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.

 

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 2, TCU OL Brandon Coleman

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers and Brian Gutekunst love versatile offensive linemen. Elgton Jenkins, Jon Runyan Jr, Royce Newman and Zach Tom all played multiple positions during their collegiate careers. 

The next versatile offensive lineman that Gutekunst could target is Brandon Coleman. The TCU product checks in at No. 2 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Coleman has one of the most interesting backstories in the upcoming draft. His family moved to Germany when he was a baby and his primary sport was basketball before moving back to America, where he started playing football in high school. 

A no-star recruit, Coleman started his college career at Trinity Valley Community College. He then transferred to TCU for the 2020 season. In 2021, Coleman started seven games at left guard and one game at right guard for the Horned Frogs. The following season, Coleman started all 15 games at left tackle. This past season Coleman started seven games at left tackle and four games at left guard. 

“Coleman’s versatility is all the more impressive when you realize he only started playing football full-time as a senior in high school,” Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network said. “After a stint at the JUCO level, he transferred to TCU and logged starts at both guard spots in 2021. Then, in 2022, he shifted out to left tackle for all 15 games, and logged seven more starts at LT in 2023 while starting four games at left guard. On the surface level, Coleman’s ability to play tackle and guard, on either side of the line, is extremely impressive at his current experience level…I think it also speaks to his ability to quickly learn, adapt, and grow at different spots and in different circumstances, a quality that will be just as valuable.”

Prior to the start of the 2023 campaign, Coleman was listed on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks list. He showcased that freakish athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.99 40-yard dash at 6-4 and 313 pounds. He had a 1.73 10-yard split and posted a vertical of 34 inches. 

That athleticism is on full display when Coleman is asked to run block. He gets out in space and looks to punish people. He has nimble feet and moves like a tight end. He easily climbs to the second level and overwhelms second-level defenders. The JUCO transfer plays with a low-center gravity and stays under his blocks to great surge. 

“He’s one of the most explosive athletes in the class, and he can launch into defenders, throttling edge setters and limiting displacement,” Cummings said. “Going further, Coleman can leverage his burst and length into dominating torque at the contact point, channeling through hip rotation, and he can drive defenders off the line and pave open lanes for runners. What’s more — he also has phenomenal range on GT counter runs, and he can adjust his tracking angles seamlessly for his size. There are still a few technical improvements for Coleman to make — tightening his power exertions, attaining more control, and sustaining his leg churn will be key — but he can be an asset in the ground game.”

Coleman has a wide base and a long frame. He has vines for arms (34 inches) and he uses them and his powerful hands to stymie edge rushers. He pops out of his stance and has the quick feet and lateral quickness to shut down the corner, playing with good knee bend. He stays balanced in his setup and doesn’t panic in his reset. According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman gave up zero sacks and 20 pressures.

“Coleman’s elite athleticism, of course, is an obvious boon in both phases of the game,” Cummings said. “His physical profile also translates well. At around 6’4 1/2″, with almost 35″ arms, he has the picture-perfect blend of natural leverage and proportional length, which he can use to win the pad-level battle and get inside rushers’ frames. Beyond those qualities, however, I think Coleman’s steady footwork and ability to stay square to rushers with corrective movements is what helps him keep his consistency. He’s still growing as a hand fighter, but his lateral mobility and angle leverage IQ underpin his game, and allow him to channel his traits.”

Fit with the Packers

Brandon Coleman looks and plays like he was built in the Green Bay Packers offensive line factory. He checks all the boxes with his movement skills, length, athleticism and versatility. 

The Packers are searching for depth and potential improvements along the Great Wall of Lambeau and Coleman could compete at multiple spots.

With Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom at left and right tackle, the Packers need to find a swing tackle. Coleman checks that box. They need to find competition at right guard for Sean Rhyan. Coleman checks that box. 

The Packers will start the draft with four picks on Day 2. Coleman will likely be at the top of Green Bay’s board when the NFL Draft kicks off on Friday.

“I would draft Coleman because he has immediate tackle-guard versatility as a sixth man or high-end depth piece on the offensive line, and with more technical development, he truly has the physical upside to be a scheme-versatile impact starter at either spot,” Cummings said. “And he hasn’t even been playing football for that long — so the steep upward developmental curve is there to project off of. At the very least, he’ll be a great insurance plan, and he can be much more in time.”

Jets trade up for Rome Odunze in 7-round mock from The Athletic

Jets trade up for Rome Odunze in 7-round mock from The Athletic

The Jets would love to come away with a Round 1 pass-catcher Thursday night and they may very well move up the board to get it.

That’s the scenario that plays out in the final seven-round mock for the Jets by Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. He has the Jets moving up three spots in a trade with the Tennessee Titans to land Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze and instantly make the Jets’ offense much more dynamic.

The Jets may very well get aggressive in getting one of the top pass-catchers in this draft, particularly Odunze, who would immediately form one of the best young wide-receiver duos with Garrett Wilson. In this scenario, the Jets trade pick No. 134 this year and a fourth-round pick next year to make the move and jump ahead of the Falcons and Bears to land the Washington stud.

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The Titans or Falcons feel like the teams to watch if the Jets are going to trade up to get one of the trio of stud wide receivers (Odunze, Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers). I went with the Titans because I don’t think it can be ruled out that Atlanta might want to take a wide receiver after investing in Kirk Cousins. The Titans already have DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley and should still be able to get a top offensive tackle at No. 10.

As for the Jets: GM Joe Douglas has made it clear with all of his moves this offseason — and the structures of the contracts he has given out — that they are all-in on winning in 2024. So if the opportunity presents itself to go and get a wide receiver of this caliber (whether it’s Odunze, Nabers or Harrison), I don’t see why he wouldn’t pursue it. It shouldn’t take too much to move up a couple spots in the order and wide receiver is still a need, even after signing Mike Williams.

It would be interesting to know whether Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt was still on the board when this deal was made, but regardless, coming away with Odunze would be a home run on Day 1 of the draft for the Jets and all for the low price of two Day 3 picks.

The remaining picks for the Jets in this mock are as follows:

72. Brandon Coleman, OT, TCU
111. Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
185. Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
256. Jowon Briggs, DL, Cincinnati
257. frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Mississippi

Commanders hosted TCU OT Brandon Coleman on top 30 visit

Coleman is the latest offensive lineman the Commanders hosted.

The Washington Commanders understand their significant need for offensive tackles. They released starting left tackle Charles Leno Jr. just before free agency, leaving them perilously thin at tackle.

In free agency, Washington did re-sign veteran Cornelius Lucas. Lucas has been with the Commanders since 2020, starting 31 games at left and right tackle. Washington did not sign any external free agents to play tackle, which meant GM Adam Peters was likely to address the position in the 2024 NFL draft.

Throughout the pre-draft process, the Commanders have met with multiple offensive linemen, whether at the Senior Bowl, the NFL combine, or on Zoom. Washington also hosted some offensive tackles on top-30 visits.

Now, we know of a new name Washington hosted recently. According to ML Football on Twitter, the Commanders hosted TCU offensive tackle Brandon Coleman on a top-30 visit.

Coleman is 6-foot-4 1/2, 313 pounds, and was a three-year starter for TCU. He began his college career at Trinity Valley Community College. Coleman is an experienced prospect with exciting measurables. Many will consider him a guard at the next level, but Coleman has 34 5/8″ arms and a wingspan of 84.”

So, a team drafting Coleman will get some positional versatility.

Here’s a look at his impressive RAS (Relative Athletic Score).

List of American team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

List of American team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

The Jets need offensive linemen. Just about everyone in America is aware of that fact. With Jeff Ulbrich acting as one of the head coaches this year for the Senior Bowl, the Jets will have a chance to get up close to plenty of this season’s options in the draft.

With so many offensive linemen, we’ll break this up into the American and National teams.

Coaching the offensive linemen this year in Mobile for the American team are Isaac Williams (Steelers) and Chris Watt (Colts).

Cowboys first 7-round mock draft of 2024: OL, LB, RB needs filled

Yes, it’s way too early. Yes, the Cowboys still have games to play. No, we don’t care, we’re still going to start looking at players who can help fill the inevitable holes in the roster. Join us. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The regular season slate of a playoff campaign isn’t even finished yet, and there’s a mock draft? Ludicrous? Nope, just starting to do some reconnaissance on the upcoming 2024 draft class. The Dallas Cowboys are one win away from securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC and hoping to use that momentum to propel them further than they’ve been in almost three decades of football.

Assuming Mike McCarthy and company will be back in 2024, there are a few glaring needs that Dallas is surviving in 2023, but could certainly use some assistance on. Mock drafts are fun exercises, knowing the club will have several key roster decisions to make over the next two months leading up to free agency. Needs will likely change, but for now it’s clear where upgrades can be made.

The Cowboys once again need better depth along the offensive line. Perhaps some of the younger players such as Matt Waletkzo, TJ Bass and Asim Richards ascend, but there need to be players added. Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz are both free agents at the end of the season.

At running back, Tony Pollard is free to walk as well, as is linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Vander Esch’s neck injury has the organization questioning whether he’ll play football again. There are key areas that must be addressed.

In this seven-round exercise, we attempt to plug those holes in the best imaginable way. While collegiate all-star games, the scouting combine and individual workouts will change rankings considerably, these PFF rankings are based on grades from the actual games on the field.

Here’s how we’d address the Cowboys’ needs.