The Carson Wentz experiment in Washington ended after one season — doesn’t it always? — and head coach Ron Rivera believes he’s on the hot seat.
Enter new associate head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who will get to run the show when it comes to the Commanders’ offense after years of a Super Bowl-winning partnership with Andy Reid in Kansas City.
The Commanders currently own at least one draft pick in every round, including No. 16 overall, smack in the middle of the first. For a team that has talent all around the field, especially the defensive line, Rivera isn’t honing in on one particular need.
“I believe we’ve put ourselves in position where we can sit here and say, this is where we want to be,” Rivera told reporters. “We wanna be able to make the decision on the best player for us. The best player available.”
The Commanders traded down in last year’s first round and landed wide receiver Jahan Dotson, also at No. 16. He hauled in seven touchdowns in 12 games (10 starts) as a rookie, complementing fellow wideout Terry McLaurin.
As for the most important position of them all, Rivera has been coy about the idea of selecting a quarterback to join Sam Howell and new signing Jacoby Brissett.
“I said we will consider it,” Rivera said. “Maybe later. You never know.”
TEAM NEEDS
1. OL: Right guard, in particular, needs an upgrade after the Commanders didn’t bring back Trai Turner, Wes Schweitzer and Wes Martin.
2. LB: Washington re-signed Khaleke Hudson and brought in Cody Barton, but starter Cole Holcomb departed for Pittsburgh.
3. QB: Some want Washington to double-dip at quarterback right after getting Howell for the low price of a fifth-rounder last spring. The Commanders named Howell their No. 1 to start camp, but it couldn’t hurt them to add a long-term QB project to the fray.
2023 DRAFT PICKS
Round Pick (Overall)
1. 16 (16)
2. 16 (47)
3. 34 (97)
4. 16 (118)
5. 16 (150)
6. 16 (193)
6. 38 (215)
7. 16 (233)
BEST FITS
1. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee: Age and injury might be reasons for other teams to perspire, but Hooker is the lone quarterback on the “top 30” visits schedule for the Commanders. Giving the 25-year-old a soft landing coming off of a torn ACL makes a lot of sense, only if the club also fortifies the offensive line.
2. LB Jack Campbell, Iowa: The leader on the field the Commanders lack could be a safety instead, but in the middle of the first round the organization sinks its teeth into a sure thing. This draft range has been a honey hole for Washington, landing Jahan Dotson (2022), Daron Payne (2018) and Jonathan Allen (2017).
3. RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: Depth in the running back class is causing some to overlook this back with three-down potential and a sneaky extra gear. A tackle-breaker who runs behind his pads, Charbonnet is Ron Rivera’s type of back with power, patience and the speed to get yards in chunks (6.97 yards per carry was fourth in the nation in 2022).
–Field Level Media