Jahan Dotson (Rd 1, 16): Dotson must have an unbelievable “catch radius” because that was the buzz phrase from the Commanders brass. And the trade back from No. 11 to No. 16 was certainly maximized by Washington. The Commanders are banking on Chris Olave not being that much better than Dotson, and they also picked up Brian Robinson and Sam Howell with picks traded to them during the draft. They had needs and thus needed to trade back, so I am glad they did trade back.
Brian Robinson Jr. (Rd 3, 98): Robinson is not the receiver J D McKissic is out of the backfield. Yet, it is also true that McKissic is not the insider runner that Robinson is. McKissic is coming off of a neck injury and Antonio Gibson did have fumble problems last season. Robinson might become an interesting short-yardage asset and is certainly a more powerful runner than Jaret Patterson or Jonathan Williams displayed in 2021.
Phidarian Mathis (Rd 2, 47): Mathis might be a better run defender than Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle. Thus he might actually provide what those two defensive tackles did not. Yet, the other side of the coin looks (at least for now) to also be just as true. Settle and Ioannidis both were more mobile against the wide runs and providing pass rush. Mathis is known to be good at occupying blockers, which would help the middle linebacker in particular.
Remember how Aaron Rodgers was upset that Green Bay did not contact Rodgers, preparing him for their late first-round choice of Jordan Love? The Commanders must have learned from that as well, because Saturday they contacted Wentz, informing him of their intention to draft UNC QB Sam Howell in the fifth round (144).
With Coach Ron saying this next season is going to be a good step up for Washington, did you notice in this draft the Commanders chose only one underclassman? And that guy was Howell, whom they would rather not have to play in 2022. They upgraded at starter with the trade for Wentz and they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to perhaps draft for the future as well, at the game’s most significant position.
