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Washington Commanders 2024 NFL Draft Guide: What you need to know

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Adam Peters
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NFL Network's Peter Schrager projects the Washington Commanders to use the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.


Hey Commanders fans! It's time to get ready for the 2024 NFL Draft with exclusive team insights and analysis.

Read below to get a sense for Washington's projected picks, positional needs, selection history, GM draft notes and more, all courtesy of the NFL's research team.

And don't forget to tune in on Thursday, April 25th at 8:00 p.m. ET for live coverage of the draft on NFL Network and NFL+.

Washington Commanders Draft Overview

2023 record: 4-13
Fourth in NFC East; missed playoffs

Commanders 2024 draft picks (9):

Round 1, pick 2
Round 2, pick 36
Round 2, pick 40 (acquired from Chicago Bears in Montez Sweat trade)
Round 3, pick 67
Round 3, pick 78 (acquired from Seattle Seahawks in Sam Howell trade)
Round 3, pick 100 (compensatory pick)
Round 5, pick 139
Round 5, pick 152 (acquired from Seattle Seahawks in Sam Howell trade)
Round 7, pick 222

Commanders team needs (according to Chad Reuter): Quarterback, Offensive Tackle, Edge, Cornerback, Wide Receiver

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Projected Commanders first-round selection, via NFL.com draft analysts:

AnalystPick No. 2
Daniel Jeremiah
QB Drake Maye (UNC)
Charles Davis
QB Drake Maye (UNC)
Lance Zierlein
QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Bucky Brooks
QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Peter Schrager
QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)

(See all projections at Mock Draft Central)

Commanders 2024 Opponents

Home

Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Titans, Bears

Away

Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Saints, Buccaneers, Ravens, Bengals, Cardinals

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Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus explains why his analytics tell him that North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback prospect Drake Maye would be the better option for the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft than LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels.


Commanders Notable Activity Tracker (2024 offseason):

AddsLosses
DE Dorrance Armstrong (Cowboys)
T Charles Leno (released)
C Tyler Biadasz (Cowboys)
TE Logan Thomas (released)
TE Zach Ertz (Lions)
RB Antonio Gibson (Patriots)
LB Frankie Luvu (Panthers)
QB Jacoby Brissett (Patriots)
RB Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
G Saahdiq Charles (Titans)
G Nick Allegretti (Chiefs)
C Nick Gates (released)
K Brandon McManus (Jaguars)
CB Kendall Fuller (Dolphins)
QB Marcus Mariota (Eagles)
QB Sam Howell (trade - Seahawks)
CB Noah Igbinoghene (Cowboys)
WR Curtis Samuel (Bills)
DE Clelin Ferrell (49ers)
S Kamren Curl (Rams)
DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Cowboys)
K Joey Slye (Jaguars)
S Jeremy Chinn (Panthers)
LB Cody Barton (Broncos)
LB Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)
DE Casey Toohill (Bills)
LB Anthony Pittman (Lions)
LB Khaleke Hudson (Saints)
CB Michael Davis (Chargers)
WR Olamide Zaccheaus (Eagles)

Commanders Decision Makers

Manager Partner: Josh Harris

General Manager: Adam Peters

Senior Personnel Exec./Advisor to the GM: Martin Mayhew

Head Coach: Dan Quinn

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Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters on hiring next head coach.


Adam Peters

- Peters is entering his 1st season as Commanders GM

- SF Assistant GM from 2021-2023

- SF VP of Player Personnel from 2017-2020

- DEN Director/Assistant Director of College Scouting from 2014-2016 (DEN won Super Bowl 50 in 2015)

- DEN Scout from 2009-2013

- NE Scout from 2003-08 (NE won 2 Super Bowls during span; XXXVIII & XXXIX)

- Martin Mayhew was the WAS GM from 2021-23 (now a Senior Personnel Executive/Advisor to the GM for WAS)

- WAS had 19-31-1 W-L record under Mayhew as GM (T-6th-worst record in NFL from 2021-23)

- WAS fired Ron Rivera following 2023 season (WAS HC from 2020-2023)

- Since 1999, 10 people have now served as Washington GM or de-facto GM

- 9 of the 10 were under Dan Snyder as owner

- The Commanders hired Dan Quinn as their new HC (Quinn was DAL DC from 2021-2023)

- DAL allowed 19.9 PPG allowed (5th in NFL) & had 93 takeaways (most) from 2021-23

- Quinn previously served as the Atlanta Falcons HC from 2015-2020

- Quinn: 43-42 record as the Falcons HC, led ATL to the Super Bowl in 2016

- The Commanders have missed the playoffs in 7 of the last 8 seasons

- Won NFC East in 2020 despite finishing with 7-9 W-L (lost in WC Rd 31-23 vs TB)

- 3 different QBs have started 7+ games for the Commanders over the last 2 seasons

- Sam Howell (18 starts; 5-13 W-L), Taylor Heinicke (9 starts: 5-3-1 W-L), Carson Wentz (7 starts; 2-5 W-L); none of these 3 QBs are still on the team

- The Commanders traded starting QB Sam Howell (5th Rd pick in 2022) to SEA in March 2024

- Sent: Howell, 2024 4th Rd (#102) & 2024 6th Rd (#179)

- Received: 2024 3rd Rd (#78) & 2024 5th Rd (#152)

- Marcus Mariota is currently the QB1 on the Commanders depth chart (Jeff Driskel & Jake Fromm are only other QBs on current roster)

- Mariota signed a 1-year, $6.0M contract with WAS in 2024 FA

- Mariota has made just 13 starts over last 4 seasons (5-8 W-L w/ ATL in 2022)

- Over the past five drafts, the Commanders have used a top-70 overall pick on every offensive/defensive position except interior OL & TE

Highest drafted Commanders player by position, past five drafts

PositionPlayerRoundOverallYear
QB
Dwayne Haskins
1st
15th
2019
RB
Antonio Gibson
3rd
66th
2020
WR
Jahan Dotson
1st
16th
2022
TE
John Bates
4th
124th
2021
OT
Samuel Cosmi
2nd
51st
2021
IOL
Ricky Stromberg
3rd
97th
2023
DT
Phidarian Mathis
2nd
47th
2022
EDGE
Chase Young
1st
2nd
2020
LB
Jamin Davis
1st
19th
2021
CB
Emmanuel Forbes
1st
16th
2023
S
Quan Martin
2nd
47th
2023

Last time Commanders picked each position in first round:

Position YearPlayerSchoolPick No. (Overall)
QB
2019
Dwayne Haskins
Ohio State
15th
RB
1967
Ray McDonald
Idaho
13th
WR
2022
Jahan Dotson
Penn State
16th
TE
Never
OT
2015
Brandon Scherff
Iowa
5th
OG
Never
C
Never
DE
2020
Chase Young
Ohio State
2nd
DT
2018
Da'Ron Payne
Alabama
13th
LB
2021
Jamin Davis
Kentucky
19th
CB
2023
Emmanuel Forbes
Mississippi State
16th
S
2007
LaRon Landry
LSU
6th
P
Never
K
1966
Charlie Gogolak
Princeton
6th

Compiled by the NFL Research team. All data current as of April 16, 2024.