The 2022 NFL draft is in the history books, and the Washington Commanders filled numerous needs throughout the three-day event.
The Commanders entered the draft with only six selections, but two trades gave Washington eight total picks. Washington added one player at various positions of need, except linebacker.
The Commanders passed on Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean at No. 47, instead selecting Alabam defensive tackle Phidarious Mathis. By the time Washington’s next pick came around, all of the top linebackers were gone.
Overall, however, Washington’s 2022 draft has received high marks. The draft grades continue to roll in for the Commanders; this time, it is Pro Football Focus. What grade does PFF give Washington?
PFF gives the Commanders a C+ and they explain why:
Day 1: Washington selected Jahan Dotson as the fifth wide receiver taken in the first round, representing one of the biggest reaches on Day 1. Dotson was No. 56 on PFF’s Big Board but he did have his fans. He has some of the best hands in the draft, dropping just 5.2% of catchable targets in his college career. The success of this pick will be determined by how successful he can be on the outside and not just the slot at the next level.
Day 2: Few people like anything as much as Washington seems to like Alabama defensive linemen, and they added another one in the second round with Phidarian Mathis. It was their second straight major reach according to PFF’s Big Board, selecting Mathis around 50 spots higher than his ranking. As you would expect coming from Alabama, Mathis is long, strong and violent in his play but he isn’t tremendously explosive which calls his ceiling into question. He does have a high floor considering his NFL-ready technique but just don’t expect game-wrecking ability, as evidenced by his solid 78.5 PFF grade in 2021.
Brian Robinson was the 146th-ranked player on PFF’s draft board but still offers a skill set Washington doesn’t have a whole lot of in their backfield: physicality. He can be an immediate impact player as a short-yardage back behind starter Antonio Gibson.
Day 3: Sam Howell’s slide finally ends at Pick 144. He may have taken a step back as a passer in 2021, but he proved to be a legitimate threat as a runner, breaking an absurd 63 tackles and running for 1,072 yards. The 34th-ranked player on PFF’s big board, Howell will push Carson Wentz in the nation’s capital and will likely get starting reps.
PFF bases a large part of its grade on where a player was selected vs. where the analytics site had them ranked. One thing is certain, there is no way Dotson was the No. 56 overall player in the draft.
