B
Washington Commanders
The Commanders let Smith-Wade fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.
by R ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 1 reaches
Every swap seemed to tilt away from the Commanders, and the value they bled adds up to real damage.
With tight end, quarterback and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on TE-EDGE is the choice that costs them. The Smith-Wade pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
They will regret leaving tight end for another day if the season turns on it.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
A market-rate wide receiver, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Rome Odunze. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Graham Barton in No. 36 lands just on the right side of the ledger. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Fair-plus on Chris Braswell, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A clean, defensible pick in the 40th overall pick with a little surplus value in Quinyon Mitchell. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
No drama and no debate, Brenden Rice went about where he belonged in Round 3, Pick 3. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Cade Stover at TE-EDGE with tight end, quarterback and other spots open.
They jumped the gun on Beau Brade, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A slide stopped in the 141st pick, with Cedric Gray worth more than the price. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
They barely believed it either: Chau Smith-Wade still on the board at pick 181. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Blake Watson in No. 223 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.