NFL Draft: Commanders Interested in 'Lockdown' Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez?

The Washington Commanders are in need of a cornerback upgrade. Could that come in the form of Oregon Ducks defensive back Christian Gonzalez?

The Washington Commanders could look to target a cornerback early in this year's NFL Draft.

Among the cornerback options that could be available with the No. 16 pick is Oregon standout Christian Gonzalez, who has been a popular pick in mock drafts for the Commanders.

To learn more about Gonzalez, we spoke with Ducks Digest contributor Dylan Mickanen.

The Commanders have consistently seen Christian Gonzalez mocked to them with the No. 16 pick. What makes him worthy of a first-round pick this spring? 

Despite Oregon’s struggling defense in year one of the Dan Lanning era, Christian Gonzalez was as good as advertised locking down the open side of the field. His four-interception, seven pass-breakup, and 50-tackle campaign earned him first-team All Pac-12 honors before declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. While those numbers are impressive, it’s even better when accounting for how horrid the pass rush was for the Ducks forcing the secondary to defend pass routes far longer than intended. Even with additional time in the pocket, defenses rarely tested Gonzalez and paid the price when attempted to. Gonzalez is competing alongside a few others to be the first cornerback off the board. 

What did he do to deserve that designation and what should Commanders fans know about him that they can't find in a box score? 

He has ideal lockdown corner measurables at 6’2”, 4.3 speed, a 42” vertical and the instincts to swing a game when tested as shown by his four interceptions on the season. He more than held his own in both man and zone coverage, baiting quarterbacks into throws where he has as good of a play on the ball as the receiver he was covering. 

What will Gonzalez's biggest weakness be on the NFL level?  

Like all cornerbacks, the adjustment to NFL speed will be his largest weakness entering the NFL. Prior to transferring to Oregon, his ball skills were criticized but he proved them wrong with his 2022 campaign. Long-term, he also needs to bulk up so he doesn’t get outmuscled by the stronger No. 1 NFL wide receivers but his size still gives him a good chance to make a play at the catch point. 

If everything goes right, what is Gonzalez's ceiling in the NFL? 

His ceiling is a lockdown corner who can largely take away the opposing team’s top wideout. I forecast defensive coordinators having Gonzalez follow his assignment across the field as he did operate in the nickel from time to time on key downs as a Duck. 

What do you think is Gonzalez's likeliest career trajectory in the NFL? Is there an NFL player he reminds you of? 

The NFL player Gonzalez reminds me of the most is a prime Xavier Rhodes, who locked down opposing corners for years anchoring Mike Zimmer’s Vikings defenses. Gonzalez is one inch taller than Rhodes but needs to bulk up to match the former Vikings’ physicality in man coverage.

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