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Commanders Draft Picks 2023: Every selection Washington has in April

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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They were the only team in the NFC East not to make the playoffs in 2022. Are the Washington Commanders doing a good job of bolstering their roster?

In three seasons as head coach, Ron Rivera has yet to post a winning campaign with the Washington Commanders (regardless of what the franchise’s name was during his first two years at the controls).

The team owns an overall 22-28-1 win-loss record under his command since 2020. That includes an NFC East title and a 7-9 mark in 2020, as well as a wild card loss to the eventual Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers that season.

This past season, the 8-8-1 Commanders were the lone team in their division to not only miss out on the postseason but finish with a losing record. Still, the club handed the eventual NFC East champion their first loss of 2022 and knocked off the playoff-bound Cowboys as well. There was also a Week 1 comeback victory over the eventual AFC South champion Jaguars.

It will be interesting to see what GM Martin Mayhew has in mind later this month.

Commanders draft picks 2023

Washington has eight picks in April’s draft, including a pair in the sixth round. The franchise has chosen at least one player in the first round in each of the previous eight drafts (2015-22).  That’s the longest such streak in the team’s history during the Common Draft Era, which began in 1967.

  • Round 1: 16th overall
  • Round 2: 47th overall
  • Round 3: 97th overall
  • Round 4: 118th overall
  • Round 5: 150th overall
  • Round 6: 193rd overall
  • Round 6: 215th overall
  • Round 7: 233rd overall

Washington was awarded compensatory picks in the third and sixth rounds. As for the former, the Commanders’ own third-round pick went to Indianapolis as part of the trade for Carson Wentz (no longer with the team) a year ago.

Commanders draft needs 2023

After one month of free agency, here is the list of needs for the Commanders courtesy of Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

  1. Quarterback
  2. Guard
  3. Center
  4. Linebacker

The staff at PFF apparently isn’t putting much stock into the decision to go with 2022 fifth-round draft choice Sam Howell in terms of a starting quarterback. The Commanders did add Jacoby Brissett (Browns) in free agency and Jake Fromm is on the roster as well.

Washington signed interior offensive lineman Nick Gates (Giants). They added tackles Trenton Scott (Steelers) and Andrew Wylie (Chiefs). Linebacker Cody Barton was the Seahawks’ second-leading tackler (133) this past season.

Next. Every NFL team’s greatest draft class. dark

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