Tag: 2023 Commanders Draft

Commanders got good news when Young, Sweat and Leno returned

The Commanders were happy to have Leno, Young and Sweat back Tuesday.

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Some really good news for the Commanders at this week’s mandatory workouts, Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Charles Leno are back.

Of course, Young was asked about the Commanders not picking up his 5th-year option. But Young handled it well with a succinct answer.

It was clearly a business decision that the Commanders made, and Young wants to work out and not discuss it any further.

All three were kept out of some reps as Commanders coaches and trainers did not know where they were physically.

It was reported on Twitter by Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that “Ron Rivera said they will ramp up Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Charles Leno to get a feel for where they’re at physically before throwing them in there fully. The three trained elsewhere during voluntary OTAs.”

Sweat has developed into a good run defender, and with NFL pass rushers not growing on trees, it is important for Sweat to have a good year this 2023 season.

Both Young and Sweat are both represented by the same agency and thus it is not out of the question that they were both advised that it would not be wise to work out in team situations where injuries sometimes occur, placing the player in jeopardy if he has no contract beyond the next season.

It is good to also see Leno back in camp workouts. The 2022 offensive line play trended downward. One fan this week called Leno “a turnstile,” and another said that Leno was “horrible and plays the most important position of the offensive line.”

Washington drafted Braeden Daniels 118th overall (offensive tackle, Utah), but most analysts feel Daniels is too light and needs more experience and mass gained before he could unseat the veteran Leno for the job.

The Commanders having re-signed both starting defensive tackles (Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne), speculation is already rising the Commanders may wait and see what type of seasons the defensive ends produce and determine which, if either (Young, Sweat), they will re-sign.

The Commanders drafted defensive ends K.J. Henry (137) and Andre Jones (233) in the latest NFL draft. If these two put any pressure on out there, we can only hope it is the pressure that results in urgency for both Sweat and Young this summer.

ESPN analyst examines Commanders 2023 draft selections

Analysis of each of Washington’s seven selections.

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John Keim sat down and chatted with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid recently.

Reid gave his thoughts on the Commanders’ recent draft in how it might help their personnel.

1st Round (16 overall) Emmanuel Forbes

“We knew they had to corner, somehow, someway and they addressed it really early. I think they really needed to get a player who could get them some turnovers because that’s what they lacked last year. You know walking through the door Forbes is going to help you with your turnover production.”

2nd Round (47 overall) Jartavius (Quan) Martin

“I thought he was a home run selection for them. He was one of my favorite prospects because he satisfies so many needs in a secondary… so many hats he can wear.”

3rd Round (97 overall) Ricky Stromberg

“He has a ton of experience; a five-year player at Arkansas. If it were me, I’d put him out there Week 1 as the starter, I think that highly of him.”

4th Round (118 overall) Braeden Daniels

“I think his athleticism can be on display. I thought he was more consistent at guard. His tape was up and down at tackle.

5th Round (137 overall) K.J. Henry

“A young developmental piece that doesn’t have a super-high ceiling but can come in and play 10 to 12 reps a game that you feel good about. I think he can help you walking through the door.”

6th Round (193 overall) Chris Rodriguez Jr

“A bigger back you can run between the tackles. You don’t really want to run him on the perimeter a ton because he is more of that ‘downhill get those tough yards’ type of player.”

7th Round (233 overall) Andre Jones

“A true pass rusher which is something they need. You’re just taking a flyer on players that late. Athletic, you are hoping you can get something out of them. Maybe he is a Practice Squad guy where you can hope to stash and develop him.”

Pro Football Talk analyst grades NFC East drafts

The Commanders are ahead of the Cowboys.

Connor Rogers reviewed the NFC East drafts for the four teams.

Rogers felt like the NFC East stole a lot of the headlines in last weekend’s draft. For those who watched the draft, yes, he is saying the Eagles primarily stole the headlines with their draft.

But Rogers does like some things each team determined in their choices.
He ranked the draft performance in the following order:

  1. Eagles
  2. Giants
  3. Commanders
  4. Cowboys

 

The draft round where Washington has mostly failed

Washington’s lack of success in the second round is alarming. The Commanders believe their last three second-round picks can change that narrative.

Did the Commanders finally get a player in the second round who will make sizable contributions for Washington?

Friday, with the 47th pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Commanders selected Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois.

The second round has been not only disappointing, but it has also been many times brutal for the Commanders, Washington Football Team and Redskins.  In the Daniel Snyder era, the second round has been mostly depressing for the franchise and its fan base. Taking ownership in May 1999, Mr. Snyder’s first draft was therefore the 2000 draft.

The team actually drafted well in the second round in 2001 (Fred Smoot) and 2002 Ladell Betts, but after that, the successful picks in the second round have been few.

In his 129 NFL games, Smoot intercepted 21 passes and was a starting corner for seven seasons of his NFL career. In his 111 NFL games, Betts rushed for 3,326 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in his 821 carries, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. The former Iowa Hawkeye also caught 188 passes for 1,646 yards and three touchdown receptions.

To be honest, there have been a few other Washington second-rounders who were not busts and made notable contributions such as Preston Smith (2015) in his four seasons, Trent Murphy with 15 sacks in his three seasons, Rocky McIntosh in his six seasons had 3 interceptions, 8 forced fumbles, 8 sacks, 329 solo tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and 23 quarterback hits.

Commanders Wire certainly hopes Sam Cosmi (2021) finds more success at guard and Phidarian Mathis (2022) can regain his health and strength and contribute at defensive tackle.

Here is the entire list of second-round picks by Washington in the Daniel Snyder era:

2023     Jartavius Martin

2022     Phidarian Mathis

2021     Samuel Cosmi

2018     Derrius Guice

2017     Ryan Anderson

2016     Su’a Cravens

2015     Preston Smith

2014     Trent Murphy

2013     David Amerson

2011     Jarvis Jenkins

2008     Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, Malcolm Kelly

2006     Rocky McIntosh

2003     Taylor Jacobs

2002     Ladell Betts

2001     Fred Smoot

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Twitter reaction to Commanders final selection Andre Jones

Social media reacts to Commanders selecting Louisiana EDGE Andre Jones.

Washington grabbed Louisiana edge defender Andre Jones Jr with their final pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

I couldn’t help but notice Jones’ build, his weight, and what he could add, and then thought of how the NFL this week suspended Commanders DE/special team athlete Shaka Toney for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

Toney was a 7th-round draft choice as well.

Incidentally, Jones was the only Louisiana player selected in this draft.

Here is some of the Twitter reaction to the Commanders choosing Jones.

 

When the Commanders were on the clock at No. 47…

Logan Paulsen and Fred Smoot like the Jartavius Martin pick.

When the Washington Commanders went on the clock at No. 47 in the second round, a YouTube live broadcast with Julie Donaldson and her team of analysts dove in, awaiting the selection.

Logan Paulsen asked to name a few names as the better possibilities to be the selection. Offensive linemen Cody Mauch, Tyler Steen, linebacker Daiyan Henley, and “Fred (Smoot), I think you will like this, man. I think we got Sydney Brown and Jartavious Martin. Both from Illinois, both really fun to watch on film.”

Suddenly the card was already submitted, and Donaldson read the name live, “Jartavius Martin.”  Paulsen did not hesitate to respond, “Oh, that’s a bad man right there.”

Paulsen had again nailed it as he often does. The Commanders had chosen Martin. Paulsen said he believed Martin really was the best player left on the Commanders board at this time.

Santana Moss asked if the selection of Martin was “Kam Curl insurance” if the Commanders cannot sign Curl to a contract extension.

Smoot relayed to the fans watching they need to realize 70% of the guys drafted these next two days will not be in the league in four years. So why would the Commanders reach to fill a need? No, they need to take the best player available when selecting early in a draft at No. 47. Paulsen echoed you don’t want to reach and devalue the No. 47 pick.

Moss reminded fans that those who might be upset because Washington did not select a linebacker that the team plays more packages with more defensive backs. Therefore, this pick probably makes more sense for the packages they play.

Paulsen assured fans there are offensive linemen that the Commanders will be able to select later.

But he reminded fans the draft has to fall to you, meaning that, of course, there were offensive linemen they would have loved to have drafted, but other teams in front of the Commanders wanted those players, so they are gone.

Thus the Commanders have to go with better players that fall to you. Smoot echoed this sentiment take the draft as it comes to you; get players who can contribute now.

Donaldson reminded viewers that Bobby McCain is no longer with the team, and he played many snaps the last two seasons, so the Commanders really need to ensure they can plug in players who can contribute this season where McCain did in the past.

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Twitter response to Commanders No. 16 pick Emmanuel Forbes

Some of the top reactions to the Commanders selecting Emmanuel Forbes.

The Commanders surprised all viewers when their No. 16 selection was announced Thursday.

Emmanuel Forbes, cornerback, Mississippi State University, announced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

You can imagine there were some good responses on Twitter regarding the Commanders’ selection.

 

Twitter Reactions to Commanders declining Chase Young’s 5th year option

The reactions were all over the place regarding the Commanders’ declining Chase Young’s fifth-year option.

Chase Young was the 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year.

That season, the Ohio State rookie forced four fumbles, recovered three fumbles, ran one back for a touchdown, collected 7.5 sacks, made 42 total tackles, had 10 tackles for a loss and 12 quarterback hits.

However, in 2021, Young, in 9 games, did not resemble the player we observed in 2020. There were only 3 tackles for a loss and only 4 quarterback hits and a mere 1.5 sacks.

Then a horrible knee injury occurred against the Tampa Bay Bucs. He missed the remainder of 2021 and almost all of 2022.

There is no easy answer to what the Commanders’ decision regarding Young’s 5th-year option should be.

Here is some of the varied Twitter reactions to the Commanders’ decision.

Who would Logan Paulsen take for the Commanders at No. 47?

The first two picks would make Washington fans really happy.

Logan Paulsen and Craig Hoffman utilized an ESPN draft simulator and one of the more interesting discussions was who would be a good draft selection for the Commanders in round two at No. 47?

Paulsen began with the starting point of taking an offensive tackle at No. 16. In this case; the simulator had Paris Johnson (Ohio State) still available, so Paulsen declared if that would be the case Thursday, he would not hesitate to take Johnson at 16.

So what about round two for Paulsen and No. 47?

“For me, this is really interesting, and I would never do this, but I think Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama RB) fills a huge need for this team. And I really like him… He’s excellent as like a satellite player move piece. If I’m trying to put myself in the shoes of Eric Bieniemy, I think Eric is not going to like him as much as me because he’s bad in pass protection.”

“So, what I would do here, probably if I had a gun to my head, is I would take Steve Avila (TCU G/C) and put him at center. That’s what I would do. I would have Paris Johnson play right tackle, move Andrew Wylie to left guard and put Steve Avila at center.”

“Again, you have to play the board here.”

“Is there a corner that I would take here? Probably not. I like Cam Smith (South Carolina CB), but do I love him at 47? Is he a true game-changer? Maybe. DJ Turner is interesting, and Tyrique Stevenson is interesting (both cornerbacks). But are these guys really high on my board? Probably not.”

“He (Avila) is my number one guard, you know, and he can play center. So, you are doing ok, I think.”

Here is the link if you would like to watch the entire segment on YouTube.

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