NFL Draft: 3 Commanders Targets With First Round Upside on Day 2

Talent can be found all over the NFL Draft, and these prospects could be steals on Day 2 for the Washington Commanders.

The NFL Draft is an opportunity for the Washington Commanders to fill needs and find talent to help build a championship roster. 

Day 1 of the weekend typically gets the most attention, but the favorite to start this Commanders season at quarterback is Sam Howell who this time last year was a fifth-round pick himself. 

While Day 3 talent less often translates to elite NFL production, we see examples of impact players coming off draft boards on Day 2 every year. 

And thanks to NFL.com, here are three of those targets who could be Friday draft selections by Washington, yet become key players on Sundays.

RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)

The Commanders formed a solid duo by drafting Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the third round of last year's NFL Draft. 

Teaming him with Antonio Gibson provided the team with a potent duo with versatile skills - once they finally got on the field together. 

J.D. McKissic was supposed to be the third back in rotation and it was clear early on the Commanders had plans on using all three. 

Unfortunately, injury once again removed that possibility, but it doesn't necessarily remove the potential Washington adds another back to the mix. 

"Gibbs' ability to shift gears and catch the ball well make him an ideal specialist," says NFL.com. "Give him 15 touches per game and watch him thrive; that's a reasonable, Tony Pollard-ish workload. Gibbs is 21 years old with only 530 college touches under his belt."

OL Steve Avila (TCU)

You can never have too many offensive linemen, so when that's a unit the team is looking to upgrade, it's wise to go a little overboard. 

The Commanders added solid players like Andrew Wylie, Nick Gates, and Trent Scott to their offensive front, but two of those players had their best NFL performances at tackle spots and the other says he wants to play center. 

Avila is a Day 2 guard prospect who could prove to be a stabilizing starter for years to come. 

"In 15 starts at left guard...he did not give up a sack in 2022," says NFL.com. "He's projected to be an immediate NFL starter."

DB Sydney Brown (Illinois)

Cornerback is high on a lot of people's list of needs for Washington entering the NFL Draft.

If the Commanders don't land someone to provide the team with a solution at Nickel, they could potentially do so on Day 2 with this Illinois safety.

"(Brown) also deserves to hear his name called on Day 1," writes NFL.com. "He's instinctive, possessing exceptional ball skills and the physicality to make plays near the line of scrimmage."

As a Day 2 pick, Brown would project immediately to challenge for the starting nickel role with the versatility to provide another option as a cover safety should injuries require it. 

With expiring contracts coming up in the secondary, he'd also provide Washington with some options should it see a starter leave in free agency down the road.

These three prospects could all be steals in the second or third rounds if the Commanders made the decision to take them at picks 47 or 97 (although it's doubtful any of these make it to No. 97).

And any one of them would help Washington come out of the 2023 NFL Draft feeling like it accomplished everything it set out to, similar to the way last year's selection meeting developed.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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