The Washington Commanders seem content to head into the offseason with Sam Howell as the No. 1 quarterback. A veteran will be added to Washington’s quarterback room, but it is doubtful that the Commanders will target a passer high in the 2023 NFL draft.
The top priorities for Washington heading into free agency next month are re-signing defensive tackle Daron Payne and looking for help on the offensive line. Depending on what the Commanders are able to add in free agency, draft plans could change.
As of now, offensive line help is the most significant need. The Commanders could also use another cornerback. Picking No. 16 overall, Washington would ideally prefer to pick the best available player between its top positions of need. With a strong cornerback draft, especially at the top, the best value for adding to the offensive line could be in the second and third rounds.
In a new mock draft from Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, he has the Commanders selecting Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
I’ll be honest, after transferring to Oregon this season, it took me a while to figure out whether I thought Gonzalez was a great draft prospect because of his ability or if it was due to the rest of Oregon’s secondary being terrible. I’m leaning toward Gonzalez being good. Like Witherspoon, he’s not the strongest, but he’s long, athletic and has tremendous instincts for the ball.
The 6-foot-2 Gonzalez would give the Commanders a third starting cornerback to go along with Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste. St-Juste, at 6-foot-3, had a breakout season in 2022, but injuries plagued him in the final six weeks.