New Washington general manager Adam Peters has a chance to remake the Commanders with an estimated $80 million in cap space and nine picks in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.
Washington has plenty of needs heading into the offseason, and Peters could turn the Commanders’ nine picks into more before the draft is complete. Finding a franchise quarterback should be the goal for this offseason. Picking No. 2 overall gives Washington a unique opportunity to begin a regime with a new GM, head coach, and quarterback.
Our friend, Curt Popejoy of Draft Wire, recently completed a seven-round mock draft for the Commanders. He addressed multiple positions throughout, beginning with the quarterback.
Let’s examine Draft Wire’s mock beginning with at No. 2 overall.
1st round: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
In this mock draft, the Commanders select Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye. It’s difficult to get a read into Washington’s plans when it hasn’t selected a head coach yet, but there doesn’t appear to be a wrong answer between the two young passers. Daniels is a playmaker who can throw the ball and has arguably the best deep ball in the draft, and is the most explosive QB since Lamar Jackson.
2nd round: CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Lassiter played during all three of his seasons at Georgia. He will go sometime on day two, but it would be a surprise to see him go at No. 36 if there are better options at offensive tackle and edge rusher for Washington.
2nd round: OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
Kiran Amegadjie is an underrated prospect only because of where he played college football. NFL scouts are well aware of Amegadjie. He has excellent size and length and projects to remain at tackle at the next level. It will be interesting to follow him at NFL combine.
3rd round: LB Payton WIlson, North Carolina State
Payton Wilson would be a day-one starter for the Commanders at Mike linebacker. Wilson has tremendous size, experience and he’s a physical player with a high football IQ. He’s exactly what Peters likes to target at linebacker. He won’t be an elite tester at the NFL combine, but that’s not to say he isn’t a solid athlete. He spent six seasons in college, so his age and his medicals will be key for him.
3rd round: WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Ainias Smith is a fun player to watch. Think a poor man’s Deebo Samuel. Remember, Peters helped draft Samuel. Smith has played running back and wide receiver and also returned kicks. That type of versatility is a bonus at the next level. He will have a huge opportunity in the Senior Bowl to separate himself.
4th round: EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri
Darius Robinson has everything you look for in an edge rusher. He has excellent size and athleticism. He will also play in the Senior Bowl. After working as a depth piece early in his career, Robinson had a terrific final season in 2023.
Sure, it’s unblocked…we get it. But trust us, you’re not going to find many guys Darius Robinson’s size (6050v, 291v) who move and close to QB like this👇.
There’s an old saying in scouting that applies to hard to find guys like @Darius6Robinson—THEY DON’T GROW ON TREES.
🧵2/4… pic.twitter.com/3q4QQcSlBk
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 16, 2023
5th round: TE AJ Barner, Michigan
AJ Barner played his first three seasons at Indiana before transferring to Michigan for 2023 and winning the national championship. Barner has great size (6-foot-6, 251) and is also lauded for his ability as a blocker. Landing a tight end who can block in the fifth round is always an excellent value. Barner never had a huge season as a receiver, but there is an upside there, especially this late in the draft.
6th round: OG Javion Cohen, Miami
Javion Cohen began his college career at Alabama, where he started over 20 games in his three seasons there. He transferred to Miami in 2023, where the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Cohen started his final season. Cohen is also playing in the Senior Bowl. He has the potential to be a day-one starter.
7th round: RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall
Rasheen Ali is a quick and twitchy running back with some explosiveness, who produced throughout his college career. He will also play in the Senior Bowl, and the Commanders have been known to take players from the Senior Bowl in recent years, with Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin being prime examples.
