The Commanders have two picks in the first 10 on Day 2 and then three third-round picks, a total of six in the Top 100 and five in the Top 78 – but it starts with QB at No. 2, and if you asked Logan “Peters” Paulsen, like the Junkies did Friday, it’s all in what the Commanders value most.
“If I had to start someone tomorrow of the three guys in the top, I would probably lean towards Jayden Daniels. I think he just has the consistency to his game and a play-making upside that I get really excited about,” Paulsen said. “Is he a perfect prospect? Absolutely not, so I do still need to insulate him, and make sure that you're kind of speaking to what he does.
And after that, probably J.J. McCarthy would be next; I know a lot of people get a little bit spooked by that, but when you watch his film, he's got a ton of NFL throws, tight windows and a deep understanding of progression and timing and rhythm, and he has a live arm. If you’re aiming for upside, then I think you're looking at Drake Maye. So I think if you can kind of find a way to have him sit for eight weeks or something like that, let him grow and develop clean up some of that fundamental stuff, his ceiling is probably the highest, but I do think there's a lot of risk associated with that pick. So I’d pick Daniels, but the other guys, there are visions and pathways where they would be to pick, given the infrastructure that they've been able to set up on the team.”
Okay, but after QB at No. 2, where do they go?
“One of the things I I've appreciated about Adam Peters’ process is they've done a really good job of filling the roster, so you don't really need to draft for need, you can draft for best talent available,” Paulsen said. “I think you still have offensive line talent still circled at 36, and it'll be interesting to see how that progresses over the next couple of weeks as analysts are creeping these guys up in like the mid-20s – which is always what happens with offensive linemen, especially in a year where the secondary is not as dense, no linebackers are gonna go in the first round, and edge is a little bit light this year in the first round. I think 36 would be a great opportunity for a guy like Kingsley Suamataia or Patrick Paul, guys that are very athletically gifted but have a little bit of a developmental process to their game.”
So a tackle, most likely, at 36, and then what at 40?
“I think if there's a talented edge rusher there, like, Darius Robinson from Missouri, I think he fits Dan's vision of having physically-talented, tough players,” Paulsen said. “But there's also guys like Jonah Elliss from Utah who has tremendous pass rush upside, so there are guys there, it’s just about kind of what's your flavor and how the board falls to you, honestly.”
And again, it’s because of what Peters has done so far that he’s able to think that way.
“Again, Adam's done a great job of saying we've filled needs, so we don't have to reach or don't have to force anything here. We can get the best person, best talent available,” Paulsen said. “But I do think those two spots specifically, and I think you need a corner, a guy that's gonna be kind of a game-changer on the outside, would be awesome just to add depth to that position. But that might be something that happens after the draft, in terms of free agency, someone gets cut, they might need some veteran leadership there.”
And as for the third round picks, pending what they don’t get at 36 or 40?
“Those are kind of the three positions I would just kinda circle and pencil in and say if I was targeting something, those are, are positions I would look at,” Paulsen said, “and then I think for the latter third round picks there, I'd probably look at receiver. It's just such a dense receiver class, such a talented group. I think you need to come out of this draft with one of those guys, it just depends on where you feel the value is. Quite honestly, I've done about 30 receivers and I'd say 20 of them are probably third-round players and up, so it’s a tremendously talented group there and you can kind of make that pick wherever you make it.”