You know it’s close to draft time when ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have their combined three-round mock draft.
The ESPN draft analysts released their latest mock draft Tuesday and gave the Washington Commanders help at two key positions. In addition, the duo took advantage of the tight end depth in the 2023 NFL draft, giving the Commanders a tight end with an intriguing upside.
Here’s a look at Washington’s first three picks in the Kiper-McShay mock draft.
Round 1, No. 16 overall: Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
Washington likes Wright. At one point, many considered Wright a second-round pick or possibly a late-first-round selection. However, a standout senior season followed by an outstanding pre-draft process has some believing Wright could land in the top 15.
If Wright is the pick, Washington would seemingly kick Andrew Wylie inside to guard and move Sam Cosmi to the other guard position. Wright has played left tackle and guard but proved to be a dominant right tackle with the Volunteers.
Here’s what McShay said about Wright:
I know Washington just signed Andrew Wylie, but Wright is an excellent run-blocker who could be a long-term solution at right tackle. And if the Commanders want, they could bump him inside as a rookie. Wright plays with power and quickness to open running lanes and stall pass-rush attempts.
Round 2, No. 47 overall: Georgia CB Kelee Ringo
Much like Wright, the Commanders like Ringo and have been linked to him in the pre-draft process. At one point, many considered Ringo a probably top-20 selection; however, others have surpassed him in this draft. While some questions persist, there is a lot of upside in Ringo. He’s big, fast and experienced. He could be a solid NFL player but has the potential to be much more.
Here’s Kiper’s assessment of Ringo:
Ringo is a boom-or-bust defender, and some scouts believe he’ll eventually move to safety. He is worth a flier in Round 2 because of his traits, though. If he puts his tools together, the Commanders could get a steal.
Round 3, No. 97 overall: Old Dominion TE Zack Kuntz
Kuntz is 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. That’s phenomenal. However, he’s far from a polished product. You are projecting Kuntz’s upside with a pick in the third round. The former Penn State tight end could develop into a potential future starter but needs some work.
Check out his Relative Athletic Score, per Kent Lee Platte:
Zack Kuntz is a TE prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 1054 TE from 1987 to 2023. #Correction, but didn't knock him out of the top spot.https://t.co/mpZ9CLNDkc #RAS pic.twitter.com/vIUzepU1VE
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 24, 2023
Here’s Kiper’s assessment:
At 6-foot-7 and 253 pounds, Kuntz ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the combine, one of the best times from any tight end there. He has a ways to go to become a complete player, though. In Washington, he could sit behind Logan Thomas and use 2023 as a redshirt year.
