Best available players on the board as the Washington Commanders head into Day 2 of the NFL Draft
The Washington Commanders have completed Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft, adding Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels, as the quarterback of the future.Many talented prospects remain available on both sides of the ball at several position groups as Day 2 gets underway. The team currently has five picks on Day 2 – two in the […]
The Washington Commanders have completed Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft, adding Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels, as the quarterback of the future.
Many talented prospects remain available on both sides of the ball at several position groups as Day 2 gets underway. The team currently has five picks on Day 2 – two in the second round at Nos. 36 and 40 and three in the third round at Nos. 67, 78, and 100
Here are the best available players remaining at each position (except for quarterback) for the Commanders:
Running back
- FSU RB Trey Benson
- Texas RB Jonathon Brooks
- USC RB MarShawn Lloyd
- Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen
- Clemson RB Will Shipley
- Michigan RB Blake Corum
- Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright
- Notre Dame RB Audric Estime
- Kentucky RB Ray Davis
Why RB makes sense on Day 2: Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. should form a very effective 1-2 punch in 2024 and Chris Rodriguez Jr. contributes on special teams, so it's hard to make a case for running back in Rounds 2-3. A unique guy, like an H-back type player, would make more sense than a true RB.
Wide receiver
- Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
- Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk
- Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley
- UCF WR Javon Baker
- Virginia WR Malik Washington
- Michigan WR Roman Wilson
- Washington WR Jalen McMillan
- North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
- FSU WR Johnny Wilson
- USC WR Brenden Rice
- Rice WR Luke McCaffrey
Why WR makes sense on Day 2: Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are good players, but the receiver room is in trouble if one, or both, go down for an extended period of time. Getting Jayden Daniels as many weapons as possible should be the top priority moving forward.
Tight end
- Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott
- TCU TE Jared Wiley
- Ohio State TE Cade Stover
- Texas TE Ja'Tavion Sanders
- Penn State TE Theo Johnson
- Iowa TE Erick All
Why TE makes sense on Day 2: Zach Ertz is coming off back-to-back seasons in which he suffered big injuries and he's 33. He's clearly a band-aid and someone who can help the others pick up Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Behind him is a bunch of unprovens, so it won't be a surprise, at all, if the Commanders take a tight end on Friday.
Offensive tackle
- Houston OT Patrick Paul
- TCU OT Brandon Coleman
- Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie
- Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher
- Penn State OT Caeden Wallace
- Washington OT Roger Rosengarten
- Pittsburgh OT Matt Goncalves
Why OT makes sense on Day 2: Tackle is arguably the biggest need going into Day 2. Right now, career swing tackle Cornelius Lucas and unknown 2023 fourth-rounder Braeden Daniels are the top-2 options at left tackle. The class is a deep one at tackle and there are still good players left on the board. Washington has to take care of this and early on.
Interior offensive line
- Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
- West Virginia OL Zach Frazier
- UConn OL Christian Haynes
- Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe
- Kansas OL Dominic Puni
- Boston College OL Christian Mahogany
Why iOL makes sense on Day 2: The Commanders seemed to have sewn up the interior offensive line, so depth would be the reason they take a center or guard in Rounds 2-3.
Defensive end
- Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland
- Illinois DL Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton
- Washington DE Bralen Trice
- Penn State DE Adissa Isaac
- Utah DE Jonah Eliss
- CSU DE Mohamed Kamara
- UCLA DE Gabriel Murphy
- Houston Baptist DE Jalyx Hunt
Why DE makes sense on Day 2: Defensive end should be high on the list of priorities. The Commanders have guys, but they don't have the guy on their roster. Adding a premier threat on the outside that also has time to grow in a rotation is a great way to keep building up the defense.
Defensive tackle
- LSU DT Maason Smith
- Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr.
- Michigan DT Kris Jenkins
- FSU DT Braden Fiske
- Oregon DT Brandon Dorlus
- Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro
Why DT makes sense on Day 2: It doesn't make a ton of sense outside depth purposes. The Commanders don't really have a true nose tackle, so that would be a solid option. But with DaRon Payne and Jonathan Allen on the roster, they just need a guy who can give them a breather on Sundays.
Linebacker
- Michigan LB Junior Colson
- Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
- Cincinnati LB Devin Gray
Why LB makes sense on Day 2: The Commanders are in great shape when it comes to their starting linebackers and the depth isn't bad, either. It's a hard sell for LB on Day 2.
Cornerback
- Iowa DB Cooper DeJean
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter
- Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa
- Missouri Ennis Rakestraw-Jr.
- Michigan CB Mike Sainristil
- Mizzou CB Kris Abrams-Draine
Why CB makes sense on Day 2: There are still questions around Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes and veteran Michael Davis has a ceiling. Also, the team doesn't have a true nickelback on the roster. Cornerback is easily one of the top priorities for the Commanders on Day 2.
Safety
- Minnesota S Tyler Nubin
- Georgia S Javon Bullard
- Texas Tech S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
- Utah S Cole Bishop
- Washington State S Jaden Hicks
- Georgia S Tykee Smith
Why CB makes sense on Day 2: Depth purposes, only, since Quan Martin and Jeremy Chinn are in the picture. It would be a bit surprising to see a true safety taken on Day 2. Now, a hybrid-type guy is a different story, because we know how much Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. love versatility.
