Washington Commanders mock draft 2024: Assembling a team around rookie QB

Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Who will the Commanders draft in 2024? The Washington Commanders are loaded with capital in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially in the early rounds. It means both a loaded Commanders mock draft and an opportunity for a new regime to make significant upgrades to the roster.

Before diving into our, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Washington Commanders draft picks 2024

Here are the Washington Commanders draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Round 1, 2nd overall
Round 2, 36th overall
Round 2, 40th overall
Round 3, 67th overall
Round 3, 78th overall

Round 3, 100th overall
Round 4, 139th overall
Round 5, 152nd overall
Round 7, 222nd overall

Washington Commanders draft needs 2024

Here are the Washington Commanders team needs ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft

Quarterback
Offensive Line
Tight End

Cornerback
Edge Rusher
Safety

Commanders mock draft 2024: Putting a supporting cast around a rookie

1st Round, 2nd overall: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Tar Heels

Washington Commanders mock draft 2024, Commanders 7-round mock draft — Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

There is certainly a debate between Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner boasts a better deep ball right now and he’s the definition of an elite athlete. Plus, he performed better from the pocket last season than Maye did. However, a quarterback who doesn’t attack the middle of the field and frequently exposes himself to big hits when he might weigh 200 pounds is a red flag. Because of that, especially in consideration of the Commanders’ offensive line, we’re rolling with Maye.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, Maye immediately offers prototypical size and we want that behind a shaky offensive line. He’s also an excellent athlete and while he isn’t on Daniels’ level in terms of racking up yards with his legs, he’s a better mover inside the pocket and that ability to extend plays with his legs from behind the line of scrimmage stands out.

Maye offers the elite arm strength coaches want and he is a gunslinger who can fit the football into tight windows downfield and in the intermediate areas thanks to great velocity. There are similarities with Justin Herbert and like Herbert, Maye was let down by his supporting cast in college. In the NFL’s learning environment with the offensive weapons Washington boasts, we can see the best version of Maye.

2nd Round, 36th overall: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State Cyclones

Cornerback remains one of the most pressing Commanders draft needs right now. The glaring hole on the outside is amplified by the fact that Emmanuel Forbs, the 16th overall pick in 2023, was one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL last season. He might still have a promising future, but Dan Quinn’s defense needs big defensive backs he can trust in coverage.

T.J. Tampa offers the size (6-foot-1), arm length (32.125 inches) and physicality that Quinn will love. This past season at Iowa State, Tampa held opponents to a 62.2 quarterback rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus. The physicality and instincts he provides make him a solid fit in Washington, providing the Commanders with a No. 2 cornerback they can more consistently rely upon.

2nd Round, 40th overall: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama Crimson Tide

Trading away Montez Sweat netted Washington a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but now they are in a perilous position. While the Commanders have depth and rotational players at edge rusher, that’s not remotely enough to even field a league-average defense. With the 40th pick from the Sweat trade, Washington finds more juice to improve its front seven.

Chris Braswell – 8.68 Relative Athletic Score – stands out for his length and athleticism. However, the 6-foot-3 edge defender doesn’t have a ton of pass-rush moves to speak of and it did take him a few years before he earned significant playing time at Alabama. With that said, long arms and a quick first step are something to build from. Braswell will likely never be a Pro Bowl pass rusher, but he can be a disruptor on passing downs for the Commanders’ defense.

3rd Round, 37th overall: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The interior of the Commanders offensive line is fine for now, but this team can’t come out of the 2024 NFL Draft without devoting serious resources to the perimeter of the offensive line. Neither Cornelius Lucas nor Andrew Whylie are who you should want protecting a franchise quarterback. Fortunately, a new starter at right tackle is available in the third round here.

Blake Fisher doesn’t have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL, but he offers just about everything else you could ask for. Coming from Notre Dame, he’s been developed in an offensive line factory and he’s performed very well in the pre-draft process. While Fisher must become a more consistent player and his technique needs some work, he can be an upgrade over Whylie now will be a much better starter on the right side in the years to come.

3rd Round, 78th overall: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston Cougars

It’s obviously difficult to find starting-caliber left tackles in the third round and that’s not what Patrick Paul would be immediately for Washington. However, our Commanders mock draft is focused on building a great structure around Drake Maye. Standing at 6-foot-7, Patrick Paul is a prototype left tackle with great size (6-foot-7), arm length (36.25 inches) and solid athleticism. He’s also fairly advanced as a pass blocker, which bodes well for how important it will be to protect Maye. Give him some time in the weight room and work on his feet, then Paul could become the left tackle late in the 2024 season.

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3rd Round, 100th overall: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State Buckeyes

Landing another starter at the end of Day 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft would be a nice win for Washington. Cade Stover isn’t a great option as a blocker, but he can get open underneath to provide Maye with a security option when the pocket is collapsing. Not only will Stover be a player who can consistently turn some third-and-shorts into first downs, but he has enough athleticism to pick up some yards after the catch. An offense with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Austin Ekeler and Stover can help Maye find early success as a rookie.

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