2023 Road to the Draft – Part 6
February 21, 2023
By Noonefromtampa
Rumors about the sale of the Washington team started leaking out last week. The first round was supposedly an “interest of intent” for potential buyers to indicate they would like to submit a formal bid. One potential buyer, Todd Boehly, has allegedly dropped out of the process already, while another, Josh Harris, was seen touring the facilities. Almost everyone is expecting Jeff Bezos to swoop in at the last minute and buy the team for close to Dan Snyder’s asking price of $7 billion.
Let’s Talk Linebackers
The Commanders’ linebacker group was the weakest link of the defense during this past season. It will have to undergo a serious overhaul this offseason. The players in 2022:
| Player | Pos | Snaps Ct | Snap % |
| Jamin Davis | LB | 834 | 79.89% |
| Cole Holcomb | LB | 446 | 42.72% |
| Jonathan Bostic | LB | 263 | 25.19% |
| David Mayo | LB | 202 | 19.35% |
| Khaleke Hudson | LB | 72 | 6.90% |
| Milo Eifler | LB | 6 | 0.57% |
Former first round pick Jamin Davis is the only player still under contract, whereas everyone else if a free agent of some form. Hudson is a restricted free agent and Eifler is an exclusive rights free agent, so bringing back those two is an easier decision. Bringing back Holcomb is the big decision for the front office regarding this position group. All of this make linebacker one of three positions that the Commanders target early in the draft, with offensive line and tight end being the other two.
Mock Draft Data
The number of mock drafts is up 27 this week to 150. The Commanders will have the 16th overall pick in the first round. The position picked by descending frequency is:
| Position | Picked Count | Picked % | Last Week % | % Change |
| CB | 98 | 65.33% | 63.41% | 1.92% |
| QB | 17 | 11.33% | 11.38% | -0.05% |
| OT | 12 | 8.00% | 7.32% | 0.68% |
| LB | 6 | 4.00% | 8.13% | -4.13% |
| TE | 5 | 3.33% | 3.25% | 0.08% |
| DL | 5 | 3.33% | 2.44% | 0.89% |
| IOL | 4 | 2.67% | 2.44% | 0.23% |
| WR | 2 | 1.33% | 0.81% | 0.52% |
| RB | 1 | 0.67% | 0.81% | -0.15% |
| Edge | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| S | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Grand Total | 150 | 100% |
The picks that are most baffling are the people who pick a defensive lineman, wide receiver or running back for the Commanders. You must wonder how much the mockers review a team’s needs before making a pick.
The players mock picked to the Commanders at the 16th pick are, in descending frequency:
| Player | Position | School | Picked Count | Picked % |
| Joey Porter Jr | CB | Penn State | 25 | 16.67% |
| Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon | 24 | 16.00% |
| Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois | 17 | 11.33% |
| Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida | 16 | 10.67% |
| Cam Smith | CB | South Carolina | 14 | 9.33% |
| Kelee Ringo | CB | Georgia | 12 | 8.00% |
| Brian Branch | CB | Alabama | 5 | 3.33% |
| Peter Skoronski | OT | Northwestern | 5 | 3.33% |
| Michael Mayer | TE | Notre Dame | 5 | 3.33% |
| Broderick Jones | OT | Georgia | 4 | 2.67% |
| Bryan Bresee | DL | Clemson | 4 | 2.67% |
| O’Cyrus Torrence | IOL | Florida | 3 | 2.00% |
| Trenton Simpson | LB | Clemson | 3 | 2.00% |
| Drew Sanders | LB | Arkansas | 2 | 1.33% |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | Texas | 1 | 0.67% |
| Noah Sewell | LB | Oregon | 1 | 0.67% |
| Deonta Banks | CB | Maryland | 1 | 0.67% |
| Darnell Wright | OT | Tennessee | 1 | 0.67% |
| Anton Harrison | OT | Oklahoma | 1 | 0.67% |
| Jalin Hyatt | WR | Tennessee | 1 | 0.67% |
| John Michael Schmitz | IOL | Minnesota | 1 | 0.67% |
| Will Levis | QB | Kentucky | 1 | 0.67% |
| Quentin Johnston | WR | TCU | 1 | 0.67% |
| Paris Johnson Jr | OT | Ohio State | 1 | 0.67% |
| Mike Morris | DL | Michigan | 1 | 0.67% |
| Grand Total | 150 | 100.00% |
Mock Freshness
| Age | Age % |
| 1 Week Old | 12.67% |
| 2 Weeks Old | 13.33% |
| 3 Weeks Old | 10.00% |
| 4 Weeks Old | 8.00% |
| 5 Weeks Old | 4.67% |
| 6 Weeks Old | 4.67% |
| 7 Weeks Old | 2.67% |
| 8 Weeks Old | 0.67% |
| 9 Weeks Old | 3.33% |
| New | 40.00% |
| Grand Total | 100.00% |
Trades
There was a new trade mocked this week, with the Commanders trading up with the Jets to take Christian Gonzalez. I just don’t see Washington being a “buy” team in the draft. I see them being more inclined to move back and pick up additional picks.
Key Mock Draft Predictors
Periodically, we’ll take a look at who some of the key mock draft analysts are picking for the Commanders.
| Site | Author | Player | Position | School |
| CBS Sports | Ryan Wilson | Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois |
| Draftwire | Luke Easterling | Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon |
| ESPN | Mel Kiper | Broderick Jones | OT | Georgia |
| ESPN | Todd McShay | Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois |
| NFL Spin Zone | Randy Gurzi | Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon |
| NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon |
| NFL.com | Lance Zierlein | O’Cyrus Torrence | IOL | Florida |
| Pro Football Focus | Trevor Sikkema | Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida |
| Pro Football Network | Ian Cummings | John Michael Schmitz | IOL | Minnesota |
| San Diego Union Tribune | Eddie Brown | Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida |
| Sporting News | Vinne Iyer | Joey Porter Jr | CB | Penn State |
| The Athletic | Dane Brugler | Cam Smith | CB | South Carolina |
| The Huddle Report | Brian Johannes | Joey Porter Jr | CB | Penn State |
| USA Today | Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida |
| Walter Football | Walter Cherepinsky | Brian Branch | CB | Alabama |
Sources: nflmockdraftdatabase.com, grindingthemocks.com, nfldraftbuzz.com, overthcap.com, spotrac.com, pro-football-reference.com
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