The Washington Commanders are projected to have three top-50 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. And they’ll need to hit on all of those selections if they want to reset effectively in 2024 and return to contention in the NFC.
Washington Commanders in Dire Need of Quality Talent Influx in 2024 NFL Draft
The Commanders started the 2023 season 2-0, but things have quickly spiraled for Ron Rivera and Co.
Heading into Week 13, they were 2-8 in their last 10 games. They’d fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and traded away defensive cornerstones Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
And this week, they suffered a brutal and sobering defeat at the hands of the Miami Dolphins, losing 45-15.
The loss was perhaps a confluence of all of Washington’s issues. Sam Howell threw another interception and struggled to make up for the offense’s miscues.
On defense, the Commanders failed to generate a consistent pass rush, and the secondary was a sieve against the Dolphins’ attack led by Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill.
Everywhere you turn on the Commanders’ roster, it seems they could use an upgrade. Howell’s highs have been high in 2023, but if Washington is in range to potentially draft a QB in the 2024 NFL Draft, they shouldn’t rule out that possibility.
Even if they decide to stick with Howell, however, Washington simply needs more at so many positions: Offensive tackle, interior offensive line, edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, and safety. Even stronger positions, like the team’s weapons coprs, don’t feel stable long-term.
Washington is heading full-speed toward another offseason full of change. Odds are that Rivera is gone, Howell is evaluated, and the roster is in flux. The Commanders are in a state where “best player available” will be a constant — but luckily, they’ll have the capital to adhere to that strategy.
By trading Sweat to the Bears, the Commanders added another second-round pick, and at 4-9, they’re currently on pace to pick inside the top five. With the Bears’ pick and their own top selections, Washington could very well have three picks inside the top 50 — and they also have two third-rounders, courtesy of the Young trade.
The pressure will be on the next commanders’ regime under owner Josh Harris to make use of the capital they have, but that same capital should provide them the opportunity to right the ship in a crucial offseason.
The 2024 NFL Draft is particularly strong at some of the Commanders’ top positions of need — offensive tackle, cornerback, and safety. With three top-50 picks and five top-100 picks, the potential energy is there to notably upgrade the roster and stabilize the franchise’s direction.
Prospect projections are still fairly wide at this point, but especially if the Commanders stick with Howell, they could get a massive haul. The most recent 7-round mock draft at PFN had them coming away with this prospect grouping within the first few rounds:
- Georgia WR/TE Brock Bowers
- Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
- Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell
- Clemson LB Barrett Carter
- Michigan OT LaDarius Henderson
- Michigan S Rod Moore
This mock, of course, is just one of many permutations. The Commanders could also target a blue-chip tackle like Olu Fashanu or Joe Alt early.
But the bottom line is they have the capital they need to make the changes they need in 2024. And the team’s losses down the stretch are inadvertently positioning them to add higher-level talent. That’s a silver lining for a franchise that needs it.