Commanders 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Jayden Daniels, value adds, remaining needs

Nine selections, nine different positions. That’s not an anomaly for teams picking in the NFL Draft. Yet that highlights the Washington Commanders’ approach and needs list.

The Commanders kicked off their seven-round roster-building exercise by addressing the one position that lords over the rest with the selection of quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall.

From there, Washington picked a mix of players from both sides of the ball (five defense, three offense). Each spot warranted inclusion, but choosing the best player available seemingly trumped any notion of fixing a specific position. For general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn, this was one draft down and — if the choices pan out — umpteen to go.

The picks

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Best value pick

Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Washington starts Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in the middle. They were both first-round picks and are playing on lucrative second contracts that made them among the highest paid at the position. Phidarian Mathis, a 2022 second-round pick, was limited in his first two seasons because of injuries and is among the reserves.

At first glance, it may seem puzzling for a team coming off a 4-13 season with several areas to address to use its second selection and No. 36 overall pick on a position fortified with strength and investment. However, this move is not just a draft pick, it’s a strategic shift, a testament to a new era in the organization and the team’s strategic timeline. These choices were made under a different regime. And now, with the introduction of Peters, a fresh set of evaluator’s eyes, the team is charting a new course.

🔥🔥🔥@Johnny5Newton | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/flzFxAERGZ

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 27, 2024

He isn’t tied to those players or decisions, which is why drafting over Mathis isn’t controversial. It’s why, staying with themes of best player available and building the roster for 2025, Peters went for a player whose presence puts a spotlight on Allen’s $23 million salary-cap hit in 2025, the final year of his contract.

There is also the notion of — wait for it — adding talent wherever possible. Washington had a first-round grade on Newton, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who tied for the lead among defensive tackles in 2023 with 44 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.

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Most surprising pick

Ben Sinnott was the sixth-rated tight end and a fourth-round projection by The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler. The Commanders used the No. 53 pick acquired from the Day 2 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on the “versatile H-back who can be flexed across the formation,” Brugler wrote. However, Sinnott ranked higher on other public big boards and will provide Washington with needed pass-catching potential.

Some criticized Washington for this choice, considering the team’s offensive tackle need. The counterpoint is that the Day 2 options were seemingly on the same tier. Brugler rated third-round selection Brandon Coleman No. 66 in his top 100 players, ahead of Blake Fisher (73) and Roger Rosengarten (69). Fisher and Rosengarten were drafted 59th and 62nd, respectively. Coleman, who some evaluators see playing at guard, came off the board at No. 67.

BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia garnered some late first-round chatter, but three team/league sources told The Athletic they lowered their grades after concerns emerged during the pre-draft process. Suamataia was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 63.

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Biggest question mark

Coleman joins the left tackle competition with swing tackle Cornelius Lucas. While the veteran Lucas has provided solid work since joining Washington in 2020, he has not been considered a full-time starter. Coleman played extensive snaps at left tackle at TCU, with some guard work mixed in. But taking on NFL pass rushers is an adjustment. Coleman’s transition comes as the Commanders incorporate Daniels into the offense, exposing the uncertainty at the position.

Remaining needs

For 2024 purposes, the outside cornerback position is uncertain until we see if the new coaching staff can help Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Benjamin St-Juste after their poor 2023 performances. Selecting nickel corner Mike Sainristil in the second round bolsters the overall position room. He and Forbes might be the only cornerbacks sticking around for 2025. Washington could acquire competition for left guard Nick Allegretti or another offensive tackle for the roster. It’s also unclear who will handle kick return duties, and Jamison Crowder cannot be considered a lock at punt returner.

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Post-draft outlook

The Commanders have done a credible job revamping the roster, beginning with over 20 free-agent signings followed by these nine selections. It’s a credit to the front office that effectively covered up the holes where none were glaring. However, as expected, considering what Peters inherited, there is still an overall talent deficiency that will take another year of moves to improve sufficiently.

In the meantime, the Daniels era is upon us. The organization’s leaders would balk at any notion that 2024 is all about the quarterback. Still, there’s no denying the importance and intrigue of the dual-threat highlight tape in human form coming to breathe life into this moribund franchise that’s begun a much-needed overhaul.

(Photo of Jayden Daniels: Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)