The Washington Commanders stop the fall of a blue chip talent in this 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The Washington Commanders got in on the wild offseason and the quarterback carousel, trading for former Eagles and Colts signal-caller Carson Wentz. The Colts and Commanders swapped second-round selections, and the Commanders gave Indy a third-rounder this year and a conditional third in 2023. Washington also received a seventh-round pick.
There’s plenty of discourse surrounding Wentz. Whether or not he hindered the Colts last season as a whole can be debated. He shined in some games, and played poorly in others, most notably the end-of-season bout with the Jaguars. Honing in that volatility isn’t easy, but maybe Washington is up to the task.
If they can get the quarterback position right, the roster is in a good place. The offensive line is well-built, with Cornelias Lucas, Charles Leno, and Samuel Cosmi at tackle. They added Andrew Norwell, and there’s hope that Saadhiq Charles can find a home somewhere.
The weapons are in place as well. Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic are a nice duo at running back, and a healthy Logan Thomas is a very good player. There is a question about an extension for Terry McLaurin, but hopefully that gets done.
With few holes, pick 11 should become a best player available pick to round out the defense or offense. They do that in this mock and address a few other positions that feel shallow. Let’s look at who they could select in this Washington Commanders mock draft.
Note: This mock draft was completed using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator.
Round 1, 11th Overall: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
This scenario would be perfect for the Washington Commanders, and it’s a realistic one on top of it. Because of his 4.59 40-yard dash at the combine and a reportedly worse time at his pro day, Kyle Hamilton, who already wouldn’t be valued as highly, is seeing his stock drop a bit.
We’ve reached a bit of “overthink season” in the draft process. While Hamilton might not receive the “generational” tab, he’s still firmly in the discussion to be the best player in the class. His processing speed is lightning quick, and while his speed isn’t top tier, he has enough range on the back end.
His closing speed is impressive working downhill into the alley, and he’s a phenomenal wrap-up tackler. He can make plays in the backfield, and has the length to disrupt passing lanes. The versatility to move around, whether it be to play in the box, two-high, or cover in the slot, is important in the NFL today and gives a defense the ability to have a matchup guy to erase a tight end or versatile receiving option.
Kyle Hamilton would give the Washington Commanders an impact player at the third level, and the defense can get back to wreaking havoc.
Round 2, 47th Overall: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders do have an issue with an extension looming for McLaurin. They’ve struggled to get Curtis Samuel involved because of injury, and Dyami Brown didn’t have a great rookie season. Finding another stud at the position can elevate the offense.
John Metchie III isn’t getting a ton of attention right now due to his ACL tear in December, but he’s a similar player in the vein of McLaurin. Metchie is a natural technician at receiver, with impressive quickness and variance in his releases. He can eviscerate press coverage, and has good quickness and short area burst to pick up yardage after the catch. Metchie is a natural sinking his hips to efficiently change direction in his route stem, and has enough burst to stack on a vertical stem on occasion. He’s a lite version of Chris Olave, and a darn good player in his own right.
Round 4, 113th Overall: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
Yes, the Commanders did just draft Jamin Davis in the first round, and he hopefully becomes a good WILL linebacker working in space, but they need more in the room, especially at the MIKE.
His teammates are getting the buzz, but Channing Tindall is an impressive player. He can deconstruct blocks and be an impact player flowing downhill in the run game. He has the athleticism working to both sidelines, and offers help in coverage as well.
Round 6, 189th Overall: Blaise Andries, OL, Minnesota
The Washington Commanders don’t have much to worry about on day three, but it’s important to get depth in some spots. One of those could be the interior of the offensive line, where the Commanders have more help in Norwell, but injuries could create issues with depth.
Blaise Andres is a lineman with enough athleticism for the position and thrives in the short area. He plays with a mean streak and can play multiple positions along the interior if necessary.
Round 7, 230th Overall: Isaiah Weston, WR, Northern Iowa
The run at receiver is surprisingly not done in this Commanders mock draft. There shouldn’t be any guarantees with Samuel and Brown, and finding another deep threat to compete makes complete sense. Isaiah Weston is an athletic freak at the position, posting a strong 4.42 40 at 214 pounds. He’s got the ability to separate vertically with speed, and has reliable hands and a strong catch radius.
Round 7, 240th Overall: Marquan McCall, DL, Kentucky
Defensive tackle is loaded in Washington with both Jonathan Allen an Da’Ron Payne, but there isn’t much behind them other than some versatile guys. Marquan McCall gives the Commanders another guy to throw in the rotation. He has some good initial quicks, strong pop in his hands, and can thrive as a pass rushing tree-technique while being the depth option as a rookie.