Commanders Rookie OL Ricky Stromberg 'Brings a Lot to the Table'
If you were surprised by the Washington Commanders taking back-to-back defensive backs with their first two picks in the NFL Draft then the next two were probably doubly shocking.
It's not that the Commanders didn't need secondary or offensive line help coming into the draft weekend, it's just that nobody really ever expects a team to address the same position groups with back-to-back picks.
Arkansas Razorbacks center Ricky Stromberg was the first of the linemen drafted, so he wasn't the surprise, but if he delivers on general manager Martin Mayhew's confidence in him he'll become a class favorite rather quickly.
“Yeah, Ricky man, big, smart, tough four-year starter in the SEC," Mayhew said. "He won the award I think the Jacobs Award for the best blocking offensive lineman in the SEC last year. We had a really great visit. Another very, very, highly football-intelligent guy. We talked a lot of ball, watched tape together. He's gonna fit in really well here. He can play center, he can play guard as well. He brings a lot to the table.”
According to this Arkansas team bio Stromberg started 45 games for the team including 11 as a true freshman.
Stromberg didn't allow a single sack or quarterback hit in his Senior season and only allowed four sacks during his collegiate career according to Pro Football Focus' stat tracking.
As a projected guard or center in the NFL, the rookie will be joining an interior offensive line in Washington that allowed a total of 13 sacks and 20 additional hits to their quarterbacks just last season.
For the Commanders, Stromberg and fellow offensive line rookie Braeden Daniels represent the latest attempts to solidify their group, and his proven performance in college football's toughest conference lends some confidence those efforts will be productive.
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