The Commanders have 79 players and 3 remaining draft picks
The Commanders have added 6 players in the first three rounds of the draft, bringing the current roster to 79 players with three picks remaining on Day 3. Washington added two rookies on defense — a defensive tackle and a nickel corner, and four rookies on offense — QB Jayden Daniels, TE Ben Sinnot, OL Brandon Coleman, and WR Luke McCaffrey.
The numbers that appear beside some players’ names are 2024 cap hits per Over the Cap.
Please note that assigned positions and color coding are my own personal opinions. They do not necessarily represent the thinking of Washington’s coaches or front office, nor are they necessarily consistent with fan consensus. This chart represents my personal interpretation, and may not reflect the thoughts of other writers on Hogs Haven. Finally, when it comes to backup players, I don’t put much effort into making sure that they are on the right or left or behind the specific player that they backup. I mostly just try to fit everyone on the chart efficiently.
It can always be a bit tricky to predict exactly how a new player will fit into the team’s plans. This is especially true for the Commanders at the moment. Kliff Kingsbury is the offensive coordinator, but he has already said on the record that he won’t be running the “Air Raid” offense that he became famous for, and his offensive staff comprises a former coordinator and a former head coach. Kingsbury has said that his the team’s offense will be a blend of concepts that the entire staff has input to. Likewise, it isn’t completely clear that the team will continue with a base 4-3 defense, though the edge defenders signed in free agency indicate that it will.
This week’s roster additions
The choice to draft DT Johnny Newton to join a roster that already features Jon Allen and Daron Payne was clearly application of the ‘best player available’ approach. DT was probably the strongest unit on the team pre-draft, but Newton simply offered too much skill to pass up at pick #36.
Sainristil is a quick and hard-hitting nickel back who can immediately challenge for playing time.
Ben Sinnot is a strong addition to the TE unit, and even as a rookie, he should see the field quite a lot. Zach Ertz is a veteran who has passed his prime and is playing on a one-year contract. The other players at the position are mostly unproven, with the exception of John Bates, who is a solid tight end better known for his blocking than for his route running or receiving skills.
Washington fans were on the edge of their seats with expectation that the Commanders would make a strong pick to address the needs at the offensive tackle positions. In the end, the move turned out to be Brandon Coleman, a good prospect who can play both tackle and guard, but more of a developmental player than many Washington fans were hoping for from this draft.
Peters says Washington believes Brandon Coleman has “everything it takes to be a tackle in this league”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2024
In his Friday night press conference, Adam Peters expressed confidence in Coleman’s ability to play Tackle in the NFL.
Luke McCaffrey is the son of Ed McCaffrey and the brother of 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey. He is a converted quarterback who was a receiver for 2 years in college and is still developing at the position. While he is 6’2” and 198 pounds, per Next Gen Stats, he ran the 2nd-quickest short shuttle (4.02) of any wide receiver at the Combine since 2018. Several articles I read about him project him to play primarily in the slot. though I think he will have the skills to line up in multiple positions, and to carry the ball as a runner as well. He averaged over 6 yards per carry as he accumulated more than 900 yards rushing in college. He also seems to be something of a contested catch specialist.
It’s no coincidence Jayden Daniels is the best box fade thrower in the draft and the #Commanders drafted Luke McCaffrey who has a 60.7% contested catch rate (17 contested catches, 2nd most). Another example of helping out guys based on their strengths. #RaiseHail
— Nick Kerns (@nicktkerns) April 27, 2024
Luke McCaffrey was a converted QB who really flashed last season and tied Rome Odunze with 22 contested catches last season — as @MelKiperESPN noted. https://t.co/3Ou14PFTDo
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 27, 2024
Of course, on Thursday night, the Commanders used the 2nd overall pick in the draft to select Jayden Daniels, the former LSU quarterback. I doubt any Washington fan who pays attention to the draft needs me to add any context to that pick. Daniels should be the first quarterback drafted by Washington to start the season opener since RGIII’s rookie season of 2012. Commanders fans will be investing much of their hope for the future in Daniels.
Saturday & Sunday
Washington isn’t done yet. Adam Peters & Co have a pair of 5th-round picks (Nos. 139 and 161), and a 7th rounder (No. 222) still ahead. While the team could still be looking to bolster the offense and defense, later round picks are often used to draft players with special teams prowess. With the recent changes to kickoff rules for the ‘24 season, one or more of these picks may be used to add players who have kick return abilities, or who have proven to be outstanding open-field tacklers.
Even after the 7th round ends, the work isn’t done. As things stand now, the Commanders will have an 82-man roster after making 3 more picks. The team can bring 91 players to training camp. Those final 9 roster spots will be filled almost exclusively with undrafted college free agents, and the competition for those players can be quite fierce.