore Jr., who had no business lasting to the 181st overall pick. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Michael Barrett in the Round 7 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.