Commanders Focus on Offensive Line in Post Senior Bowl Mock NFL Draft
Coming home from the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl the Washington Commanders have more information on some potential draft picks and got the chance to meet with each player at the event.
And it's likely there's a future Commanders player somewhere in those National and American Team rosters.
Partially because of the amount of talent Mobile has been able to attract each year, but also because every Ron Rivera-coached team since the 2015 NFL Draft has selected at least one Senior Bowl product.
With that in mind, we set forth on a post-Senior Bowl mock draft on the Locked On Commanders podcast, with the results supporting the offensive line more than anything.
Round 1, Pick 16 - OL O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida)
There have been some high selections of Senior Bowl players in years past, but it this mock, none was taken before Washington came up for the 16th pick.
While Torrence is projected by many today as a late Day 1 prospect who may even slide into Day 2, he was the best player we had available and fills a big area of need for the Commanders.
If the draft were today, we'd love to see the team execute a trade back a handful of spots to grab him, but if he turns into the pro many feel he could, nobody will call No. 16 an overspent pick, three years from now.
Round 2, Pick 47 - C John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota)
There's an argument to be made that if not for the injuries suffered on the offensive line, perhaps the Commanders' season could have gone much differently.
But those conversations live in the land of speculation.
In the real world, Washington's offensive line only looks to have one lineman with long-term starting caliber projections, and that's right tackle/guard, Sam Cosmi.
A 2021 second-round pick, Cosmi has looked solid whether he was playing inside or out but has battled injuries himself in his first two seasons.
Veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr. played a full regular season for the seventh straight season, but turns 32 next season.
While Washington can hope to get a few more years from Leno, and some healthier days from Cosmi, adding Schmitz - the draft's best center - to the first-round pick of Torrence gives them a good start trying to establish an offensive line with a five-year shelf life.
Round 3, Pick 97 - RB Tyjae Spears or LB Dorian Williams (Tulane)
This pick is where opinions split.
On one hand, the Commanders could flip to defense for the first time and grab a prospect like Tulane Green Wave linebacker, Dorian Williams.
Of course, the team could also stick to offense given the ability the defense showed to keep them in games last season.
In that case, a running back like Tyjae Spears could be the move.
Either way, Washington is getting a valuable player who could contribute right out of the gates, and develop into a building block player if they reach their full potential.
A good showing for the Green Wave in Mobile this year, and certainly two names to watch for the rest of the draft process.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82 and on the Locked On Commanders podcast.
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