The Washington Commanders continue to do their homework on offensive linemen and cornerbacks ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. Washington has met with multiple players at each position, either through top-30 visits, virtual meetings, or at the NFL combine and Senior Bowl.
The Commanders have met with massive Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand James on multiple occasions, even hosting him for a top-30 visit. The 6-foot-8. 374-pound Jones impressed NFL coaches during his week at the Senior Bowl earlier this year.
Remember, Washington assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton coached in the game.
According to Jordan Reid of ESPN, he’s hearing some chatter around Jones and the Commanders:
The Commanders have studied the top offensive linemen in the class. Offensive tackle is a possibility in Round 1. Dawand Jones (Ohio State) is a name I keep hearing in connection with the team, which has done a lot of work on his evaluation. While the middle of Round 1 might seem high for Jones right now, don’t be surprised if he lands in that range.
As for cornerback, Reid is hearing the Commanders are high on Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo:
Cornerback is another area the Commanders could address, potentially on Day 2. I’ve heard they are high on Kelee Ringo (Georgia). Coming into the 2022 season, Ringo was viewed as a potential first-round pick, but he’s likely to fall to Round 2 now. He would fit well in Washington’s zone-heavy scheme, playing on the other side of Benjamin St-Juste.
If Washington drafts an offensive tackle in the first round and somehow Ringo is still available at No. 47 overall, that should be a pretty easy pick for the Commanders. The 6-foot-2 Ringo ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds. His blend of size and athleticism is intriguing. Ringo was a two-year starter for the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs.