Who will the Commanders draft in 2024? It’s a new era for the Washington Commanders with a new owner, general manager, head coach and quarterback. With fans excited for the future, it’s time to dive into our Commanders mock draft 2024 with projections for all 7 rounds.
Holding the second overall pick, Washington would likely have to trade up to land hometown kid Caleb Williams. Even if he is off the board, however, the Commanders can walk out of the 2024 NFL Draft with an outstanding hall. Before jumping into our Commanders mock draft 2024, here’s what you need to know.
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Washington Commanders draft picks 2024
Here are the Washington Commanders picks in 2024.
- 1st Round, 2nd Overall
- 2nd Round, 36th Overall
- 2nd Round, 40th Overall
- 3rd Round, 67th overall
- 3rd Round, 100th overall
- 4th Round, 102nd Overall
- 5th Round, 141st Overall
- 6th Round 181st overall
- 7th Round, 223rd Overall
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Washington Commanders team needs 2024
Here are the Washington Commanders team needs in 2024.
- QB
- TE
- iOL
- OT
- CB
- EDGE
- S
- K
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Washington Commanders mock draft 2024: Building a new team
Round 1, 2nd Overall: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Tar Heels
The only way to make things work long-term with a defensive-minded head coach is to have a great quarterback. If you end up with a fringe top-15 passer who needs to be elevated by his offensive coordinator, your franchise will fear losing that play-caller to a head-coaching job. That’s why the second overall pick is so important to the Washington Commanders.
Caleb Williams is generating a majority of the attention from pundits. However, North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye is arguably an even better passer and his athleticism will allow him to have a Justin Herbert-like ability to make plays with his legs.
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| NFL QB Rating | Completion Rate | YPA | TD-INT | |
| Deep Passes (20+ yards) | 113.4 | 47.1% | 17.1 | 13-4 |
| vs Pressure | 69.0 | 43.3% | 6.7 | 7-5 |
| Play Action | 98.7 | 67.8% | 8.8 | 5-3 |
Maye’s issues versus pressure last season largely can be tied to decision-making. He either made some careless throws by forcing the football into windows he should not have or moved into the pressure, forcing him to throw it away or take the sack. Fortunately, many of the issues he had are fixable with great coaching.
As for Maye’s physical tools, he offers everything Washington could ask for. He boasts one of the strongest arms in the 2024 NFL Draft class and he also displayed outstanding touch and ball placement when throwing downfield. He’s also outstanding at creating something extra, using his athleticism to scramble out of the pocket and pull defenders in, opening up big plays for his offensive weapons.
Plus, for a team that will likely want Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin peppered with targets, Maye’s deep ball and his accuracy over the middle of the field will finally give Washington a quarterback who maximizes his wide receivers.
2nd Round, 36th Overall: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama Crimson Tide
The decision by the Washington Commanders to trade both Montez Sweat and Chase Young doesn’t seem like the best call after hiring Dan Quinn months later. Quinn’s defenses thrived in Dallas and Seattle because he had outstanding pass rushers who excelled at creating pressure without Quinn needing to blitz.
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He’ll certainly have his work cut out for him with Washington’s pass defense. The Commanders finished the regular season with the lowest pressure rate in the NFL, which allowed opposing quarterbacks to attack a vulnerable secondary. Even if Quinn cleans up the communication issues, Washington needs impact defenders who can create chaos in the pocket.
- Washington Commanders defense 2023: 16.8 percent pressure rate (32nd), 5.1 percent hurry rate (28th), 6.4 percent QB knockdown rate (29th), 6.1 percent sack rate (27th)
Enter Alabama Crimson Tide edge rusher Chris Braswell. Playing opposite Dallas Turner, Braswell finished the season with stellar production, recording 56 pressures with an outstanding 27.6 percent pass-rush win rate (PFF). The 6-foot-3 edge defender is explosive out of the gate, with athleticism and quick movement that enables him to be very productive coming around the edge. He might not develop into a perennial Pro Bowl selection, but Quinn could help Braswell become a high-end starter who complements this defensive front.
2nd Round, 40th overall: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State Cyclones
Obviously, adding one pass rusher isn’t enough to improve the league’s worst pass defense in 2023. Quinn also relied heavily on high-end cornerbacks with the Seahawks and Cowboys. Unfortunately for Washington, that’s not exactly a position of strength right now.
- Washington Commanders pass defense 2023: 105.7 QB rating allowed (32nd), 7.7 yards per attempt (30th), 66.2 percent completion rate (23rd), 262.2 passing yards per game allowed (32nd)
We’ll introduce you to Iowa State Cyclones cornerback T.J. Tampa. Unlike 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes (180 pounds), Tampa offers the size and frame (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) you want at the position. Plus, he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this past season thanks to some great work in coverage.
Tampa impressed in coverage this past season, holding opponents to a 51 percent reception rate and a 54.8 NFL QB rating when they targeted him in coverage. A multi-year starter, Tampa’s combination of size, production and ball skills would make him an excellent addition to the Commanders’ secondary.
3rd Round, 67th Overall: Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State Wolfpack
With plenty of cap space, our priority in this Commanders mock draft is filling out the defense after taking Drake Maye. Washington is loaded with cash to spend along the offensive line and even at tight end, allowing us to use the draft capital to support Quinn’s group.
NC State linebacker Payton Wilson proved to be the do-it-all player this past season. When he dropped back in coverage (305 snaps), he surrendered just 221 receiving yards on 37 targets with a 47.2 NFL QB rating allowed when targeted (PFF). He also thrived as a run-stuffer, posting one of the lowest missed tackle rates in the nation 3.8 percent) and consistently making plays near the line of scrimmage. While he does have durability concerns, Washington would be wise to add Wilson’s talents to the middle of its defense.
Washington Commanders 7-round mock draft
Here is our Commanders 7-round mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft.
- 1st Round, 2nd Overall: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Tar Heels
- 2nd Round, 36th Overall: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2nd Round, 40th Overall: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State Cyclones
- 3rd Round, 67th overall: Payton Wilson, LB, NC State Wolfpack
- 3rd Round, 100th overall: Cooper Beebe, iOL, Kansas State Wildcats
- 4th Round, 102nd Overall: Matt Goncalves, OT, Pitt Panthers
- 5th Round, 141st Overall: AJ Barner, TE, Michigan Wolverines
- 6th Round 181st overall: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- 7th Round, 223rd Overall: Tanner CLachlan, TE, Arizona Wildcats
