Commanders' Team Needs to Fill in 2024 NFL Draft
The Washington Commanders are all-in on the quarterback position with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Washington has the opportunity to reboot its franchise with a new player under center to work with recently-hired head coach Dan Quinn.
The assumption is the Commanders get to choose from J.J. McCarthy, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. Caleb Williams is the presumed No. 1 pick to the Chicago Bears.
Only after the No. 2 is made will any focus around the Washington franchise turn to other positions.
Internally, the Commanders have a list of needs to fill out around the new quarterback, but right now, all the external focus is centered on one position only.
Quarterback
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The buildup to Washington's selection on April 25 will generate all sorts of buzz.
The latest conversation added J.J. McCarthy to the discussion at No. 2. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero outlined discussions league personnel have had about Washington's decision. (h/t Awful Announcing).
"The most popular answer for what they're doing at No. 2 is J.J. McCarthy," Pelissero said.
Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels were presumed to be the only two options Washington would consider at the start of the draft process, but McCarthy's rise makes the situation even more fascinating.
Washington has no choice but to draft a quarterback at No. 2 since it already shipped Sam Howell off to Seattle. Marcus Mariota and Jake Fromm are the only quarterbacks currently on the roster.
The speculation surrounding McCarthy could be something, or nothing, but it shows how difficult and extensive the evaluation process will be for Washington so that it gets the pick perfect.
Edge Rusher
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Washington's need for a dynamic edge-rusher may have dropped a bit after its free-agent spending, but it could still use a younger option to get after the quarterback.
Quinn brought over a handful of defensive linemen who he worked with in Dallas. Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong and Da'Ron Payne headline a reworked defensive line that also includes Jonathan Allen.
The front end depth of the Washington defensive line is impressive, but it could use more bodies and that is where someone like Bralen Trice could fit in.
Trice was projected to be Washington's pick at No. 36 by Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department in its March mock draft.
Trice recorded 17 sacks over the last two seasons for the Huskies and he could be one of a few potential difference-makers available at the start of Day 2.
Penn State's Chop Robinson and Utah's Jonah Elliss are among the names the Washington coaching staff should take close looks at to fill the two second-round picks, or for a potential trade into the bottom of the first round.
Tight End
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The free-agent signing of Zach Ertz is not enough for the Commanders at tight end.
Ertz is 33 and recorded a 500-yard season in one of his last five campaigns.
The former Philadelphia and Arizona player is a nice complementary piece to have on the roster, but he is no longer a No. 1 tight end.
Washington should be on the hunt for a new starting tight end on Day 2. Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders, Ohio State's Cade Stover and Penn State's Theo Johnson are the best tight ends in the draft class behind Georgia's Brock Bowers.
Bowers is a likely top-10 pick, and unless Washington trades into the first round for him, the NFC East side has no chance of landing him.
B/R's NFL scouting department predicted Sanders would be Washington's pick at No. 67. Stover was the 68th pick in that mock draft.
The top of the third round seems like the reasonable place to land a tight end, but that could happen even later in the draft depending on how the second round shakes out.
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