Draft grades!
There is a long tradition of people giving draft picks a grade less than 24 hours after they’ve been made. Some of them are spot on after the players have shown who they are after a few years in the league, and some of them look pretty bad. A lot of graders get stuck on their personal rankings, and will tank a player’s selection because of that. How a player fits with a team, and their needs plays a big part here as well.
The Washington Commanders did what most people expected them to do on Day 1, drafting LSU QB Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick. Adam Peters had five picks to work with on Day 2, and his first pick, Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois, was met with mixed reviews by fans, but analysts loved the value of a projected first round pick in the second.
Washington didn’t address their need at offensive tackle, but they did make a trade with a division rival to gain some draft positions. That trade allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to draft Iowa DB Cooper DeJean, while Washington picked Michigan CB Mike Sainristil with the first pick from the trade. Peters followed that up by giving Jayden Daniels a new weapon with Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott. Peters said he saw some George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk in his tape, two of his best players from the 49ers.
The Commanders finally addressed the offensive line in the third round by drafting TCU OT Brandon Coleman. He is a developmental prospect who has played both left tackle and left guard in college. Washington announced him as a tackle, and that is where they plan on starting his NFL career. Adam Peters was part of the front office that traded for RB Christian McCaffrey, and now he’s drafted his brother. Luke McCaffrey was a QB that converted to WR, and he will now be a part of Kliff Kingsbury’s new offense.
Day 3 of the Washington Commanders draft was all about defensive depth and special teams. Washington added Temple LB Jordan Magee and Washington S Dominique Hampton in the 5th round. The closed out their 2024 draft class by picking up Notre Dame EDGE Javontae Jean-Batiste.
The Washington Commanders first draft under owner Josh Harris, GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn was viewed as a success from all of the graders, with the grades ranging from B- to A+. Washington valued athletic traits, experience and leadership in their draft picks. They added 9 players, and only made one trade during the draft. They addressed a lot of needs, but not soon enough for some people. Washington has been adding more players after the draft as UDFAs, and there will likely be a wave of veterans released after the draft.
Washington Commanders 2024 Draft Picks
Round 1(#2) – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Round 2(#36) – Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, DT, Illinois
Round 2 (#50 from PHI) – Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Round 2 (#53 from PHI) – Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Round 3 (#67) – Brandon Coleman, OT, TCU
Round 3 (#100 from SF) – Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Round 5 (#139) – Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Round 5 (#161 from PHI) – Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
Round 7 (#222) – Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE, Notre Dame
Sports Illustrated(A+)
This was a straight-up masterpiece. The Commanders got the best quarterback in the draft (as I see it, at least) and then hammered the top 100, eschewing the relatively worthless picks that will be coming in Rounds 4–7. This is one of the few drafts that I thought elevated a team from its pre-draft status into something promising. Could Washington be this year’s Texans? I’m not ruling it out and you shouldn’t, either.
CBS Sports(A)
GM Adam Peters began his tenure in Washington with a bang. Daniels, Newton, Sainristil, Sinnott, Coleman, McCaffrey. My word. Those are all plus athletes with clean film who excel in their specific roles. Magee is a bendy off-ball linebacker with serious juice, and Hampton, while older, has as much athletic prowess as anyone in the class.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU A
Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois A+
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan B+
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State A+
Brandon Coleman, OT, TCU A
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice B+
Jordan Magee, LB, Temple A-
Dominique Hampton, S, Washington B-
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DL, Notre Dame A-
The Ringer(A)
The Commanders pushed all their chips to the center of the proverbial draft table to take Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, an electric dual-threat quarterback who could quickly emerge as one of the most exciting young players in the game. Washington turned around in the second round and grabbed one of my favorite interior defenders in this class, the explosive and unstoppable Jer’Zhan (Johnny) Newton. The former Illinois star adds playmaking depth to the team’s already-stacked interior rotation. The team also added dynamic nickel corner Mike Sainristil in the second—a raw but instinctive cover man who can start right away in Washington’s secondary. Tight end Ben Sinnott is another one to watch in this haul: The former Kansas State tight end brings high-end athleticism and elusiveness to the Commanders’ offense, giving Daniels another target over the middle of the field. This class should provide an immediate boost for the Commanders.
Associated Press(A)
Got their franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels (2) and kept on adding. DT Johnny Newton (36) is a first-round player. Day 2 picks CB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, OT Brandon Coleman and WR Luke McCaffrey are building blocks.
Pro Football Focus(A)
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels is QB3 behind Drake Maye on both the PFF big board and the consensus big board, but the new regime in Washington takes him at No. 2 overall. Daniels does make sense as a theoretical fit in a Kliff Kingsbury spread-to-run offense that will allow Daniels to add on in the run game and get the ball out to players in space.
Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
This wasn’t a need for Washington, as two of their best players — Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne — play along the interior defensive line. However, this is a tremendous value selection at the top of the second round. Newton is the 11th-ranked player overall on the PFF big board and was extremely productive over his college career. Just three Power Five interior defensive linemen have recorded 100 or more pressures over a two-year stretch since PFF began charting college in 2014: Newton, his new teammate Jonathan Allen and DeForest Buckner.
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
The Commanders continue to draft good football players. Sainristil brings a fierce mentality to the team and provides positional versatility. He secured a career-best six interceptions in 2023, second among cornerbacks, and his 90.3 PFF grade since 2022 ranked fourth among Big Ten cornerbacks. Sainristil has great reaction speed and is fearless in run defense.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
After previously getting great value in this draft, according to the PFF big board, the Commanders pick the 105th-ranked player in Round 2. Sinnott is an athletic tight end for Jayden Daniels to develop with for the next decade. He doesn’t do any one thing at an elite level but can do everything well. Sinnott’s 14 missed tackles forced in 2023 ranked third among tight ends, and he made 31 explosive plays over the past two seasons.
Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU
The Commanders finally land an offensive lineman at the top of the third round, selecting Coleman out of TCU. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder struggled in 2023 but was far better in 2022 when he earned a 79.6 PFF grade. He could wind up on the inside in the NFL, but he has the experience on the outside, so he could still get a shot there first.
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
McCaffrey has NFL bloodlines and is a natural athlete who knows the nuances of route running. He lacks an explosive element to his game but has strong hands, especially in contested catch situations, where his 32 receptions since 2022 are the most in college football. A former quarterback, McCaffrey has a good feel for finding open zones. While the Commanders already have weapons in the receiver room, McCaffrey provides a different style for the group.
Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
A high-level competitor with a nonstop motor, Magee offers some solid run-and-chase ability, physicality in the box and upside as a blitzer. He posted a career-best 87.2 PFF grade in 2023 and an eye-catching 90.7 pass-rush grade that ranked fourth among all linebackers. At worst, Magee will be an impact core special teamer, but he has the competitive toughness and athletic traits to become a starter.
Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
Hampton is a supersized safety at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, and he comes with good athleticism. He’s an interesting addition to a Dan Quinn defense that prioritizes those kinds of hybrid athletes in the middle of the field. Hampton was at his best in coverage around the line of scrimmage, as he earned an 81st-percentile coverage grade in the box last season for the Huskies.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE, Notre Dame
Jean-Baptiste recorded 43 total pressures a season ago, including six sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He also produced 21 run stops without missing a tackle.
Sporting News(A)
New GM Adam Peters hopes to flip all the past bad vibes and Daniels’ upside as a passer and runner for Kliff Kingsbury is a great start. Defensive-minded Dan Quinn had to love Newton and Sainristil back-to-back to help push this group toward what he had in Dallas. Sinnott and McCaffrey add interesting spread weapons to Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Austin Ekeler, and Zach Ertz. Then, Quinn got more of what he needed late, too.
New York Post(A)
The Commanders chose the Heisman-winning Daniels over Drake Maye at No. 2 overall. A failed effort to trade up for a first-rounder worked out: Newton is a first-round talent and Sainristil (only 5-foot-9) and Sinnott (fullback versatile) were two of many analysts’ favorite players.
Barstool Sports(A)
Jayden Daniels at #2 is your franchise guy. Gotta love that pairing with Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Illinois DT Johnny Newton at #36 is great value as a guy who could’ve gone in the 20s. I love the Michigan CB Mike Sainristil pick at #50. The guy is just a winner and with Daniels and others should help turn around the culture in Washington.
Hogs Haven(A)
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E$PN+(Kiper)(A-)
Top needs entering the draft: Quarterback, offensive line, cornerback
The Commanders have undergone a total reset of their franchise over the past year, with a new owner (Josh Harris), general manager (Adam Peters) and coach (Dan Quinn). Peters, who had been in the 49ers’ front office since 2017, had some capital to work with in this draft, with six picks on the first two days.
The first step, though? Picking a quarterback. With 2023 starter Sam Howell traded to Seattle, Washington had its choice of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy at No. 2 overall. In my rankings, I had Daniels at No. 2, slightly ahead of Maye — No. 6 — with McCarthy nine spots later. In the end, the Commanders went with Daniels, a dual-threat playmaker who won the Heisman Trophy last season, and it was the right call. While he won’t have quite the level of pass-catchers around him as Caleb Williams, Daniels has a true No. 1 in Terry McLaurin and a solid No. 2 in Jahan Dotson. Daniels is going to thrive in Kliff Kingsbury’s wide-open offense and put up some massive numbers.
I wrote on Friday night about Washington’s Day 2 haul, which is talented and deep. Taking defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (36) is an example of the best-available-prospect approach; he has Pro Bowl upside as an interior pass-rusher. Mike Sainristil (50) is a really fun slot corner who can pick off passes and blitz off the edge. Tight end Ben Sinnott (53) can be an outlet for Daniels and upgrade as a run-blocker. Brandon Coleman (67) is a guard/tackle hybrid who could play early. And while I had other available receivers rated higher than Luke McCaffrey (100), the former quarterback turned heads with his contested-catch ability last season. Of the Day 3 fliers, I give linebacker Jordan Magee (139) the best chance to make the team because of his speed and size.
I really like this class overall, and whether it goes from great to amazing could hinge on Coleman becoming a starter. If he does and Daniels is a star, this could set the foundation for the Commanders returning to the playoffs — in a couple of years.
NFL.com(A-)
The Commanders entered a new era with an excellent draft. Daniels could be an elite dual-threat playmaker if he becomes more efficient from the pocket. Newton is a force in the front four. Sainristil is a pain for opposing receivers to handle. Sinnott is an underappreciated receiving/blocking weapon. Coleman is a powerful guard/tackle. And McCaffrey is a reliable WR2 or WR3 option.
Washington did not have a fourth-round pick after moving up to the third in the Sam Howell trade with Seattle. It found a future starting linebacker in Magee, whose explosiveness was underappreciated while he was playing at Temple. Hampton possesses a nice combination of size and quickness, and it won’t be surprising if he plays as a rookie.
USA Today(A-)
No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels (LSU) could be their dynamic, long-sought franchise quarterback after the previous regime spent years kicking that can down the road. Second-round DT Johnny Newton (Illinois) and DB Mike Sainristil (Michigan) could be both be foundational players for the incoming staff … though Newton’s arrival seems to signal Jonathan Allen or Daron Payne could be a short-timer. And it’s worth wondering if the former decision-makers did the current ones a disservice by dealing Sweat as pass rush is still an issue here. Third-round WR Luke McCaffrey certainly has the bloodlines – and maybe the talent to be an impact target for Daniels from the slot.
Pro Football Network (B+)
The moves that Washington made to open the 2024 NFL Draft speaks to the sea change taking place within the program. It’s a whole new world from top to bottom of the front office, and they were aggressive and successful early on, taking franchise difference makers in Jayden Daniels, Johnny Newton, Mike Sainristil, and Ben Sinnott.
The Commanders were running at an A- grade after Day 2, but some of their moves on Day 3 failed to live up to the excitement of the opening salvo. Jordan Magee is a solid, perhaps underrated get at linebacker, and Dominique Hampton could be a playmaker at the heart of the secondary.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU A-
Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois A
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan B+
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU B+
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice B
Jordan Magee, LB, Temple B
Dominique Hampton, S, Washington B-
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE, Notre Dame C+
Washington Post(B-)
The new regime of General Manager Adam Peters and Coach Dan Quinn made the right move at QB by taking Jayden Daniels second overall, even if the Commanders made an unforced error when they risked miffing their new franchise player with their group approach to the pre-draft visit. But if Daniels’s development is undone by the shortcomings of his offensive line, Adams and Quinn will regret not trading back up into the first round for a tackle. They did get excellent value by landing DT Jer’Zhan Newton in Round 2, even if that amounted to bolstering a position of strength on the roster.
Walter Football(B-)
Goals Entering the 2024 NFL Draft: The Redskins will be drafting their franchise quarterback at No. 2. After that, it’s all about bolstering the trenches. The Redskins have major problems with their blocking and lackluster pass rush, so both of those areas could be addressed in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Redskins also have some major holes at cornerback and tight end that must be addressed.
2024 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Redskins could have drafted an inferior quarterback prospect like the Panthers did a year ago, but they chose the correct player. Jayden Daniels was an excellent pick at No. 2 overall, as he’ll finally solve the quarterback problem that has plagued Washington for decades.
However, I worry about Daniels’ pass protection in the short term. The Redskins bolstered the interior of the offensive line in free agency, but still has a huge hole at left tackle. I thought the Redskins would select a quality blind-side protector or in the second round or perhaps trade up for one, but they failed to do so. As a result, Daniels will struggle with edge pressure to begin his career.
I liked some of Washington’s other picks, as Johnny Newton and Mike Sainristil will help defensively. However, the Redskins wasted some selections and failed to address their second-biggest need, so I can’t grade their haul too favorably.
The Athletic
Winners
The moment certainly didn’t appear too big for Commanders rookie general manager Adam Peters. Not only did he select Jayden Daniels as the team’s franchise quarterback, but he also added playmakers on offense and defense. Peters used his eight picks after Daniels to plug holes along the defensive front, in the secondary, at tight end and on the interior of the offensive line.
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