Coach: Ron Rivera
Offensive Coordinator: Scott Turner
Defensive Coordinator: Jack Del Rio
Offensive scheme: Scott Turner runs a largely spread offense that relies heavily on getting playmakers the ball in space. The team generally relies on getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly, using short passes, but also leveraging Terry McLaurin to stretch the field. Washington uses a lot of run-pass options (RPOs) and rely on the quick, shifty Antonio Gibson to make reads and evade the defense behind a solid offensive line.
Defensive scheme: Washington runs a 4-2-5 as a base defense, with a defensive line that is smaller but very athletic, and a secondary that plays press man coverage, and clearly defined free and strong safeties.
The Commanders (doesn’t roll off the tongue yet… just got used to say WFT), as of April 25th, own six picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, but no picks in the third or fifth rounds. Washington swapped second round picks and sent their third round pick to Indianapolis in the Carson Wentz trade
Commanders Draft Picks:
| Round | Overall Pick | Value (JJ) | Value (RH) | Notes |
| 1 | 11 | |||
| 2 | 47 | From Indianapolis (Carson Wentz trade) | ||
| 4 | 113 | | ||
| 6 | 189 | | ||
| 7 | 230 | |||
| 7 | 240 | From Philadelphia via Indianapolis (Carson Wentz trade) |
Total Draft Points:
Jimmy Johnson model:
Rich Hill model:
About Draft point models
The first model for assigning a point value to draft picks was designed by Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson during his time with the Dallas Cowboys. The valuations are designed to be used as a benchmark when determining the value of draft picks being traded between teams. The values are not hard coded and teams may have different valuations based on need or organizational philosophy. The Rich Hill model was derived, at least in part, due to a differing philosophy of pick value by Patriots coach Bill Belichick. As you may see in the chart above, the revised model puts an added emphasis on early picks and smooths out the value later on in the draft.
What will the Commanders do at the draft?
Washington made a move in the offseason, trading their third, a conditional second (or third) next year, and a pick swap in the second round with the Colts for beleaguered QB Carson Wentz. This opens up a number of options for the Commanders with respect to their early picks, with wide receiver being the most likely option early in the draft. Tight end and linebacker will also be areas of emphasis in this draft.
Roster Analysis
The Commanders have a decent, but very thin roster, with strengths in the trenches on both sides of the ball and potential strength in the secondary, provided there is health among the starting unit. Some of that depth eroded this offseason, with longtime RG Brandon Scherff, DT Matt Ioannidis, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, and DT Tim Settle, among others, heading to new destinations. Apart from the Wentz trade, the Commanders were very quiet, only bringing in starting LG Andrew Norwell from the Jaguars, and reserve DE Efe Obada from Buffalo.
Depth Charts
Quarterback
Starter: Carson Wentz
Reserves: Taylor Heinicke
Expected Draft Action: Depth. The Commanders have attempted to solve their QB issues by acquiring Wentz from the Colts (whether it actually does solve the issue is another question), though they currently only have two quarterbacks on their roster. It seems likely that Washington will either draft a QB late or sign a UDFA to fill the third QB spot.
Potential Fit: EJ Perry, Brown; Brock Purdy, Iowa State; Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana
Running Back
Starter: Antonio Gibson
Reserves: JD McKissic, Jaret Patterson, Jonathan Williams, Reggie Bonnafon, Alex Armah FB
Expected Draft Action: Depth. The Commanders have a well-defined bell cow back – Gibson finished sixth in rushing yards (1037) in 2021 and the fourth-most carries (258) – and a running back that is employed almost exclusively on third-down, JD McKissic. Jaret Patterson, a rookie last season, is the reserve. After that, the depth thins quickly.
Potential Fit: D’vonte Price, FIU; Isiah Pacheco, Rutgers; Bam Knight, NC State; Sincere McCormick, UTSA; Keaontay Ingram, USC; Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
Wide Receiver
Starters: X Terry McLaurin, Z Cam Sims, Slot Curtis Samuel
Reserves: X Dyami Brown, Antonio Gandy-Golden; Z Kelvin Harmon, Marken Michel; Slot Dax Milne
Expected Draft Action: Possession receiver and depth. The Terry McLaurin contract situation complicates things here, but this is a team in need of depth at the wide receiver position. Out of the reserves, only Dyami Brown has any real potential to be a featured part of the offense (and he may get the spot opposite McLaurin either way) and Samuel is coming off an injury-riddled season where he appeared in only five games and even that seemed to be a stretch. Given the needs of the team, taking a WR at 11 might be their best bet, especially if it’s Drake London. Otherwise, they’ll need depth, whether it’s in the draft or in the free agent market.
Potential fit: Z Drake London, USC; Treylon Burks, Arkansas; Alec Pierce, Cincinnati; Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech; David Bell, Purdue
Slot Khalil Shakir, Boise State; Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky; Calvin Austin, Memphis; Bo Melton, Rutgers
Tight End
Starters: Logan Thomas
Reserves: John Bates, Sammis Reyes, Dylan Cantrell
Expected Draft Action: Depth/future starter. The Commanders let Ricky Seals-Jones walk in free agency and are hoping (more than expecting) that Logan Thomas can have a bounce-back season after tearing his ACL late in the 2021 season. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season, but a 31 year old coming off an ACL injury may not be the type of basket you wish to put all your eggs in. My projections are based on getting a player that is more of an in-line/Y TE, but they could also go for a replacement for Thomas, such as Greg Dulcich from UCLA or Isaiah Likely from Coastal Carolina.
Projected fits: Cade Otton, Washington; Trey McBride, Colorado State; Jelani Woods, Virginia; Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State; Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State; Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina; Chase Allen, Iowa State;
Offensive Line
Starters: LT Charles Leno, LG Andrew Norwell, C Chase Roullier, RG Wes Schweitzer, RT Samuel Cosmi
Reserves: T Saahdiq Charles, Cornelius Lucas; G Beau Benzschawel, Shaq Calhoun, Nolan Laufenberg, Zack Bailey; C Tyler Larsen, Keith Ismael, Jon Toth
Expected Draft Action: None. It seems odd to advocate NOT taking an offensive lineman, but this unit is expected to be above-average, even with the departure of longtime RG Brandon Scherff to Jacksonville. Cosmi was drafted in the second round last season and stepped right in to do a good job at RT. Charles Leno Jr came in as a free agent from Chicago and performed well at the other bookend spot. When Scherff had injury issues last season, Schweitzer stepped in and performed admirably, which made the decision to part with Scherff a lot easier. When LG Ereck Flowers was surprisingly cut in March, Washington picked up Andrew Norwell in free agency, and Roullier is one of the better centres in the league. Saahdiq Charles is a serviceable reserve that has the versatility to play tackle or guard, and Larsen and Ismael are more than capable backups on the interior.
Defensive Line
Starters: DE Chase Young, Montez Sweat; 3T Jonathan Allen; NT Daron Payne
Reserves: DE Efe Obada, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, Bunmi Rotimi, Will Bradley-King, Shaka Toney; Jalen Jelks; 3T Tyler Clark; NT Daniel Wise, David Bada
Expected Draft Action: Depth. One of the rare teams that runs a consistent four man front, has one of the best defensive line units, at least on paper, of any team in the league. Allen and Payne are stalwarts and have the added advantage of being strong pass rushers from the inside. Before Young got hurt, he and Montez Sweat were one of the more dynamic pass rushing pairs in the league (even if Young wasn’t getting the sacks he got in his dominant rookie season). This unit, however, is in dire need of depth, especially after losing key reserves Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle in free agency.
Potential Fits: DE Alex Wright, UAB; Zach Carter, Florida; Micheal Clemons, Texas A&M, Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
3T: Thomas Booker, Stanford; Kalia Davis, UCF
NT: Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M; DJ Davidson, Arizona State; Otito Ogbonnia, UCLA
Linebackers
Starters: WLB Jamin Davis, MLB Cole Holcomb
Reserves: WLB David Mayo, De’Jon Harris; MLB Khaleke Hudson, Milo Eifler
Expected Draft Action: Depth. Jamin Davis had his struggles as the MLB in the Washington defense last season, and it appears that the solution from Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio is to switch the positions for Holcomb, who has positional versatility, and Davis, so that Davis plays on the weakside. This may aid in Davis’ development as he can be more instinctive without the pressure of the defense’s leadership role. Most of all, the team needs depth. Mayo has some NFL experience, but the rest of the linebacker corps is very green or special teamers only.
Potential fit: Aaron Hansford, Texas A&M (MLB/WLB), Zakoby McClain, Auburn (WLB), Jake Hansen (MLB/SLB), Terrel Bernard, Baylor (WLB/FS), JoJo Domann, Nebraska (WLB/SS)
Cornerbacks
Starters: William Jackson III, Benjamin St-Juste, Kendall Fuller
Reserves: Danny Johnson, Corn Elder, Troy Apke
Expected Draft Action: Depth. Injuries helped derail the seasons of Jackson (his first in Washington) and St-Juste (his first in the league), but the Commanders are hopeful of bounce-back seasons for both corners in the 2022 season. Along with slot corner Kendall Fuller, Washington has the talent to be strong in the secondary. Johnson and Elder are suitable reserves, but the Commanders should be looking at boosting their depth.
Potential fits: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama; Alontae Taylor, Tennessee; Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State; Roger McCreary, Auburn; Tariq Woolen, UTSA
Safeties
Starters: FS Bobby McCain, SS Kamren Curl
Reserves: FS Jeremy Reaves, SS Darrick Forrest
Expected Draft Action: Depth. With the departure of Landon Collins from the team following the season, the strong safety job goes to Kamren Curl, who is a more natural fit for the position, while the free safety duties will likely be undertaken by Bobby McCain, with Kendall Fuller taking the role on occasion. There is a total lack of depth at the strong safety position, where the team may look to the draft to fill the role. Don’t discount the possibility of a hybrid being taken, such as JoJo Domann from Nebraska, Jalen Pitre from Baylor, or Tycen Anderson from Toledo.
Potential fit: Pitre, Anderson, Domann; Smoke Monday, Auburn; Yusuf Corker, Kentucky; Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma