NFL Analysis
3/29/24
8 min read
Washington Commanders 2024 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Who Should Be New QB1?
The 2024 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, and this is peak smokescreen season in the rumor mill. Teams are still sifting through the game tape, pro-day performances and player interviews and are assigning final grades before having strong convictions.
One of the most interesting teams entering the draft is the Washington Commanders. Armed with six picks in the top 100 and the No. 2 overall pick, Washington can turn the franchise into an exciting one. New coach Dan Quinn has built an impressive staff of veteran assistants to help steer a young team in the right direction.
We've created a special seven-round mock draft for the Commanders, piecing together picks that complement the current roster, staff and potential direction they want to go.
First-year general manager Adam Peters has nine picks to help bolster a roster with critical needs at high-value positions. We declined to include trades, as Washington should use each pick to infuse the roster with as much talent as possible.
Let's dive in.
Washington Commanders 7-Round Mock Draft
Round 1, 2nd Overall
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The draft begins right here. The Commanders appear to be deciding between North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick.
Maye, who is a year and a half younger than Daniels and weighs 25 pounds more, certainly fits the physical profile of a prototypical NFL quarterback. However, Daniels is coming off an explosive senior season that produced a Heisman Trophy.
The betting market has Daniels as the favorite, and the highlight packages of Daniels' big runs and downfield throws from 2023 are easy to love. Daniels is a good prospect, but he's older, has a slender, 210-pound frame, shows zero interest in avoiding direct hits and has avoided throwing the ball over the middle of the field for much of his career.
This doesn't mean he won't develop into a great NFL playmaker. Still, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury saw firsthand how these concerns can be limiting when he was in Arizona with Kyler Murray.
Kingsbury would need to craft a vertical passing offense that simplifies Daniels' reads and creates lanes for him to run. Such an offense creates obvious strain on the offensive line and a huge amount of pressure on Daniels.
Instead, it makes sense for the Commanders to take Maye.
He doesn't quite have the huge arm that someone such as Justin Herbert or Patrick Mahomes boasts, but Maye plays similarly. He's creative outside of the pocket and has excellent touch to all three levels of the field. He's willing and able to take the quick passes that keep the chains moving in between downfield attempts.
Kingsbury's spread offense is a better fit for Maye than Daniels because the former will take advantage of hot reads and underneath targets. Washington can build its roster around someone who is experienced under center, has good mobility for his size and will develop on a trajectory that ages well and translates to the postseason.
Round 2, 36th Overall
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Washington watched Curtis Samuel bolt to Buffalo this offseason, leaving a hole at the team's No. 2 receiver role. Forcing a receiver at this pick isn't necessary due to the depth in the class. It wouldn't be shocking for them to opt for a top tackle instead, but that group is also deep.
Adonai Mitchell has first-round explosiveness and an uncommon skill set for someone who is 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. He's an exceptional route runner with terrific footwork and attention to detail. He never shouldered a heavy workload in college, but if he had, he'd be ranked similarly to Rome Odunze.
Mitchell would complement a talented receiving duo of Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, both of whom can get vertical or find success underneath. Mitchell is experienced in an offensive system similar to Kingsbury's, so his transition in Year 1 won't be as severe as others. He could be Washington's next WR1 if McLaurin is eventually moved.
Round 2, 40th Overall
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
There's some risk with Penn State defenders because they always test off the charts but struggle to produce as they should. Chop Robinson is in the same vein as the Baltimore Ravens' Odafe Oweh, who creates a ton of pressure but has registered only 13 sacks in three seasons.
However, Robinson's burst and speed are promising enough to overlook that he had only six sacks in his college seasons.
Robinson is electric off the edge. Washington has a gaping need for an impact starter across from the rotation of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. Neither Chase Young nor Montez Sweat found their groove enough for Washington to invest in, so fresh blood is needed.
If nothing else, Robinson's 4.48-second 40-yard speed and elite jumping marks give the Commanders a better chance to hit than do most Day 2 edge defenders.
It's also notable that this pass-rusher class is bad. Washington can't wait too long before adding a pass rusher, as the league has effectively identified elite athletes. It's the one position the NFL scouts especially well, and Robinson's profile is markedly better than others projected in this range.
Round 3, 67th Overall
Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
We rolled the dice by waiting at offensive tackle, and a few starting-caliber options fell to the Commanders. The best option is Blake Fisher, who played right tackle opposite Joe Alt at Notre Dame. Fisher stood out for his blend of size and athleticism and should be a solid Day 2 selection.
The junior is just shy of 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, and he's a smooth operator in space. He's quick enough in his backpedal to redirect rushers, and getting him into space in the run game maximizes his long reach and closing speed.
There are technical aspects to clean up, and he'll have to add some strength to his lower body. But he can step in as a starter in Year 1 at right tackle.
Round 3, 78th Overall
Cole Bishop, SAF, Utah
Quinn loves physical, versatile safeties. At this pick, Washington could've nabbed a ballhawk such as Kamren Kinchens or Calen Bullock, but neither is a willing or strong tackler. Cole Bishop can play free safety or the slot or can drop down into the box and perform at a high level.
At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, and with 4.45-second 40-yard speed, Bishop looks a lot like Micah Hyde and boasts similar experience as someone who can play everywhere. Bishop was all over the field at Utah, totaling 197 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three picks and 12 pass breakups in three seasons.
Washington can start him with Percy Butler and Jeremy Chinn and be confident in the team's rotation.
Round 3, 100th Overall
Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
We return to the Nittany Lions' well of athletes to close out Washington's Day 2 picks. TE Theo Johnson was a hidden gem in Penn State's offense, producing 11 touchdowns and 669 yards on only 54 catches in his last two seasons. Then, he posted one of the greatest combine performances we've seen from a tight end.
The 6-foot-6, 259-pounder offers incredible speed and leaping ability and has a phenomenal catch radius for his quarterback. He just wasn't in an offense that threw the ball enough to showcase him.
Kingsbury can use Johnson as an inline blocker or out wide, and Johnson is talented enough to be on the field with Zach Ertz.
Round 5, 139th Overall
Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami (FL)
This is the point in the draft where every team should look for high-value players regardless of need. Washington doesn't have the most pressing desire to add another body at defensive tackle, but Leonard Taylor garnered top-45 attention for parts of the 2023 season.
He's a decently athletic run-stopper who can get after the passer enough to earn rotational snaps.
There's no need to force Taylor on the field right away, given the presence of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, but Taylor can perform if he's called upon. He can compete with John Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis while developing.
Round 5, 152nd Overall
Ty'Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
One of the first things Quinn prioritized was revamping the team's linebacking unit. That wasn't an accident.
Jamin Davis has been a nice weakside linebacker, but the additions of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are significant. Wagner, on a one-year deal, can be a great mentor for Ty'Ron Hopper.
Hopper isn't a super athletic off-ball linebacker, but he profiles as an affordable, consistent middleman. He's a powerful tackler with good instincts in the run game. He's not someone who will win a lot in man coverage, but as a two-down player, he can carve out a long career.
Round 7, 222nd Overall
Frank Crum, OL, Wyoming
Adding another blocker is imperative for Washington. Even if Fisher is a hit, the Commanders lack proven backups who can step in if injuries hit. This 6-foot-8, 313-pounder from Wyoming is an excellent developmental prospect to stash on the practice squad.
Frank Crum is super athletic for his size, and it shows on film. He's as raw, as most would expect from Wyoming, and his sub-34-inch arms mean he could make the transition to guard. That's fine for Washington, which has been particularly weak on the interior in recent years.
