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What did we learn over the last 10 days about the Washington Commanders roster?
ESPN surveyed NFL executives, scouts and coaches to find the top ten players at 11 various positions. The results of the survey of NFL personnel were released one position at a time, beginning July 6 and concluding July 16. One thing that was readily clear and obvious regarding the Commanders was that they don't have many good players in the eyes of NFL executives, coaches and scouts.
The only one, yes, the only Washington Commanders player named to the top 10 in any position was offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil came in at No. 5 among all NFL tackles.
The survey couldn't help but remind me of how badly former Washington Commanders head coach and head of player personnel Ron Rivera drafted during the 2020-2023 drafts. It's been declared so often, but as long as we keep seeing top players in the NFL being drafted after Washington drafted, it is going to be so frustrating. 11 positions, the top 10 listed, and the Commanders had only one out of the top 110 NFL players?
Tunsil, of course, was brought to Washington by current Commanders general manager Adam Peters in a trade with the Houston Texans. Tunsil had a very good year and is already extended by the Commanders. Meanwhile, not a single first-round draft choice in Rivera's four Washington drafts is even with the team. They are gone because they all underperformed in Washington.
So, enough about the past, and now we just need to move on to the future. Well, yes, we should not sit around moaning and playing the victim about Rivera's horrendous drafting. Yet, with the draft being such an essential part of roster building in the NFL, it is unavoidable for the next few years to find Ron Rivera as the gift that just keeps giving. Okay, that was sarcasm, but his inability to draft well in the first round can only continue to hamper this roster for at least another five to six years. Rivera's first draft class should be entering their seventh season for Washington.
Consequently, it is imperative that Peters draft well and bring in a few free agents each offseason that become starters. Peters' first draft choice, QB Jayden Daniels, did receive honorable mention. So, with a good third season, it is likely Daniels will be in next year's top 10. LB Frankie Luvu, also signed by Peters, received votes at linebacker, as did receiver Terry McLaurin, drafted prior to Rivera's tenure.
Rivera's drafts were so bleak, only Quan Martin remains from the 2023 draft. 2022 may not have been any better, with only Percy Butler and Chris Paul still working at the Ashburn facility. From the 2021 draft, Sam Cosmi, Dyami Brown and John Bates are going to need to contribute significantly in 2026. Yet, it cannot be denied that Rivera's first Washington draft (2020) did not produce a single experienced veteran for the burgundy and gold.
Peters' 2024 draft needs to pick it up this season. Johnny Newton has disappointed; Mike Sainristil received the endorsement of Nick Saban as 'the best player pound for pound in the draft', but hasn't delivered on that at all. Brandon Coleman and Ben Sinnott aren't even starters entering their third seasons. And frankly, can we even be certain Jordan Magee or Javonte Jean-Baptiste are going to be on the opening day roster?
Luke McCaffrey will be on the opening roster, but that could possibly be as the primary kickoff returner, not as a second or third receiver. As for the 2025 draft, Josh Conerly, Trey Amos and Jacory Croskey-Merritt all enter training camp as starters. But that is still a long way from the top 10 in the NFL at their respective position.
So a realistic hope would be for several Commanders to at least receive votes in next year's survey.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: What did we learn about the Commanders roster in the ESPN survey?
Continue reading...
ESPN surveyed NFL executives, scouts and coaches to find the top ten players at 11 various positions. The results of the survey of NFL personnel were released one position at a time, beginning July 6 and concluding July 16. One thing that was readily clear and obvious regarding the Commanders was that they don't have many good players in the eyes of NFL executives, coaches and scouts.
The only one, yes, the only Washington Commanders player named to the top 10 in any position was offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil came in at No. 5 among all NFL tackles.
The survey couldn't help but remind me of how badly former Washington Commanders head coach and head of player personnel Ron Rivera drafted during the 2020-2023 drafts. It's been declared so often, but as long as we keep seeing top players in the NFL being drafted after Washington drafted, it is going to be so frustrating. 11 positions, the top 10 listed, and the Commanders had only one out of the top 110 NFL players?
Tunsil, of course, was brought to Washington by current Commanders general manager Adam Peters in a trade with the Houston Texans. Tunsil had a very good year and is already extended by the Commanders. Meanwhile, not a single first-round draft choice in Rivera's four Washington drafts is even with the team. They are gone because they all underperformed in Washington.
So, enough about the past, and now we just need to move on to the future. Well, yes, we should not sit around moaning and playing the victim about Rivera's horrendous drafting. Yet, with the draft being such an essential part of roster building in the NFL, it is unavoidable for the next few years to find Ron Rivera as the gift that just keeps giving. Okay, that was sarcasm, but his inability to draft well in the first round can only continue to hamper this roster for at least another five to six years. Rivera's first draft class should be entering their seventh season for Washington.
Consequently, it is imperative that Peters draft well and bring in a few free agents each offseason that become starters. Peters' first draft choice, QB Jayden Daniels, did receive honorable mention. So, with a good third season, it is likely Daniels will be in next year's top 10. LB Frankie Luvu, also signed by Peters, received votes at linebacker, as did receiver Terry McLaurin, drafted prior to Rivera's tenure.
Rivera's drafts were so bleak, only Quan Martin remains from the 2023 draft. 2022 may not have been any better, with only Percy Butler and Chris Paul still working at the Ashburn facility. From the 2021 draft, Sam Cosmi, Dyami Brown and John Bates are going to need to contribute significantly in 2026. Yet, it cannot be denied that Rivera's first Washington draft (2020) did not produce a single experienced veteran for the burgundy and gold.
Peters' 2024 draft needs to pick it up this season. Johnny Newton has disappointed; Mike Sainristil received the endorsement of Nick Saban as 'the best player pound for pound in the draft', but hasn't delivered on that at all. Brandon Coleman and Ben Sinnott aren't even starters entering their third seasons. And frankly, can we even be certain Jordan Magee or Javonte Jean-Baptiste are going to be on the opening day roster?
Luke McCaffrey will be on the opening roster, but that could possibly be as the primary kickoff returner, not as a second or third receiver. As for the 2025 draft, Josh Conerly, Trey Amos and Jacory Croskey-Merritt all enter training camp as starters. But that is still a long way from the top 10 in the NFL at their respective position.
So a realistic hope would be for several Commanders to at least receive votes in next year's survey.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: What did we learn about the Commanders roster in the ESPN survey?
Continue reading...
