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Each year, just before the actual draft, enterprising individuals from various SBNation blogs take it upon themselves to organize a site-wide full mock draft, with (ideally) writers/posters from each of the team blogs picking on behalf of their team. This year, I will be picking on behalf of the Washington Commanders and tracking progress here. The draft will take place on Discord.
Think of this draft as a series of thought exercises, not simply a rote duplication of what we can expect come late April in Las Vegas. It’s not going to be to everyone’s taste.
Schedule
4/8 – 8 PM EDT / 5 PM PDT (Round 1)
4/9 – 1pm EDT / 10 AM PDT (Rounds 2-3)
4/10 – 1pm EDT / 10 AM PDT (Rounds 4-7)
This page should be updated in fairly close to real time once the Day 2 begins on 4/9.
Pre-Draft Trade: Washington sends WR Terry McLaurin to the 49ers for picks 25, 83, and LB Dre Greenlaw. Rationale: I love Terry McLaurin. We all do, but the wide receiver market is heavily overbought at this point, and paying Terry (or any WR) $23-24M per year would begin to constrain team building in important ways beginning in 2023. Selling high on Terry now, before the draft puts the team in a good position to re-stock.
First Round Trade: Washington sends CB Kendall Fuller to the Seahawks for pick #40, freeing up $8M in cap space in 2022 and $8.5M in 2023. As legendary baseball GM, Branch Rickey said, “Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.”
Round 1, Pick 11
Garrett Wilson (WR) - Ohio State - With Terry McLaurin traded away, wide receiver became an existential need. Surely some will object that this is a violation of the First Draft Commandment, and in the strictest sense, they would be correct. However, as the First Commandment pertains to wide receivers, the injunction not to draft them in the first derives not from the fact that first round WRs aren’t good, it’s rooted in the fact that very good ones can be found in the second round as well. The McLaurin trade necessitated, and allowed, this move. Wilson would not have been the choice without the McLaurin trade, my second pick, Matt Corral, would have.
Interestingly, mock drafters took 8 WRs in the first round, a clear indication to me that the out of control veteran WR market is driving up the draft value of WRs on rookie deals. The selection of Wilson here essentially represents a conversion of massive salary cap capital into a significant draft investment. We’ll see if it pays off.
Round 1, Pick 25 (from San Francisco)
Matt Corral (QB) - Ole Miss - I have been, and remain, insistent, that Washington must leave this draft with a Plan B option at QB. Corral is the best of the bunch, but even so, taking him at #11 would have felt like a bit of a reach. Nevertheless, I was prepared to do it. The McLaurin trade opened up a world of options, allowing #11 to be used on a true BPA, and allowing #25 to be used on a quarterback who is athletically talented, but could absolutely use a year of seasoning behind a veteran. Two draft priorities down, Day 2 leaves open a tremendous set of options.
Round 2, Pick 40 (from Seattle)
Kyler Gordon (CB) - Washington - It was no secret that the Kendall Fuller trade opened up a spot in the secondary. Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to reach to fill it. Thankfully, Kyler Gordon, who played opposite first round pick, Trent McDuffie, was there waiting for me. The Draft Network evaluation is below, with a comp to former top 10 pick, CJ Henderson, of the Jaguars:
Kyler Gordon is an exceptional athlete with explosive and dynamic movement. In the run game, he comes up hard when he is the force player in zone. He is an eager participant in the run game and does a good job as a tackler on the perimeter and in space as a core special teamer. In the passing game, he is exceptional. His outstanding agility and quickness in coverage help him stay in phase. From press alignment, he often uses bail technique and closes quickly when he can play with vision. From off man, he can get a little “nosey” with his eyes but obviously trusts his athleticism in these instances. In the NFL, he has the athleticism and hips to be a starting outside corner. However, his tackling ability, instincts, and agility also project him favorably to playing inside, giving him true inside/outside flexibility.
Round 2, Pick 47
Jalen Pitre (S) - Baylor - I profiled Pitre earlier this year here, and my excitement for him has only grown since that point. Pitre is a brainy, versatile athlete who has spearheaded Dave Aranda’s ferocious defense at Baylor.
Pitre is the sort of weapon that a creative defensive coordinator can - and has - use(d) to anchor his top end defense. Does Jack Del Rio’s defense fit that bill? It’s not entirely clear that it does, but we know that this coaching staff does value defensive positional flexibility. Pitre’s ability to play in the slot, at nickel, or either of the safety positions seem to be well suited to the direction of the modern NFL.
Round 3, Pick 83 (from San Francisco)
Cade Otton (TE) - Washington - Otton’s production numbers in college weren’t spectacular - he was injured during much of 2021, and his offense at Washington was terrible - but he possesses the tight end fundamentals, including accomplished blocking, to be able to make an easy transition to the pros. The Draft Network comps him to a “Pat Freiermuth & Zack Ertz combo.” From Lance Zierlein’s review on NFL.com:
“I think he is the best I’ve seen so far (in 2021) at just getting himself open with his routes. That is a really big deal for me when I watch tight ends.” — Scouting director for NFC team
Round 4, Pick 113
Round 6, Pick 189
Round 7, Pick 230
Round 7, Pick 239
I look forward to your thoughts in the comments below:
Poll
How would you grade day 1?
This poll is closed
-
18%
A
-
21%
B
-
17%
C
-
15%
D
-
25%
F
-
2%
Incomplete
Draft Progression:
- Jets - KAYVON THIBODEAUX, EDGE, OREGON
- Lions - EVAN NEAL, RT, ALABAMA
- Texans - AIDAN HUTCHINSON, DE, MICHIGAN
- Jets - AHMAD “Sauce” GARDNER, CB, CINCINNATI
- Giants - CHARLES CROSS, OT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
- Panthers - IKEM EKWONU, OT, NC STATE
- Giants - KYLE HAMILTON, S, NOTRE DAME
- Lions - MALIK WILLIS, QB, LIBERTY
- Seahawks - JERMAINE JOHNSON DE, FLORIDA STATE
- Jaguars - TREYLON BURKS, WR, ARKANSAS
- Commanders - GARRETT WILSON, WR, OHIO STATE
- Eagles - DRAKE LONDON, WR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Packers - ANDREW BOOTH JR, CB, CLEMSON
- Ravens - DEREK STINGLEY JR - CB, LSU
- Eagles - DEVIN LLOYD, LB, UTAH
- Eagles - TYLER LINDERBAUM, OL, IOWA
- Chargers - JAMESON WILLIAMS, WR ALABAMA
- Vikings - TRAVON WALKER OLB/DE GEORGIA
- Eagles - NAKOBE DEAN, LB, GEORGIA
- Steelers - TREVOR PENNING, OT, NORTHERN IOWA
- Patriots - ZION JOHNSON, OT/OG, BOSTON COLLEGE
- Texans - JORDAN DAVIS, DT, GEORGIA
- Lions - TYLER SMITH, G, TULSA
- Cowboys - GEORGE KARLAFTIS, EDGE, PURDUE.
- Commanders - MATT CORRAL, QB, OLE MISS
- Jets - CHRIS OLAVE, WR, OHIO STATE
- Bucs - DEVONTE WYATT, DT, GEORGIA
- Packers - JAHAN DOTSON, WR, PENN STATE
- Chiefs - CHRISTIAN WATSON, WR, NDSU
- Chiefs - TRENT MCDUFFIE, CB, WASHINGTON
- Bengals - KAIIR ELAM, CB, FLORIDA
- Falcons - GEORGE PICKENS, WR, GEORGIA
Round 2
- Cowboys - DAXTON HILL, SAFETY, MICHIGAN
- Cardinals - KENYON GREEN, OG, TEXAS A&M
- Titans - TREY MCBRIDE, TE, COLORADO STATE RAMS
- Giants - DAVID OJABO, EDGE, MICHIGAN
- Texans - QUAY WALKER, LB, GEORGIA
- Jets - BERNHARD RAIMANN, OT, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
- Bears - ALEC PIERCE, WR, CINCINATTI
- Commanders - KYLER GORDON, CB, WASHINGTON
- Seahawks - DESMOND RIDDER, QB, Cin
- Colts - TARIQ WOLSON, CB, UTSA
- Browns - Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
- Browns - Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota
- Ravens - Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
- Cardinals - Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
- Commanders - JALEN PITRE, S, BAYLOR
- Bears - ABRAHAM LUCAS, OT, WASHINGTON STATE
- Titans - COLE STRANGE, G, TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA
- Chiefs - JAQUAN BRISKER, S, PENN STATE
- Jaguars - ZYON MCCOLLUM, CB, SAM HOUSTON STATE
- Steelers -KENNY PICKETT QB PITTSBURGH
- Texans - NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE, OT FROM OHIO STATE
- Patriots - CHRISTIAN HARRIS, LB, ALABAMA
- Cardinals - Travis Jones, NT, UConn
- Titans - CALVIN AUSTIN III, WR, MEMPHIS
- Bills - Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
- Falcons - SAM HOWELL, QB, NORTH CAROLINA
- Packers - Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
- Colts - JOHN METCHIE III, WR, ALABAMA
- Saints - BRANDON SMITH, LB, PENN STATE
- Chiefs - NIK BONITTO, EDGE, OKLAHOMA
- Bengals - Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
- Steelers - DeMarvin LEAL IDL TEXAS A&M
Round 3
- Falcons - DRAKE JACKSON, EDGE, USC
- Steelers - CHAD MUMA, ILB, WYOMING
- Giants - LEO CHENAL, LB, WISCONSIN
- Saints - Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
- Eagles - LOGAN HALL, DL, HOUSTON
- 49ers - Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
- Bears - Troy Anderson LB Montana State
- Seahawks - CHANNING TINDALL, LB, UGA
- Buccaneers - SEAN RHYAN, G, UCLA
- Saints - ISAIAH SPILLER, RB, TEXAS A&M
- Falcons - MARTIN EMERSON, CB, MISSISSIPPI STATE
- Ravens - Darian Kinnard, OG, KENTUCKY
- Titans - BRIAN ASAMOAH II LB OKLAHOMA
- Browns - JAMAREE SAYLER G GEORGIA
- Chargers - MAX MITCHELL, OT, LOUSIANA
- Jaguars - Jelani Woods, TE, UVA
- Giants - Jalyn Armour Davis, CB, ALABAMA
- Chiefs - Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
- Commanders - CADE OTTON, TE, WASHINGTON
- Lions - ROMEO DOUBS, WR NEVADA
- Patriots - JOSH WILLIAMS, CB, FAYETTEVILLE STATE
- Steelers - DANIEL FAALELE, OT, MINNESOTA
- Vikings - BREECE HALL, RB, IOWA STATE
- Cowboys - JACK SANBORN, LB, WISCONSIN
- Bills - KHALIL SHAKIR, WR, BOISE STATE
- Broncos - JOSH PASCHAL, EDGE, KENTUCKY
- Buccaneers - JAMES COOK, RB, GEORGIA
- Packers - CAM TAYLOR-BRITT, CB, NEBRASKA
- Falcons - DAVID BELL, WR, PURDUE
- Chiefs - JALEN TOLBERT, WR, SOUTH ALABAMA
- Bengals - KERBY JOSEPH, S, ILLINOIS
- Broncos - CORDALE FLOTT, CB, LSU
- Lions - JT WOODS, S, BAYLOR
- Eagles - BO MELTON, WR, RUTGERS
- Browns - CAM JURGENS, C, NEBRASKA
- Ravens - LUKE GOEDEKE, G, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
- Eagles - BAILEY ZAPPE, QB, WESTERN KENTUCKY
- Dolphins -
- Chiefs - MATTHEW BUTLER, DL, TENNESSEE
- Rams - DYLAN PARHAM, G, MEMPHIS
- 49ers - NICK CROSS, S, UMD