NFL Draft: 3 Players Commanders Could Trade Up to Shock League

While most would like to see the Washington Commanders trade back in the upcoming NFL Draft, general manager Martin Mayhew says he could move up if the right situation develops.

If you're a team like the Washington Commanders who missed the playoffs but figure to be in the running for a spot to play in the postseason this coming year, it's critical the right moves are made at the right moments. 

One of those moments comes when the Commanders are put on the clock for the first time in the NFL Draft this week, and according to general manager Martin Mayhew that pick may not come at No. 16 where the team is currently slotted. 

In fact, Mayhew says, despite just about every Washington fan with a social media account, if the right player is available at the right spot the team may actually move up.

"Frequently trade up are situations where you see a player who you think should have been gone and then you move up and try to try to get that player," Mayhew said. "The player fits you, it's an aggressive move to go up, I think because you're giving up typically draft choice. There are other opportunities to pick other players to go and get that player. So, you have to have consensus on a guy. You have to have a very, very strong opinion of a guy in my mind to move up and that's pretty much across the board where coach myself, all the scouts, everybody's on the same page and we all believe it's worth giving up another player to get that guy."

So who are the players that might inspire Mayhew and the Commanders to move up? 

We've come up with three guys we think may provide the right combination of motivation and affordability if other NFL teams don't take them off the board. 

CORNERBACK CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ (OREGON)

Two cornerbacks have been taken in the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft in each of the last three years. 

However, only one corner - Ohio State's Denzel Ward at No. 4 to the Cleveland Browns - went in the top 10 in the three years prior. 

If this year's selection meeting starts a new three-year run of corners not going high, then Gonzalez may slide as long as Illinois' Devon Witherspoon is the one taken off the board first. 

In his final collegiate season, Gonzalez played primarily zone coverage schemes and had an 80.4 grade while doing so according to PFF. 

Of the generally accepted top three corners in this year's class, Gonzalez is the only one that played more zone than man and graded out above 69. 

OFFENSIVE TACKLE DARNELL WRIGHT (TENNESSEE)

The last time we saw an NFL Draft class with four top-tier offensive tackles in it was 2020, and the fourth one off the board went at pick No. 13 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

If two of the top four tackles in this year's class - most likely to be Georgia's Broderick Jones or Tennessee's Darnell Wright - are still on the board at pick No. 12 belonging to the Houston Texans, don't be surprised if you hear rumors Mayhew is on the phone looking to move up. 

Especially when you consider the New York Jets at No. 13 and New England Patriots at No. 14 likely both have offensive tackles high on their list of needs. 

RUNNING BACK BIJAN ROBINSON (TEXAS)

The closer we get to the NFL Draft the less likely we believe Robinson will get past the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 10. 

If he does though, watch out, because while running back may not be the top need on Washington's draft board the idea of pairing this rookie with second-year back Brian Robinson Jr. might be too good to pass up. 

Add in Antonio Gibson's ability as a receiving back and you've got the best three-headed backfield in the NFL to help quarterback Sam Howell become a successful first-year starter.

The trick to trying to calculate how high the Commanders and Mayhew might be willing to move up we have to estimate how much capital they'd be willing to give up in the process.

And honestly, it's impossible to know for sure unless Mayhew told us himself, which he won't. 

But a lot of teams view compensatory picks as expendable in the right situation, and Washington's at No. 97 is worth around 112 points using one popular trade value chart. 

That alone will allow Washington to move up as far as No. 14 within the framework of that equation, but if the partnering team is willing to accept a 2024 3rd Round pick as part of the deal, it could move up as far as No. 12.

Of course, there's also the ongoing speculation about the future of defensive end Chase Young and what his future may or may not be with the Commanders. 

What Washington plans for the 2020 No. 2 overall pick will play a big role in what happens this NFL Draft, and could provide Mayhew a valuable bargaining chip in a potential move up - or down - the board this Thursday night. 

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

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