Grade The 2024 Draft

[naptownskinsfan]

This was Peters first draft at the helm, and he had plenty of ammunition coming into the draft from #2 overall, to three picks in the top 40 and six in the top 100.  Some more trades were made.  

Just initial reaction, if you were a national media talking head and grading drafts, what would you grade the 2024 Commanders draft?

[naptownskinsfan]

 

[naptownskinsfan]

 

[naptownskinsfan]

 

[lavar703]

It’s a weird draft to grade. Peters said they see Coleman as a tackle so my guess is he actually ends up being our starting LT at some point this season which is scary. I would’ve much preferred Cooper DeJean to Newton and then handing him to the Eagles was a gut punch. Overall, the league seems to love this draft however. The analysts, the draft nerds, nearly everybody loves what AP has done. 

I’m going to give it an A. He didn’t really reach for anyone and went after playmakers. The first 5 picks were all culture changing-type picks. I’m extremely excited about the Sinnott and McCaffrey picks. I think they’re both going to be highly productive. The corner from Michigan is probably our best DB already lol. And I like just taking chances on high RAS players. They have the athletic ability to mold. Overall I think AP did great. 

[ARTMONK HOF]

B+/A- and if Brandon Coleman becomes our LT it goes to an A. 
What a vast difference from the RR and Co. 

Edited April 28 by ARTMONK HOF

[ARTMONK HOF]

To me this just shows you how inept the last regime was. It’s a good comparison because their scouting had the same exact people. If you’re not excited for this team now with the new people in place, I don’t know what to tell you.

[ripsean21]

3 minutes ago, ARTMONK HOF said:

To me this just shows you how inept the last regime was. It’s a good comparison because their scouting had the same exact people. If you’re not excited for this team now with the new people in place, I don’t know what to tell you.

I’m with you man!!!! To me it didn’t matter which QB we took they all had their claim and tape to support the pick. But them picking Johnny then Mikey and Ben round 2 told me everything I needed. Plus they stuck to visits. The last group used visits then selected elsewhere they were just completely not using assets properly!!! I had a blue chip grade on McDuffie. Now he has better size then Mike but the IQ and game are so close when we made that pick I legit lost my cool because what excited me when we hired Quinn and Peters was exactly that. It’s knowing and trusting tape and they did that with every pick. We haven’t picked off my list like they did this year in my life. I’m just greatful for this staff it actually has fueled me seeing the class to just keep putting this work in. I’m so excited to see these coaches get on the field with these players and in the film room after practice and games and really expand these guys into the staffs gameplans

[turtle28]

3 hours ago, lavar703 said:

It’s a weird draft to grade. Peters said they see Coleman as a tackle so my guess is he actually ends up being our starting LT at some point this season which is scary. I would’ve much preferred Cooper DeJean to Newton and then handing him to the Eagles was a gut punch. Overall, the league seems to love this draft however. The analysts, the draft nerds, nearly everybody loves what AP has done. 

I’m going to give it an A. He didn’t really reach for anyone and went after playmakers. The first 5 picks were all culture changing-type picks. I’m extremely excited about the Sinnott and McCaffrey picks. I think they’re both going to be highly productive. The corner from Michigan is probably our best DB already lol. And I like just taking chances on high RAS players. They have the athletic ability to mold. Overall I think AP did great. 

This draft was an A for me!

I do agree with your post though. I would point out though that Coleman was a two year starter at LT for TCU. He started at LT for TCU two years ago in the National Championship game. I don't expect him to play this year though, I think he's squarely Lucas’s backup & may even be behind Trent Scott on the depth chart or if we sign another LT.

I agree with your point about DeJean over Newton but Newton is going to make a huge impact as well. But position needs, as you said I would've gone Dejean and had a starting CB added.

I totally agree with the rest. I see Sinnott & McCaffery being impact players in time. Maybe not right away but next year for sure. For this year I see them being mostly special teams guys unless Sinnott proves to be the 2ne best TE & a good enough blocker to take Bates's spot, which is entirely possible and I hadn't thought about until just now.

 

Edited April 28 by turtle28

[Umbaugh21]

B

I think a balance needs to be struck between BPA and need. And drafting Newton did absolutely nothing for our needs when we have young DT's locked up. 
 

The rest of the draft was good though. 

[turtle28]

23 minutes ago, Umbaugh21 said:

B

I think a balance needs to be struck between BPA and need. And drafting Newton did absolutely nothing for our needs when we have young DT's locked up. 
 

The rest of the draft was good though. 

I tend to agree but keep in mind that Newton will allow Allen & Payne to get more of a rest during the game like when we had Matt I & Settle.

I would have taken DeJean too but considering this helps our DT rotation immensely and will keep Allen & Payne fresh, that makes a lot of sense.

Edited April 28 by turtle28

[ripsean21]

46 minutes ago, turtle28 said:

I tend to agree but keep in mind that Newton will allow Allen & Payne to get more of a rest during the game like when we had Matt I & Settle.

I would have taken DeJean too but considering this helps our DT rotation immensely and will keep Allen & Payne fresh, that makes a lot of sense.

See I actually think this staff likes the skillset of our top CB’s. That doesn’t mean next year it isn’t a higher target. But if you told me Forbes leads the league this year in picks and Juste shines in the browning role with less PI I wouldn’t be shocked. While Forbes wasn’t a guy I mentioned for us due to how we were playing every not I had on him said Joe Whitt/Dan Quinn specialist. Add in Mikey too the Nickle with his football IQ I believe he just being in the room helps Forbes identify things better. Forbes can cover and has elite eyes. Now play him the way he should be played which I believe this scheme will offer and this kid could be one of the best additions this offseason that this staff didn’t even pick

[Doc Draper]

I really liked it! Unfortunately we didn’t have number 1 and while I understand the Daniels pick, I think it’s a huge risk. But the front office took a stand and will live or die with that pick. Lots of new talent being infused into the roster. Wish we had the opportunity for a tackle in round 2. 

[Slappy Mc]

My preferences puts the draft at about a B-/B. I would have preferred a trade down and maximize the quantity AND quality of picks.

Spoiler

That said I had more concerns about Drake Maye starting immediately than I had for Jayden Daniels. Given that Daniels has almost 3 years on Maye, that should be expected. I think Maye has potential to be the better passer, but that's not all there is to playing QB. Jayden Daniels' footwork and ability to process a defense is significantly better at this point. I also think Maye won't ever be able to come close to Daniels' running ability. 

As for the rest of the draft, I think they did a great job of adding very talented football players. I loved getting Newton, even though I wanted an OT. I think he was a top 20 talent. I expected a slight fall, but all the way to 36 wasn't something I could have imagined. I hated the inter-divisional trade.

Spoiler

We came up using the trade charts, but the premium for division rival wasn't there. We didn't even gain another pick. We got Mike Sainristil, Ben Sinnott and Dom Hampton from the trade returns and I guess that's a good haul. The Eagles got Cooper Dejean and worked more GM magic to maximize future draft capital while still getting good talent this year. 

Getting Sainristil, Sinnott, McCaffree, McGee, Hampton, Jean-Baptiste was good, not great IMO. I don't expect much from our day 3 picks. Sainristil and Sinnott should see good playing time quickly, but the rest are replacement/ST players. 

The one thing I will say is that every player that was drafted are high character, well-respected players. Quite a few were team captains and fit what the rebrand/rebuild is all about. 

[taylor made]

Jayden Daniels: Grade - A: Filled a need with a highly ranked QB. Trading down would have screwed us. 

Johnny Newton: Grade - A-: While not an immediate need, I liked the shift towards BPA. This guy is Dan Quinn's Grady Jarrett. 

Mike Sainristil: Grade - B+: He doesn't have CB1 potential, but he was my highest rated CB for round 2. Obviously fills a big need here. 

Ben Sinnott: Grade - C+: You might be surprised by the rating, but I would have liked him more so in Round 3. This was more of a need pick and I get it. I love the player, and I had him in my mock draft. We passed on some pretty good OT prospects like Patrick Paul and Kingsley Suamatai for him which could potentially look foolish. 

Brandon Coleman: Grade C: This guy wasn't on my radar but he should have been. A little early for him in my opinion and there was a run on OT's right before him which kind of sucked. He has a lot of potential though. WR Roman Wilson or WR Jalen McMillan were on the board here. 

Luke McCaffery: Grade C+: I think we paid a bit of a premium for the McCaffery name here but he has a lot of potential. I like him a lot though. A few WRs like Troy Franklin, Javon Baker, or Devontez Walker could make this pick look foolish though. RB Jaylen Wright was also out there. 

Magee & Hampton: Grade: D: Just don't like these type of LB/S/Special Teams late in the draft. Hope they prove me wrong. There was a lot of RB/WR value here I though. 

All in all a pretty good draft, around a B+. I think I gave the last few Rivera drafts D grades. If we can hit on one of Sinnott, Coleman or McCaffery I think this draft could turn out very good.