Lucky No. 16: Past Picks Promising Sign for Commanders

The Washington Commanders added a key contributor in wide receiver Jahan Dotson with the No. 16 pick in the 2022 draft.

If recent history serves true, the Washington Commanders will have a chance to land a top-notch player with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

After trading back with the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 draft, Washington took wide receiver Jahan Dotson out of Penn State with the No. 16 pick. In 12 games, Dotson had 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Dotson likely would have been in the discussion for Rookie of the Year if he didn’t miss five games due to a strained hamstring.

Washington would be more than happy to get similar production from its first-round pick in 2023, and the No. 16 pick has churned out multiple players that have more than panned out for their respective teams.

Since 2017, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphery, Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns and Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell and Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Zaven Collins have been taken with the No. 16 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Humphery has made three Pro Bowls and was a First-Team AP All-Pro in 2019. He has also had multiple interceptions in four of his six seasons. 

In 2019, Terrell was a Second-Team AP All-Pro and had three interceptions.

Edmunds made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020. He signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Chicago Bears this offseason.

Burns has had at least 7.5 sacks in his four seasons with Carolina. Burns is also a two-time Pro Bowler and had a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022.

With a number of mock drafts projecting the Commanders to take a cornerback, if they land one that’s the caliber of Humphery or Terrell, it’d be a game-changer for their defense.

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