Maybe it wasn’t that great an OT class for a team picking QB in the first round
While the Commanders’ first draft with Adam Peters at the helm has received glowing reviews from experts around the league, and was mostly well received by the Hogs Haven readership, many have expressed qualms about the new GM’s failure to find a solution to the team’s glaring need at offensive tackle.
It is not as if Peters didn’t make an effort to draft an OT with potential to outplay swing tackle Cornelius Lucas in 2024. Thanks to real time updates from Commanders’ war room by Hogs Haven regular IrishSkins, we know that Peters attempted to trade for pick #20 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, targeting University of Washington OT Troy Fautanu. Unfortunately for that bid, the Steelers had their eye on Fautanu and drafted him, rather than trading back.
It has also been reported that the Commanders tried to trade up for Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton, but the source for that story is more questionable.
Peters did eventually draft an OT in the third round. OT Brandon Coleman has sub-optimal size, but brings outstanding athleticism to the position. Nevertheless, it may take some time for him to clean up a few technique issues, and he might eventually have to slide inside to guard. There were several other OTs available whom the Commanders could have taken at pick 36 or later, after earmarking their first pick in the draft for QB Jayden Daniels. However, none of the OTs remaining after the first round really profile as first-year starters.
That is not say that one or more of the teams that drafted an OT after the first round won’t get lucky and hit on a first-year starter. I suppose that could even include the Commanders.
Nevertheless, a few commenters on the Hogs Haven discussion boards have questioned whether Adam Peters did enough in a deep OT draft class to find the Commanders a solution for the coming season.
While I was researching another article, I came across a quote I’d like to share from Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach, expressing his view on the 2024 OT class shortly before the draft. What I find particularly interesting about Veach’s comments, in the context of the Commanders’ offseason discussion, is that he is something of an outlier among GMs of the best drafting teams. GMs from teams like the Packers, Steelers, Ravens, Bills, Lions, and our own recent import from the 49ers, talk about value and best players available when discussing their draft decisions. Veach also emphasizes value, but his comments tend to align more closely with fans and commentators who emphasize team needs.
Veach is also known to be aggressive about moving up in the draft to take a player that he really likes.
In the interview, Veach shared that the Chiefs’ two top priorities in the draft were wide receiver and offensive tackle. Here is how he described the OT draft class from the perspective of a team with its first pick at 32nd overall:
Q: With this draft, in particular when it comes to the offensive tackle and wide receiver positions, what do you see at those spots and where do you see the most value in this class?
VEACH: Yeah, I think the draft in general has some positional depth. Although it is funny, when we’re looking at the numbers and the general consensus is this is a deep o-line class or this is a deep d-line class or what have you, it’s not necessarily true for us I think sometimes because like for the tackle position I think once you get past pick 35 or 40 most of those guys are gone. So, if you’re picking in the top 10 it’s a great offensive line class. If you’re picking in the top 15, it’s a great offensive line class. If you’re picking 32 and 64, you’ve got a shot maybe here or there.
On opening night of the draft, Veach did trade up to pick a player at one of his two priority positions. The player the Chiefs selected with the 28th overall pick obtained from AFC rival Buffalo was WR Xavier Worthy. Worthy gives Patrick Mahomes a dangerous receiving weapon, but doesn’t offer much help by way of protecting the most valuable player in the league. The player Veach left on the board was Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton, who was generally regarded as the best OT remaining, with a consensus rank of 28.
Veach drafted BYU OT Kingsley Sumataia near the end of the second round to compete with 2023 third round pick, Wanya Morris.
A few things here are relevant to the ongoing discussion about Peters’ first draft in Washington. The GM presiding over one of the best rosters in the league saw greater value at another position within trade reach from a draft position 6 picks ahead of the Commanders. That was despite having having an acknowledged need at OT to protect Patrick Mahomes. This is a GM who is at the far end of the draft-for-need spectrum, and he isn’t shy about trading draft capital to go get his guy.
What do you think? Did Peters leave points on the field by neglecting the Commanders’ most important need in the 2024 draft? Or did he do a good job of looking after the team’s long term interest by avoiding overpaying in trades and letting premium talent fall to other teams by reaching to address a need?
If you think that Peters fumbled the ball at OT, please let us know in the comments what he could have done better in the draft to protect rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
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