We are two days away from the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft – the most crucial of Ron Rivera's time with the Commanders and perhaps the final of Dan Snyder as owner in Washington.
"At 16 there are a lot of different routes where Washington can go. Is it tackle? Are they gonna value guard? Are they gonna value left tackle? There are not too many pure left tackles in this class you maybe have to get a guy that switches positions. Is it tight end? We've heard some rumblings that Bijan Robinson from Texas is there at 16, is that the guy? Is it a quarterback?" Ryan Fowler, analyst at The Draft Network, told Kevin Sheehan on Tuesday.
"But really my focus is at corner at 16," Fowler said. "You look at the guys around this division that you gotta cover twice a year: DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Dallas just traded for Brandin Cooks, Giants are gonna be better on the outside this year. And at 16 right now, my focus turns to Deonte Banks from Maryland and Joey Porter Jr. from Penn State."
Fowler said he "heard great things out of the building" from Porter Jr.'s visit to Ashburn and sees the need for Washington to grab a top cornerback is imperative for them.
Sheehan added that because the draft at the corner position is deep, there is value for them at pick No. 47 if they do not go DB in the first round and choose to address the offensive line in the first round.
But when it came to Porter Jr. and Banks, Fowler said he would prefer the Maryland cornerback, citing his athletic intangibles and his ability to play man and his 4.3 speed. "I think he just fits with what Washington wants to do," he said.
If the Commanders think lineman (and who might be there at No. 16), Fowler said the name to know is Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright, who has solid footwork and the toughness to maul people.
Fowler said Wright is the No. 2 offensive tackle on the Commanders board behind Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr., with Washington seeing Northwestern lineman Peter Skoronski as a guard, not a tackle.
Fowler and Sheehan also got into the conversation about Chase Young's fifth-year option (no) and the edge rushers in the draft and if the Commanders talk about trading back and if that might mean looking at center and tight end in the first round..
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