The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone. Where did the Washington Commanders make their picks, and what draft capital did they possess?
Want to see how the Commanders graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our full Washington Commanders draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Washington Commanders Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1 | Pick 16
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State - Round 2 | Pick 47
Jartavius Martin, S, Illinois - Round 3 | Pick 97*
Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas - Round 4, Pick 118
Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah - Round 5, Pick 137
K.J. Henry, Edge, Clemson - Round 6, Pick 193
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky - Round 7, Pick 233
Andre Jones, EDGE, Louisiana
*Compensatory selection
How Many Draft Picks Did the Commanders Have in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Washington Commanders franchise hasn’t won more than eight games since 2015. Since Kirk Cousins left for Minnesota, the Commanders have been cycling through quarterbacks at an alarming rate. But with seven new draft selections on the roster for 2023 and a new-look offense from Eric Bienemy, could Washington finally get over the hump?
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
All but one of the Commanders selections were their original picks. Their original third-round pick was sent to Indianapolis for Carson Wentz, but they had a compensatory pick in Round 3 to even things out.
With new ownership in town, general manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Ron Rivera are sitting on the hottest seats in the NFL.
Who Did the Commanders Draft in 2023?
The world is going crazy. A 166-pound cornerback was the 16th overall pick in the NFL Draft. It was especially surprising to see Emmanuel Forbes drafted before Christian Gonzales. But it was only surprising because of Forbes’ weight. His tape was riddled with plays of a high-end draft selection. But that lack of density also shows up, even though he does his best to mitigate those issues by playing incredibly hard.
If it wasn’t clear by the Forbes selection, it was crystal clear when the Commanders selected Jartavius “Quan” Martin in the second round. Martin provides the Washington defense with versatility as someone with experience in the slot and on the back end.
MORE: History of Washington Commanders First-Round NFL Draft Picks
Although Jartavius “Quan” Martin has struggled early on in the preseason, his skill set was a perfect match for the Washington Commanders in Round 2. Martin is an alignment-versatile defender who can play on the back end or in the slot. While he may take his lumps early on in a difficult spot, experience and technical sharpening should meet his impressive reactionary athleticism sooner rather than later.
There weren’t many teams in the NFL that needed help at center, but the Commanders were one of them. Ricky Stromberg may not be a Day 1 starter, but the team will hope it doesn’t take too long because Nick Gates is a better depth piece than a full-time starter.
Braeden Daniels will have to prove that he has the functional strength necessary to play at the NFL level, but his athleticism got him drafted in the fourth round. He’s incredibly athletic, with his greatest downside being the lack of size.
Braeden Daniels lacks the size of a prototypical offensive tackle, but his athleticism made him a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It will likely take time for him to put on the lean muscle mass and strength to hold up against NFL power consistently, but his fluid feet make him an interesting developmental blocker. Although he was slated as a tackle-to-guard prospect, he has been seen at left tackle for Washington so far.
Former five-star recruits often get opportunities that others would not. Pedigree is important to some decision-makers, whether it should be or not. K.J. Henry doesn’t have the entire athletic profile the Commanders covet, but they do covet elite speed, and his 1.57 10-yard split certainly fits their bill.