Washington fans and NFL analysts were shocked when the Washington Commanders didn’t address the left tackle position in free agency and during the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
General manager Adam Peters did try to move back into the first round for an offensive tackle. But whether it was because the player he targeted was gone or Peters wasn’t going to pay the price, a deal wasn’t made, and Washington remained patient.
The Commanders had three second-round picks and did not select an offensive tackle. That wait ended early in the third round when Washington chose Brandon Coleman from TCU.
No one questioned where Coleman was drafted. The debate was whether he would be better as a guard or tackle in the NFL.
He played both positions in college, earning All-Big 12 honors at each position. At the NFL combine, Coleman’s measurables blew teams away. His length and athleticism were reminiscent of top NFL tackles, but other inconsistencies led some to believe he fit better at guard.
From the moment Washington drafted Coleman, Peters made it clear the team believed he was a tackle, and that’s where he would start his career.
Coleman’s offensive line coach at TCU, A.J. Ricker, believes Coleman’s versatility is an asset at the next level.
“It’s huge,” Ricker said, per Zach Selby of commanders.com.
“There’s a guy that honestly could play all three [positions]. Center, guard and tackle. And heck, that’s what you’re looking for now. You’d like for him to…settle on one position, but he’s one guy that I tell people all the time, ‘It’s kind of amazing how much you can move him around.’ And he still hasn’t played that much football. His best football is still ahead of him.”
Ricker said that Coleman wasn’t even “close to his ceiling” as a player.
One area where the best offensive tackles stand out above the rest is their footwork. Coleman excels in this area as well.
“If your feet are not right, very rarely are your hands gonna be efficient,” Ricker said. “It’s blocking with your feet first, and then the rest will take care of itself. He was blessed genetically to have really good feet and be athletic, but he also works at it, too.”
Peters rolled the dice this offseason at offensive tackle, bringing back Andrew Wylie to play right tackle and going with veteran Cornelius Lucas at left tackle. That’s not to say he hasn’t tried. He obviously has tried. Remember how many holes Peters had to fill when he took over the team in January? You can’t fill them all in one offseason.
It’s often said that the best move is the one you don’t make. Perhaps that will be the case for Washington in 2024. For that to happen, Peters would need to be right about Coleman. From all indications, Peters and the coaching staff strongly believe the rookie can start at left tackle early in his career. If the GM is right, Coleman could be his best offseason move in an offseason full of moves.
Whoever starts at left tackle has a clear mission: Protect rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at all costs.