NFL Mock Draft: Washington Commanders Take Georgia Football Star in Top 5

The Washington Commanders can boost their pass rush in next year's NFL Draft.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 22, 2024

Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams (13) sacks South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) during the second half of a NCAA college football game against South Carolina in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Georgia won 24-14. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have a need for a pass rusher after some reshuffling was done last season.

In ESPN analyst Field Yates' latest mock draft, the Commanders took Georgia pass rusher Mykel Williams with the No. 5 overall pick.

"Left tackle is not to be ignored, but it would be hard to pass on Williams, who would present the Commanders with a defensive building block after trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young in October. Williams has uncommon traits with his fantastic blend of length and power, proving to be a dominant presence well beyond the box score -- he's a better rusher than his 4.5 sacks in 2023 would suggest. I believe he's scheme-versatile enough to fit in anywhere, and he would be a welcome addition for new coach Dan Quinn," Yates writes.

Williams, who is entering his junior season with the Bulldogs, recorded 4.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons at Georgia, but he is expected to increase that production in 2024.

As a 6-5, 265-pound defensive end, Williams has the size that can rush quarterbacks in the NFL already. With the right touches in coaching, he could emerge to be one of the top defenders in the league.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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Published Aug 22, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.