The Washington Commanders entered the 2023 NFL offseason with major needs on the offensive line. Washington understood its need, signing G/C Nick Gates and RT Andrew Wylie on the first day of free agency to start in 2023.
In the 2023 NFL draft, the Commanders selected center Ricky Stromberg and offensive tackle Braeden Daniels in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.
Still, some believed that Washington still hadn’t done enough to improve the offensive line. One idea was the Commanders badly needed to draft an offensive tackle early, with the idea to move Wylie inside to guard and Sam Cosmi to left guard. However, Washington appears content heading into training camp with a starting lineup [left to right] of LT Charles Leno Jr., Saahdiq Charles or Chris Paul at LG, Gates [at center], RG Cosmi and RT Wylie.
The problem is Leno will be 32 next season and struggled at times last season. Leno isn’t as bad as some online will tell you, but the Commanders need to add a young offensive tackle.
In a new 2024 NFL mock draft from Tankathon, the Commanders pick at No. 6 and select Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt.
The 6-foot-8, 315-pound Alt started for the Fighting Irish as a true freshman at left tackle. He started again at left tackle in 2022. He is only 20 years old and is the son of former Kansas City offensive tackle John Alt. Alt played 13 NFL seasons — all with the Chiefs — and is a member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame.
Olu Fashanu of Penn State is widely expected to be the top offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL draft. However, in this mock draft, Fashanu is already gone. Alt would be an excellent consolation prize for Washington.
The unfortunate aspect of this mock draft is the Commanders are picking at No. 6. If Washington ends the season bad enough to pick at No. 6, don’t be surprised if the Commanders, under a new owner, make a bold move for a young quarterback.
