Edge rusher? Cornerback? Commanders look to reload roster through NFL draft

The NFL draft starts on Thursday night, and — for the first time in years — the Washington Commanders won’t need to target a quarterback.

General manager Adam Peters will have options in his second draft with the franchise.

Signal-caller Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, carried the Commanders to the NFC championship game last year and radically altered the franchise’s trajectory.

Barring any last-minute trade, 28 other franchises will make their first selection before the Commanders are on the clock.

The Commanders still have holes on the roster, despite a promising 12-5 finish and a pair of blockbuster trades for All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Which prospects will still be available late in the first round is anybody’s guess. Analysts around the league continue to peg the same handful of prospects to Washington at No. 29, though.

Donovan Ezeiruaku — edge rusher, Boston College: Ezeiruaku has long been one of the most common projections for the Commanders’ draft. The reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year ranked second in the nation with 16.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss in 11 starts last season.

Though slightly undersized at 250 pounds, draft experts have lauded the 21-year-old for his finesse and versatility. There are concerns about whether he has the sheer strength to compete with NFL tackles.

The Commanders need help on the edge after losing Dante Fowle, who led the team in sacks, in free agency. Ezeiruaku could become an immediate starter on coach Dan Quinn’s defense.

James Pearce Jr. — edge rusher, Tennessee: Pearce is widely considered a consolation prize if Ezeiruaku is no longer available. The Tennessee product is no slouch, though.

Pearce’s scouting report looks a lot like Ezeiruaku’s: a slim but twitchy pass rusher who translated explosive moves into sacks in college. Weighing 243 pounds didn’t stop Peace from terrorizing quarterbacks in the powerhouse SEC. He led the Volunteers in sacks and was named first-team All-SEC last season.

Nick Emmanwori — safety, South Carolina: Emmanwori wowed evaluators in physical testing at February’s NFL combine. His 43-inch vertical, 11-foot-6 broad jump and 4.38 40-yard dash ranked in the top two at his position. He led defensive backs with 20 bench press reps for good measure.

Emmanwori could star in Quinn’s defense in a role vacated by Jeremy Chinn, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The South Carolina product could wear several hats in Washington, lining up as a safety, linebacker or slot cornerback, depending on the situation.

“From a raw horsepower standpoint, Emmanwori is probably the freakiest player in this draft class,” said former Commanders tight end Logan Paulsen, who now works as an analyst for the franchise’s media team. “There are flashes on tape that back it up.”

Emeka Egbuka — wide receiver, Ohio State: Egbuka could inject some youth into a receiver room that already features fellow Ohio State products in Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown.

The projected first-round pick set the Buckeyes’ record with 205 receptions over his college career, flashing shifty route-running and top-flight ball-tracking ability to find gaps in opposing defenses.

With McLaurin and Samuel demanding attention from secondaries, Egbuka could find a consistent role as an underneath option in coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Maxwell Hairston — cornerback, Kentucky: A revolving door at cornerback plagued the Commanders. Former Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, whom the Commanders traded for in the middle of the season, struggled in his first season in Washington.

Washington will look to add another young corner in the draft to pair with Mike Sainristil, who started 16 games for the Commanders in his rookie campaign. Hairston may be the best option in the back end of the first round.

The Kentucky product flashed blazing speed with a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His college highlight tape featured six interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns.

To some Commanders fans, the 183-pound corner might have too much in common with a recent draft bust. The uber-slim Emmanuel Forbes drew similar praise for his speed and ball-hawking before the Commanders selected him in the first round of the 2023 draft.

The Commanders benched Forbes multiple times before releasing him in November after 22 games.

Hairston, whose playing style only compares to Forbes on the surface, will look to avoid the same fate if the Commanders select him on Thursday.

Trades:

Hours of mock drafting by fans and experts could be instantly rendered moot with a single phone call on Thursday night. Peters said he’s open to trading the pick away for the right price.

“You’re really open to everything and you’re open to moving up if the right moves up,” Peter said Tuesday. “But if there’s an opportunity to move back, then we’re certainly open to that too. With five picks, that’s something you’d like to do is add picks.

The first round of the NFL draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The second and third rounds are set for Friday night, with the final four rounds slated for Saturday afternoon.