Any Commanders seven-round mock draft should begin with an acknowledgment that Washington has already been busy with its draft picks, with basic supervisor Adam Peters shortly exhibiting himself to be an lively dealer.
Washington despatched a third-round decide to Houston as a part of a bundle to get deal with Laremy Tunsil and despatched a fifth to San Francisco for receiver Deebo Samuel, and this was after sending third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to New Orleans for cornerback Marshon Lattimore eventually 12 months’s commerce deadline. Different picks have come and gone in different offers, however the internet result’s three new starters at key positions with out touching Washington’s prime two picks on this draft.
It is exceptional how far the Commanders have are available a 12 months — from 4-13 and selecting second within the 2024 draft to deciding on quarterback Jayden Daniels, going 12-5 and successful two playoff video games. Solely six groups have higher odds to win Tremendous Bowl LX, so this draft is about addressing wants on a crew that does not have a ton of obtrusive ones.
First spherical, twenty ninth total: edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Edge is on the intersection of Washington’s positional wants and the perfect depth on the prime of this draft, which is to say the Commanders may get the sixth or seventh edge off the board and nonetheless land an influence rookie. Shedding Dante Fowler to the Cowboys in free company created a direct want, however that is additionally a place at which Washington has little or no developmental expertise.
Will Ezeiruaku — it appears to be like daunting, however is pronounced “ezz-AH-rah-koo” — nonetheless be there at No. 29? We’ll say sure, however this may very well be Tennessee‘s James Pearce Jr. or Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. Ezeiruaku exploded with 16.5 sacks final season, and he has a ridiculous 82-inch wingspan, which helps offset an unusually brief body at 6-foot-2. If he is the seventh edge taken within the first spherical, that will be one in need of probably the most previously decade, as there have been eight in 2017.
Second spherical, 61st total: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
Is second-year professional Mike Sainristil higher off on the skin or at nickel? Both means, the Commanders may use some dimension on the skin reverse Lattimore, and the 6-foot-3 Porter matches that invoice properly. He is a transformed receiver with restricted beginning expertise on protection, so it might be OK if Porter did not must be a direct every-down nook. He’ll deliver worth on particular groups as nicely, with 4 blocked punts and a blocked subject objective in school. Plus, he ran a 4.30 40 on the mix.
Fourth spherical, 128th total: T Cameron Williams, Texas
Including Tunsil ought to permit the Commanders to shift final 12 months’s third-rounder, Brandon Coleman, to proper deal with, which provides them a gap for a developmental swing deal with. Williams is dangerously uncooked, with just one 12 months of beginning expertise, however his dimension (6-foot-6, 317 kilos) and lengthy attain will give coaches lots to work with bodily. You are not often going to seek out an influence starter late within the fourth spherical, however that is good worth and somebody who may compete with Coleman for a beginning job a 12 months from now.
Sixth spherical, 205th total: LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
Washington used two late-round picks final 12 months on linebackers Jordan Magee and Dominique Hampton, so there’s some redundancy right here, however Bobby Wagner turns 35 in June, so it is OK to have a number of choices for after he is executed. Higgins is a manufacturing over measurables man. He ran a 4.82 40 on the mix and his body is nearer to that of an NFL security, however he had 171 tackles as a junior to guide the nation and 4 interceptions as a senior, so there are protection expertise to offset the pace points. If all a sixth-round decide does is make an influence on particular groups, Higgins can fill that a part of it as nicely.
Seventh spherical, 245th total: RB Marcus Yarns, Delaware
A bit native taste right here — Yarns performed at Delaware and is from Maryland, and he may also help Washington as a flexible backup at operating again. He is smaller (5-foot-11, 193) however ran a 4.45 40 and averaged higher than six yards per carry in every of his final three school seasons, with 11 receiving touchdowns as nicely. Can success at small-school Delaware translate to the NFL? If solely as a complementary again who may assistance on returns, Yarns does sufficient issues to have a very good probability to stay on the roster as a seventh-rounder.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade masking the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication every day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
