Todd McShay makes best case yet for Commanders going defense in the first round

Todd McShay joined the Trap or Dive Podcast to preview the NFL Draft

NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay made the best case yet for why the Washington Commanders may go defense in the first round. In his Todd Mock 3.0, McShay selected Georgia Bulldog Safety Malaki Starks at 29 for the Washington Commanders. He selected a defensive back over other considerations at running back, offensive line, and edge. That can be a head-scratcher to some, and I’m sure wide receiver is among the positions others would consider at 29 as well. In the latest Trap or Dive podcast, Todd McShay joined the show and explained his thought process for why the Commanders most likely go defense, position-aside, over an offensive player because Washington has successfully identified their quarterback.

“Think about like the Baltimore Ravens, right? One of the organizations in the playoffs almost every year. They’re always picking in the mid to late 20s or 30s. They are one of the most patient organizations out there, and their patience gets paid off just about every year in the draft and it’s maybe it’s sticking there at 22 or 24 or it’s trading back just a few spots to a team that’s getting anxious right and they always wind up with a player you’re like I never thought he was going to be there and I think now the Commanders, there’s like, now you’re in this now you’re at the big boy table.”

To be at the big boy table, you have to have a quarterback in place, which gives you the freedom to find difference-makers defensively because a Jayden Daniels-led offense will undoubtedly score points.

“If you go back and study all these really good organizations that are always in the playoffs, Chiefs, the Bills now, the Eagles, especially the Packers, the Ravens, every one of them, if you go study their draft history, go year by year, once they identified like, yeah, that’s our guy at quarterback. It’s like they took this sharp left turn, and every draft after that, and I’m talking three-four years like they’re still doing it. You know why? in talking to these GMs. Two reasons. One, because my guy is going to make up for the sins of 10 guys on that side of the ball. But he can’t help those guys on that side of the ball. So, we better get great with personnel on that side of the ball.”

More importantly than difference-makers, the Commanders need closers, and the GMs that McShay has gotten a chance to have conversations with and study understand the importance of finishing games on the defensive side of the football.

“I remember talking to Bill Polian, the old GM for the Colts when he came and worked at ESPN. One of his big things was that we had to get pass rushers on that turf. I can remember how passionate he was. We had to have closers, guys who could close the game. Talking to Howie Roseman at the combine. He said the same way, “We had we had to find closers.” The Commanders are in a position now that they have their guy, and they can be patient and sit back. If it’s an edge rusher, awesome. But if it’s not, then we take a player that everyone in the league thinks is one of the 20, 24, 25 best players in the league in Starks, and let’s take him and get a difference maker.”

You can listen to the full Trap or Dive episode with Todd McShay below. We also discussed:

• Best offensive position group of this class
• Best Day 2 WR prospects for Washington
• Edge rushers
• QB class rankings

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