NFL Draft Grades - Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders' 2025 Draft Selections

2024 Pick 2. (R:1 P:2) - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Grade: A
Three possible quarterbacks were discussed as a possibility for the Redskins at No. 2. Ultimately, Washington made the correct decision. While J.J. McCarthy has a high floor and Drake Maye possesses an enormous ceiling, Jayden Daniels maintains both. He was the right choice for the Redskins despite some drama that occurred between between him and the organization during the top-30 visit.

2024 Pick 36. (R:2 P:4) - Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Grade: B
I don't like that the Redskins are passing on a left tackle for their new quarterback because they don't have one. However, I love the value they're getting with Johnny Newton. While Newton doesn't fill an immediate need, the Redskins aren't ready to win the Super Bowl this year anyway, so they need to build for the future. I just worry about Jayden Daniels' protection.

2024 Pick 50. (R:2 P:18) - Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Grade: B
It can't be a surprise that the Redskins are drafting a cornerback, given how much they struggled against the pass last year. Mike Sainristill fits the range here, as he's a high-character cornerback who tested better than expected.

2024 Pick 53. (R:2 P:21) - Ben Sinnott, DE, Kansas State
Grade: D
The Redskins needed a tight end, but this is a reach. We slotted Ben Sinnott in the Round 3-4 range. This isn't an egregious reach, but the Redskins could have gotten Sinnot or a similar tight end later.

2024 Pick 67. (R:3 P:3) - Brandon Coleman, OT, TCU
Grade: C+
The Redskins needed a left tackle. Brandon Coleman played left tackle, but he'll likely have to move to right tackle or guard in the NFL. Coleman was seen as a fringe second-day prospect, so the value isn't quite here either.

2024 Pick 100. (R:3 P:36) - Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Grade: B-
The Redskins were thought to be stacked at receiver last year, but with Jahan Dotson struggling in his second year and Curtis Samuel gone, the Redskins needed help at the position. Christian McCaffrey's brother was thought to go a bit later than this as a developmental project, but the range is fine, and he fills a need.

2024 Pick 139. (R:5 P:4) - Jordan MaGee, LB, Temple
Grade: C
I'm not crazy about this pick, as I had Jordan Magee slotted as a late-round prospect. This reach isn't very egregious, however, and it also makes sense for the Redskins to draft a linebacker. I imagine Magee is going to spend most of his career on special teams.

2024 Pick 152. (R:5 P:17) - Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
Grade: A
The Eagles are having an outstanding draft, and this is another great pick. Ainias Smith could have been chosen in the third round. He's undersized (5-9, 191), but he's a quick and shifty route-runner.

2024 Pick 222. (R:7 P:2) - Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DE, Notre Dame
Grade: B
The Redskins lost so many talented edge rushers recently. Javontae Jean-Baptiste could fill someone's shoes one day because he has some potential. However, he's a thin player who needs to bulk up.

Past Grades and Selections

2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2024 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2023 Pick 16. (R:1 P:16) - Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State B Credit Charlie Campbell for reporting that the Redskins loved Emmanuel Forbes, who fits Ron Rivera's defense so well as a ball-hawking cornerback. I wondered if the Redskins would draft a falling prospect like Christian Gonzalez or Nolan Smith, but they stuck with their guy, which is fine. Forbes is going to fill a huge need at cornerback, which has been a big problem area for many years in Washington.

2023 Pick 47. (R:2 P:16) - Jartavius 'Quan' Martin, S/CB, Illinois
B+ I had Quan Martin going one pick earlier, but he makes a lot of sense for the Redskins, who are finally resolving their major secondary issues. Martin can play both safety and cornerback, but with Emmanuel Forbes in the fold, putting Martin at safety is a logical fit.

2023 Pick 97. (R:3 P:34) - Ricky Stromberg, LB, Arkansas
D Here's another reach. We've reached the compensatory section of the third round, so making reach picks like this isn't Millen-worthy, but the Redskins could have drafted so many better players than Ricky Stromberg. The Arkansas product had a solid 2022 campaign, but he's not an exciting prospect.

2023 Pick 118. (R:4 P:16) - Braeden Daniels, G, Utah
B Braeden Daniels played tackle in college, but will have to move to guard in the NFL. However, he should be able to play well at guard for a team that needed help with interior blocking.

2023 Pick 150. (R:5 P:15) - Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
C Justin Shorter is a massive receiver (6-4, 229), but didn't play to his size at Florida. He also dealt with some injuries. The Bills needed a receiver, but they could have gotten someone better than this.

2023 Pick 193. (R:6 P:16) - Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky B- Chris Rodriguez is a power back who gets good yardage after contact. Another running back makes sense, though I think the Redskins should have went with a receiving back instead with J.D. McKissic gone.

2023 Pick 215. (R:6 P:38) - Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss A Zach Evans is undersized, but explosive. He can compete to be the Rams' second running back. I like this pick, as Evans easily could have been drafted a couple of rounds earlier than this.

2023 Pick 233. (R:7 P:16) - Andre Jones, OLB,
C+ Andre Jones was productive at Louisiana-Lafayette, but I don't see how he can make it in the NFL at the moment, given his lack of strength and overall size. He really needs to fill out his frame to have a shot.

2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2022 Pick 16. (R:1 P:16) - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State C Grade
Much like the Texans, the Redskins deserve some credit for picking up resources for trading down. Still, this is a bit of a reach. It's not as bad as the Texans' pick, but there was some speculation that Jahan Dotson could fall out of the first round. The Redskins should've just remained at No. 11 and picked the much better prospect. I like Dotson, but he's a bit short to be taken so early.

2022 Pick 47. (R:2 P:15) - Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama C Grade
I'm not crazy about this pick, as it offers medium value and no filled need. The Redskins had to find defensive line depth at some point because they lost Matt Ioannidis, but they could've have addressed the position later. They have major problems in the secondary that weren't filled. Phidarian Mathis has nice upside, and he's yet another Alabama player, but this is just meh.

2022 Pick 98. (R:3 P:34) - Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama C+ Grade
Yet another Alabama player to the Redskins, albeit on the offensive side of the ball this time. I like Brian Robinson in this range, but I'm not sure why the Redskins picked another running back because they happen to be very deep at the position.

2022 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2022 Pick 144. (R:5 P:1) - Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina A+ Grade
One team we spoke to had Sam Howell as their second-ranked quarterback, so it's insane that he fell so far. Carson Wentz may have trouble sticking around in Washington, so the Redskins needed someone to eventually compete with him. Howell's height is an issue, but he's a solid quarterback prospect otherwise.

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2022 Pick 149. (R:5 P:6) - Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
B- Grade
For a second, I thought the Redskins drafted Cole Strange, which would have been a good spot for him. Cole Turner is a tight end rather than a guard, and the Redskins needed one with some free agency departures. I think this is a bit too early for Turner, but it's the fifth round, so that doesn't mean as much in this area.

2022 Pick 231. (R:7 P:10) - Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
A- Grade
This is a quality value pick, as I thought Baylon Spector could've gone as early as the fifth round. Finding more linebacker depth was essential for the Bills.

2022 Pick 241. (R:7 P:20) - Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota State
B Grade
A quarterback to challenge Kenny Pickett once he begins fumbling a dozen times per game. I'm kidding, well, sort of. Chris Oladokun projects as a possible No. 2 quarterback in the NFL, and I thought he could go a bit earlier than this. It might be difficult for him to make the final roster though.

2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2021 Pick 19. (R:1 P:19) - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky B- Grade
I don't dislike this pick, but I think it's a bit early for Jamin Davis. I had Davis at No. 41 in my final mock draft, but he's been as high as the mid-20s in some updates. It makes sense for the Redskins to address their dreadful linebacking corps with the athletic Davis, but I would've liked to have seen them address the offensive line because the offense needs all the help it can get. Still, Davis is a good player, and he fills a huge need.

2021 Pick 51. (R:2 P:19) - Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas C Grade
I thought the Redskins would go offensive tackle in the first round (Christian Darrisaw) and a linebacker here, but the opposite occurred. Perhaps they should have gone with my plan because this pick is underwhelming. Sam Cosmi is athletic, but he's tough and tends to get bullied around in the trenches. This does not bode well for the NFL.

2021 Pick 74. (R:3 P:10) - Benjamin St-Juste, , Minnesota
F Grade
Talk about a reach. Benjamin St. Juste was in the seventh round of my mock draft. St. Juste had injury issues during his time at Michigan. He had better luck in Minnesota, but he still shouldn't have been chosen this early.

2021 Pick 82. (R:3 P:18) - Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina B+ Grade
Dyami Brown was getting a ton of hype prior to the draft, so I moved him to the second round in some updates. He's an explosive receiver who can go the distance whenever he touches the ball. The Redskins needed another receiver to go along with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, so this is a good pick.

2021 Pick 124. (R:4 P:19) - John Bates, TE, Boise State
D Grade
This is a disappointing pick. The Redskins had no need for a tight end, and they're not getting any sort of value. I had John Bates in the sixth round, so the value just isn't there.

2021 Pick 163. (R:5 P:19) - Darrick Forrest, S, Cincinnati
B Grade
I've had Darrick Forrest pegged around this range for a while, so this is fine value with Darrick Forrest, who fills a slight need the Redskins had at the position as far as depth is concerned.

2021 Pick 246. (R:7 P:18) - Shaka Toney, 3-4OLB, Penn State
A Grade
The Redskins really want to make sure that they have quality pass-rushing depth. I'm fine with doubling down on the position, especially when considering that Shaka Toney was available. I had Toney in the fifth round, so I love the value the Redskins are getting with this incredibly athletic edge rusher.

2021 Pick 258. (R:7 P:30) - Dax Milne, WR, BYU
A Grade
Dax Milne is someone who was getting tons of hype in the months leading up to the draft, so I'm surprised he went off the board this late. He could have gone a couple of rounds earlier, so the Redskins are getting great value. I like this pick even though it doesn't fill a need.

2020 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2020 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2019 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2019 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2018 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2018 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2017 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2017 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2016 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2016 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2015 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2015 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD

2014 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2014 Washington Commanders - Prospect:TBD