2024 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Commanders Take Offensive Line Anchor

In a new 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the Washington Commanders select a prospect who could help to fix their offensive line woes.

There aren't a ton of certainties about how the Washington Commanders will look in 2024, especially when you consider the possibility that both coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew are dismissed at the end of an increasingly-disappointing season. 

But above all else, it's clear that the Commanders need to drastically improve a porous offensive line that has contributed to quarterback Sam Howell getting sacked a staggering 55 times this season. 

Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is selected by the Washington Commanders in a 2024 NFL Mock Draft.  / USA Today

To that end, The Athletic's Dane Bruger recently released an updated 2024 NFL Mock Draft, and has projected that whoever is making personnel decisions for Washington will use the No. 5 overall pick on Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. 

"Though he needs to continue developing as a run blocker, Fashanu, who played his high school ball 10 miles from FedExField, is outstanding in pass protection with his body movements, angle awareness and ability to sit down versus power," The Athletic wrote.

The 20-year-old Fashanu is 6-6, 317 pounds, and was recently named the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year as the top OL in the Big 10. Additionally, Fashanu was a First-Team All-Big 10 selection in his junior year, after being picked for the Second Team in his sophomore season for the Nittany Lions. 

It will be interesting if there is indeed a new regime that comes in whether there is a temptation to take a quarterback, especially if Washington continues to struggle down the stretch and ends up with one of the top four selections. Howell does lead the NFL in completions (323), pass attempts (486) and passing yards (3,339), but definitely has some gunslinger tendencies, as evidenced by his  13 interceptions. 

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If a new front office/coaching staff that didn't draft Howell falls in love with North Carolina's Drake Maye, Oregon's Bo Nix, LSU's Jayden Daniels, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. or Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, would they pull the trigger and then flip Howell elsewhere? The possibility can't be ruled out. 

What we would say, though, is that the Commanders have glaring holes on the offensive line, in their defensive backfield and at edge rusher that they would be wise to fix the rest of their roster and give Howell another year. Because it's hard to imagine any young quarterback -- Howell or otherwise -- making a playoff run with Washington's roster as currently constructed.