NFL Draft: Commanders Land 'Near Complete' CB in First-Round Mock

In a dream scenario the Washington Commanders take full advantage of Illinois Fighting Illini cornerback Devon Witherspoon lasting to pick No. 16 in the NFL Draft.

Cornerback is certainly on the list of needs for the Washington Commanders in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Usually, we see Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. mock drafted by the Commanders to fill that need, but today we get a different flavor courtesy of Damian Parson of The Draft Network and Locked On NFL Draft podcast. 

"The Commanders need a legitimate CB1 in Ron Rivera's defense," writes Parson. "Devon Witherspoon is one of the best in the class. He is undoubtedly the most physical corner and it is not close. Witherspoon is a talented coverage defender that will make plays as a force defender in the run game. He's near complete caliber cornerback that teams should covet."

Lately, we've seen Witherspoon mocked as the first cornerback off the mock boards, followed closely by Christian Gonzalez coming out of the Oregon Ducks' program. 

In this version, however, Gonzalez is the first corner taken at No. 8 by the Atlanta Falcons before this pick. 

While Porter has become the fixture in mocks, we believe Witherspoon is the right pick between the two if he's still there. 

Meanwhile, Porter doesn't last long in this draft, getting selected one pick later by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

It's a storyline the Steelers would love to see unfold, and Washington fans will similarly walk away from night one, just as happy. 

The pick would give the Commanders a trio of cornerbacks featuring Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, and the newly drafted Witherspoon. 

While St-Juste likely shifts back inside where he started last season his experience and growth outside provide Washington the flexibility of making Witherspoon its third corner on the field if necessary to start the year.

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

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