Commanders Rookie Mini-Camp

I note that Rick Snider, long-time Washington Football commentator, and Ed Oliver, veteran Fan and commentator, think the Commanders need an edge. Ed went over Jadeveon Clowney. While Rick intimated the Commanders may be overlooking the Defensive End position.

I agree with Ed. Jadeveon Clowney is solid. He would fit the defense (at least as far as I understand it). I have anxiety attacks over what Rick brought up. Felt the same way about last year's offensive line. Adam Peters came through.

If I had to guess, which is worthless, they think better coverage will lead to more sacks. You could argue the coverage will be better. You could also argue why bother passing against the Commanders when you can run right over them. 

Rookie Mini-Camp is here. Maybe somebody dazzles there. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those camps tend to be more about teaching young guys how we practice because "not everybody lives like we do".

The best people to check out if there is an Edge sighting at Mini-Camp:

Ed Oliver

Rick Snider

John Keim

Rico

May these sources be with you.

Matt Judon

Well, I guess the Commanders can't bring in Tony McGee. As an Edge. Joe Gibbs did. Got them 10 sacks. Back in the day. Days of Glory. The first Super Bowl Championship.

Tony got 6.5 the Super Bowl year. Ten the next year. When they went 14-2. He was 33 in 82. He was 34 the year he got the 10. Thirty-four! Old as dirt. And a Bobby Beathard special. Not George Allen!

We're talking role player here. I would argue another former Skin, N.D. Kalu, was partially responsible for creating the phrase "pass rush specialist". When the Eagles got him, one year he had zero starts. But 8 sacks.

If I had to pick a guy on the roster of the Washington Commanders who will become an "Edge" for them it would be Javontae Jean-Baptiste. But he needs a mentor. Somebody who has a good background sacking the QB.

To me that is Matt Judon. He's played for a few of the Commanders' "silent partners". The Patriots. For whom he excelled (McGee came over from the Patriots). The Falcons. Silent partners. The Ravens. Silent partners. See also the 49ers, the Raiders, and, yes, the Dallas Cowboys.  

Judon is 33. Same as Tony when he came and got to the QB for the Skins.

I know there are other sackmeisters out there with experience. Za'Dairius Smith. Von Miller. It's which can produce and mentor. I think that's Judon. However, I won't complain about the other two.

Kudos to the New York Jets for bringing in Donovan Edwards. Maybe he's not Emerson Boozer. But when he gets in front HE STAYS IN FRONT. 

Sort of like Secretariat. I had hoped the Commanders might get Edwards. The thing is. The 40 yard dash? Nobody is chasing you. Take it from the Gazelle. Cheetah behind you? You run faster.

And yes. I remember Emerson Boozer.

Washington Commanders NFL Draft Round 3

I'm thinking these guys are most likely to get drafted by the Washington Commanders. The theory is two meetings contain an elimination round. Three are confirmations.

Review the Hogs Haven list.

Kyle Kennard and Tonka Hemingway from South Carolina.

Jordan Phillips, Dante Trader Jr., and Kaden Prather of Maryland.

Running backs Bhayshul Tuten, Ollie Gordon II, Woody Marks, Corey Kiner, Jarquez Hunter, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

Linebackers Teddye Buchanan, Jamon Dumas-Johnson.

Edge David Walker. 

Most meetings were Tuten and Croskey-Merritt. With Croskey-Merritt bordering on UDFA territory.

Good luck on your Mox. On your Mox. Get set. Go.

Last Mock

Utilizing the renowned Mock Draft Database, I executed the last mock of the year before what I am sure will be Adam Peters' stellar performance as Draft Generalissimo for our Washington Commanders.

Recapping the trades I made Jacksonville Receives Washington's 2025: Round 2, Pick 61 in exchange for the Jaquars 2025: Round 3, Pick 70, Round 3, Pick 88, Round 6, Pick 194, Round 7, Pick 221, 2026: Round 5. 

In the annual trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Eagles receive Round 3, Pick 88 in exchange for the Eagles 2025: Round 3, Pick 96, Round 5, Pick 161, and Round 5, Pick 168.

The Saints of Nawlins receive Round 4, Pick 128 in exchange for their 2025: Round 4, Pick 131 and Round 6, Pick 184.

With this basket of picks, a veritable horn of plenty, the Commanders select the following outstanding young men to enter their Brotherhood:

At number 29, unexpectedly, the Commanders choose Number One Guard Tyler Booker from the Crimson Tide of Alabama. At Number 70. The rumors are true. Commanders select Oluwafemi Oladejo. Edge Rusher. The University of California at Los Angeles.

At Number 96, the Commanders select Safety Kevin Winston Jr. of Penn State University. At Number 131, the rumors are true. The Commanders select Quincy Riley Cornerback University of Louisville. At Pick 161, the rumors are true. The Commanders select run stuffing behemoth Jamaree Caldwell D-Tackle from that talented University of Oregon Defense. 

At Pick 168, the rumors are true. The Commanders select Jayden Daniels protector Ollie Gordon II, running back Oklahoma State University. At Pick 184, the rumors, again, are true. The Commanders select local speed demon Tai Felton Wide Receiver University of Maryland. At Pick 194, the Commanders shock the world by selecting Offensive Tackle Logan Brown from the University of Kansas.

At Pick 205, looking for a young center for the future, the Commanders select Jake Majors Center University of Texas. At Pick 221, the Commanders, looking for youth at Linebacker, select Teddye Buchanan, Linebacker, University of California. 

At Pick 245, the Commanders pick all-purpose back Woody Marks from USC. 

Notable UDFAs signed by Washington are DL\Edge Adin Huntington, Running Back Donovan Edwards and Wide Receiver Ja'Corey Brooks.

What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor?

I get seafaring vibes from Adam Peters. 

He's not Ahab. He's not George Clooney in a perfect storm. He's a Hornblower type dude. A Captain who does hard shit with a good crew. He's got to get the Ship ready to sail the choppy seas. 

An experienced Captain goes after people he knows he can trust. Maybe they're devils. But they're devils you know. They may stink and not shave. But they tie the right knot.

Some Commanders fans are disappointed in free agency thus far. How much of that is a hangover from the days of Dan Snyder's Star Vehicle fiascoes and how much is sober? Take your pick. I think it is Peters clearing out the suckers.  

Some say he, Peters, is a sucker for signing Javon Kinlaw. Again haunted by the Snyder Dark Ages and the days of Haynesworth et al. I think it will work out better than that. Not that that would be difficult. I think John Keim is right about Kinlaw. He is the elephant in the room.

The Elephant Defensive End, that is. He may get back the 10 sacks we lost with Dante Fowler. If we have lost him. I'm assuming Kinlaw will be more comfortable with people who know him. Maybe he's not Reggie White. But I'll take Dexter Manley. We'll see.

There's a lot of time before training camp. There are hard working guys still out there who can tie the right knot. June 1st a lot of good guys get dumped. In between is a draft with better than average non-QB talent and probably a pretty good crop of UDFAs.

Which means to me that, competitively speaking, you get real deals as far as work ethic goes.  

Just remember. We don't leave Port until September.

 

Late Round and UDFAs

While waiting for Jayden Daniels to be selected Number 2 overall by the Washington Commanders, I thought we might peek at the Late Round and UDFA grabs the team might make in the 2024 Draft.

Frank Crum, Tackle

Anim Dankwah, Tackle

Tylan Grable, Tackle

Nelson Ceaser, Edge

Braiden McGregor, Edge

Anthony Goodlow, Edge

Al Blades Jr., Cornerback

Miles Battle, Cornerback

Jaylen Key, Safety

Josh Cephus, Wide Receiver

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Wide Receiver

Dillon Johnson, Running Back

Evan Anderson, Defensive Tackle

Andrew Raym, Center

Maema Njongmeta, Linebacker

Kedon Slovis, Quarterback

Of these guys, the most intriguing to me are Kedon Slovis, Braiden McGregor, and Josh Cephus.

Slovis did not get any mileage from the Transfer Portal. But he played some good football at USC. McGregor played on that stifling Michigan Defense. Cephus has good size. He looks like he's playing against intramural teams. DWI probably effecting his location. Shouldn't stop somebody taking a shot.

The Corner Miles Battle is a big corner who once played Wide Receiver. Good combination.