Tag: Brandon Coleman

Commanders NFL Draft grades: Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU

Commanders NFL Draft grade for selecting Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU in the third round

The Washington Commanders trotted out one of the worst offensive lines in the entire league every week last season. With the addition of new quarterback Jayden Daniels being drafted in the first round, the team made it a priority to improve the protection around their newfound signal caller. They took a step towards that improvement here with the selection of TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman.

Coleman does not quite project as an immediate starter and will instead be locked into camp battles for either the backup tackle spot or potentially even as a starting guard. With plenty of experience at either spot, Coleman should see the field eventually on this uneven offensive line.

Versatile, fundamentally sound, and possessing good athleticism and quickness, Coleman possesses plenty of traits of an ideal depth piece along the offensive line. Though Coleman has physical limitations that may keep him from being a long-term starter, it’s hard to find such pieces in the third round.

Grade: B-

Chris Cooley: Commanders rookie OL Brandon Coleman ‘a project’

What does the former Washington star think about the potential new left tackle?

“I don’t know what I see.”

That was how Chris Cooley began his discussion with Kevin Sheehan, Thursday, during his film review of Commanders’ rookie offensive tackle, Brandon Coleman.

Here are some selected quotes from Cooley’s film review:

“He looks very athletic on the field.”

“34-inch vertical leap at the Combine. That is pretty amazing for a dude that weighs 350 pounds.”

“I see him as a really adequate pass protector…Good hands, good punch. He is hard to get around. He gets his arms extended. He has good feet, does a good job keeping his feet square at the line of scrimmage.”

“He has great range as a puller. He is explosive; he can run.”

“He played a lot of guard at the Senior Bowl. So many have projected him as a guard…Good thing is he can do both in a pinch (guard and tackle).”

“I think he plays high, really upright, tall. He has a tendency to bend at the waist. I think this is where he gets in the most trouble. It hurts him with his change of direction.”

“He is a position blocker in the run game. He is not a physical run-game blocker. He is not Trent Williams. He is going to try to get in, get his hands on you, and get his ___ where he doesn’t want the defender to go. He is going to try to quick and turn. I hate that.”

“He stops his feet on contact; he is not a physical power-driving guy…and he gets beat a lot in the run game.”

“I’d like to see him do a better job of finishing blocks…I’m concerned about his ability to sustain blocks, especially in space.”

“So, Coleman is a project.”

“He’s an athlete. He has a ton of innate athletic ability. He is a very good understanding of how to pass protect. But in terms of being an every down, get-it-done type of guy, there are going to be a lot of positions they put him in, and he is going to struggle.”

“You can’t put him at left tackle and run behind him. That is not a thing that is going to happen…I think he has some situations he has to improve in quite a bit.”

Could former All-Pro David Bakhtiari be an option for the Commanders?

Bakhtiari recently received a positive health update.

We are a little over two months away from veteran Cornelius Lucas opening Washington Commanders’ training camp as the left tackle. Considering Washington’s investment in quarterback Jayden Daniels, that may not be the best decision.

Lucas has been with Washington since 2020 and started a bunch of games. He’s been good. However, the longer he plays, the more his flaws are exposed. Lucas has been a valuable player for the Commanders and that’s why the regime brought him back at almost 33 years old.

Washington drafted TCU’s Brandon Coleman early in the third round of last month’s NFL draft. While some believe Coleman may be better at guard, the Commanders loved his tape, and he has excellent measurables, which they feel translates to left tackle.

But you can’t count on a third-round rookie in Week 1.

Washington largely ignored the position in free agency, outside of bringing back Lucas. The Commanders released last year’s starter, Charles Leno Jr., who had offseason surgery. While there are no surefire options available right now, there is one particularly intriguing player available.

Former Green Bay offensive tackle David Bakhtiari played only one game last season and has played in just 13 games over the past three seasons as he has undergone two knee surgeries.

Bakhtiari recently received some positive injury news, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Bakhtiari will be 33 in September, and Washington has plenty of cap space remaining to take a chance on Bakhtiari for the upcoming season.

Bakhtiari will not be costly, as no team will break the bank on him. This means he could be a smart buy-low candidate if team doctors clear him for 2024. A two-time first-team All-Pro and a three-time second-team All-Pro, Bakhtiari could at least be brought in for a workout.

 

Commanders need Brandon Coleman to develop at offensive tackle

Watch highlights of new Commanders OT Brandon Coleman

The Commanders entered April’s 2024 NFL draft fully aware they needed to obtain an offensive tackle.

In fairness to Commanders general manager Adam Peters, the Commanders were reported to have attempted to trade back up into the latter first round to select an offensive tackle. However, no trade compensation could be agreed upon, and thus, a deal was never finalized.

Peters, in the draft, took quarterback Jayden Daniels (2 overall), defensive tackle Johnny Newton (36), defensive back Mike Sainristil (50), and tight end Ben Sinnott (53), and when it was their turn at 67, Peters selected TCU guard / tackle Brandon Coleman.

Interestingly, at the Senior Bowl, Coleman was asked if there was a position he would prefer for the NFL. He replied that he would be willing to do whatever his new NFL team wanted to do. Yet, he did point out that he had a lot of experience at left tackle.

Right tackle Andrew Wiley returns and left tackle Charles Leno was released. Thus, left tackle would seem to be a place the Commanders might be hoping Coleman can develop enough in the offseason to be prepared to play often this season.

Of course, Jayden Daniels needs to be a hit. But for 2024, the second choice that might be most important to play well might just be Coleman at tackle. Just as true, Coleman’s level of play will also affect Daniels’ performance as well. Think how much better it will be for Daniels if Coleman can improve the running game and keep Daniels’ blind side clear for him.

Thus far in early offseason Commanders’ workouts, Coleman has been working some at left tackle and also some at right tackle.

Pro Football Focus posted these stats on Coleman’s time at TCU.

 

PFF says Andrew Wylie is Commanders’ most underrated player

PFF says Andrew Wylie is underrated.

Who is the Washington Commanders’ most underrated player? If you ask 20 people, you’d likely get 15 different answers, but one answer you wouldn’t get is right tackle Andrew Wylie.

Pro Football Focus thinks otherwise.

PFF recently named one underrated player on all 32 NFL teams, and Wylie was Washington’s pick. Here’s what PFF said about Wylie:

Wylie came over from Kansas City with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to play right tackle for the Commanders. Although he gave up a sack in each of his first four games with Washington, Wylie got better as the season went on and eventually earned a 69.2 PFF overall grade — a career-high mark for him on his way to ranking 16th among right tackles.

PFF’s grading system is often controversial. The grades are helpful but don’t always tell the complete story. If you watched all 17 Washington games last season, you’d know Wylie wasn’t very good. Was he as bad as some fans thought? Maybe not, but it was difficult to call the right tackle position a strength.

General manager Adam Peters didn’t replace Wylie this offseason, and he had plenty of cap room to do so. Finding an answer at left tackle was a more significant issue, and the Commanders only addressed that by re-signing veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas and selecting Brandon Coleman in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Will Wylie be better in 2024? Peters and the new coaching staff believe so.

 

NFL analyst: Commanders OL will be outmatched in NFC East

Will the offensive line be Washington be a major problem again in 2024?

What does Jayden Daniels have to do to get better every day?

That was the question set forth to ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky on Monday during the “NFL Live” program. Orlovsky did not answer with an answer focused upon the NFL inexperience of a rookie quarterback, as one might expect.

No, Orlovsky aimed his reply at what he sees is going to make things harder for Daniels in his rookie season. “A feel for dominant defensive lines,” opened Orlovsky.

Orlovsky then elaborated, “If we are being honest, in that division (NFC East), every time he plays the teams that are in that division, his offensive line will be outmatched by the defensive line both times by Philly, the Giants and Dallas. This is an offensive line that struggled (2023).“

“One of the ‘flaws’ of Jayden Daniels throughout his last two years at LSU was, is he holding on (to the ball)? Is he trying to do too much? Is he running around a little bit? Get the ball out of your hands, play a little faster.”

More from Orlovsky:

“He is a significantly greater talent than I ever was, but the biggest jump from college to the NFL comes from how fast that defensive line moves on a consistent basis. Just getting an understanding, a feel for how quickly those defensive lines will collapse that pocket on you.”

Orlovsky certainly revealed he does not believe the Commanders’ offensive line will match up well in any of their six NFC East divisional games. If Orlovsky is correct, should there be great concern for the health and confidence of Daniels playing behind this offensive line?

In fairness to general manager Adam Peters, he has made significant changes to the Commanders offensive line. Gone from the 2023 unit are starters Charles Leno Jr, Saahdiq Charles and Nick Gates.

Peters brought in free agents guard Nick Allegretti (Chiefs) and center Tyler Biadasz (Cowboys), who are expected to start. Then Peters also drafted tackle Brandon Coleman (TCU) in the third round.

Two starters return in right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie. Others on the current roster are tackles Cornelius Lucas, Braeden Daniels, Alex Akingbulu, and Trent Scott, as well as guards Chris Paul, Mason Brooks, Michael Deiter, Julian Good-Jones, and center Ricky Stromberg.

Dane Brugler ranks the Commanders’ NFL draft class in his top 10

Some love for offensive tackle Brandon Coleman.

Dane Brugler is one of the NFL draft’s top analysts. Every spring, NFL fans eagerly await Brugler’s “The Beast” draft guide, the most comprehensive draft preview available.

In the recently completed 2024 NFL draft, Brugler’s personal rankings had North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye over LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The Washington Commanders would select Daniels second overall, followed by the Patriots, who picked Maye with the next pick.

Despite that, Brugler loved Washington’s draft class. And while he had Maye higher, he also believes Daniels has what it takes to be a superstar passer.

Now that the draft is over, Brugler ranked all NFL draft classes from 1 to 32. He had the Chicago Bears with the best class.

Where are the Commanders?

Brugler had Washington ranked No. 9.

I think Jayden Daniels quickly will be a dynamic NFL player, but my “favorite” picks by the Commanders were their next two selections: Sainristil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Despite being undersized, Sainristil is a smart player — it is no coincidence that he consistently delivered difference-making plays on tape. Another favorite from this class was OT Brandon Coleman. I was ready to defend his high ranking (No. 66) on my board, but the Commanders drafted him at No. 67, and I don’t think they will regret it.

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Dominique Hampton, S, Washington

Dan Quinn has a history of tapping into the strengths of oversized safeties, and Hampton could be next. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Hampton is a premier athlete (4.45-second 40-yard dash) with a versatile background as a cornerback, nickel and on special teams. His lack of difference-making plays stands out, but he can be a solid role player.

Brugler loves Sainristil and Newton. That’s not uncommon. It is interesting to see Brugler’s review of Brandon Coleman. While some have criticized Washington for not drafting a tackle early, no one has said anything negative about Coleman the player. General manager Adam Peters said Coleman will play tackle, and his length and wingspan support the argument of Coleman playing tackle.

If Coleman can become the Commanders’ left tackle, this draft could be viewed as a turning point for the franchise.

What’s the biggest question for the Commanders after the NFL draft?

Don’t count out Brandon Coleman.

The Washington Commanders had no bigger need outside of quarterback than left tackle heading into the 2024 NFL draft. Washington knew it was taking a quarterback and selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall last week.

Even after taking Daniels, the Commanders attempted to move back into the first round to find an offensive tackle to pair with Daniels. They were unsuccessful, as the run on offensive tackles took all of the top options off the board.

Washington remained at No. 36, but instead of reaching for need, general manager Adam Peters followed his board and selected defensive tackle Johnny Newton. He did the same with the Commanders’ new two second-round picks.

However, with Washington’s first pick in the third round, No. 67 overall, Peters selected TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. It was widely viewed as a good selection, but most considered Coleman more of a guard prospect than a tackle. Not Peters. Not only did Coleman play both positions at TCU, but he tested at an elite level in the pre-draft process.

So, did the Commanders find their left tackle?

ESPN recently named the 32 biggest questions—one for each team—following the NFL draft, and Washington’s was whether it found a long-term solution at left tackle.

The Commanders drafted Brandon Coleman in the third round; some teams viewed him more as a guard, but Washington sees him as a tackle. If he’s not ready, the Commanders could start veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, but after investing the second overall pick in quarterback Jayden Daniels, they need Coleman to ascend and become a solid long-term solution.

Peters believes Coleman can be that guy. That remains to be seen. But he shouldn’t be ruled out before he’s given a chance. Check out this comparison between All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and Coleman, using their respective Relative Athletic Scores.

No one is comparing the two as players, but instead, using this as a metric to show Coleman playing tackle isn’t a far-fetched idea. The two are extremely similar in size, and Coleman’s arms are longer. Arm length is always an essential measurement for offensive tackles.

If Coleman turns out to be a starting-quality tackle for years, then that could be Peters’ best draft-day heist yet.

Who did the Commanders get in Brandon Coleman?

Will Coleman play tackle or guard in the NFL?

Brandon Coleman, 6-foot-4, 313 pounds, was the Commanders first selection in round three, 67th overall.

He was listed as a guard on the NFL Network coverage, which I was watching at the time of the selection.

Coleman started 34 of his 41 career games at Texas Christian University, so he has played both inside and outside.

He played both guard and tackle at TCU. On the television broadcast, Coleman was announced as a tackle, though he did not play tackle exclusively in college. Perhaps the Commanders listed him as a tackle, revealing their intention to move Coleman back outside in the NFL.

The Commanders are weak and thin at tackle. They could not trade back into the first round to obtain a tackle. In addition, they have had the opportunity to draft tackles in the second and third rounds, but apparently, general manager Adam Peters has not felt the tackles available were of the value that the Commanders were selecting.

This is not a criticism of Peters at all. We admire his willingness to select good players and not simply reach unwisely to meet a need.

This selection might also have revealed that Peters wanted to get a tackle all night and simply didn’t feel he could wait any longer.

Commanders select TCU OL Brandon Coleman in the 3rd round of the NFL draft

The Commanders select TCU OL Brandon Coleman with the 67th overall pick.

With the No. 67 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders selected TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. Washington had a massive need at offensive tackle and Coleman was a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs.

Coleman’s NFL future could be inside at guard, though. The 6-foot-4 1/2″, 313-pounder started 34 total games with TCU, 22 of which were at left tackle. Coleman’s other 12 starts came at guard.

Washington hosted Coleman recently on a top 30 visit.

At the NFL combine, Coleman’s arms measured 34 5/8″, which is above the threshold for playing offensive tackle.

Here is NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on Coleman:

Three-year starter and team captain in 2023 with outstanding length and the potential to offer roster flexibility. Coleman will be scouted and drafted as a guard but might be able to handle a move to tackle in an emergency. He’s broad and fits up blocks with pretty good accuracy when his hands are right, but he’s never going to be a lane clearer in the run game. Coleman’s experience at tackle helps his chances of protecting NFL quarterbacks as a guard. He pass protects with efficient hands and sound technique, but his reactive athleticism is very average, which could be trouble against sub-package rushers.