NFL 7-Round Mock Draft: Washington Commanders Land Franchise QB & Premier Pass Rusher

The Washington Commanders are widely expected to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, but will they be aggressive in addressing their other needs?

Nov 11, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10). / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels?

That's the debate that has been taking place in the media for much of the draft process with many making arguments for both quarterbacks for the Washington Commanders. In Pro Football Focus' seven-round mock draft for the Commanders by its lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema, he had them taking Maye with the No. 2 overall pick, favoring the UNC quarterback's arm strength and ability to make big throws.

Nov 11, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10). / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

"Maye has the most big-time throws in college football over the last two years," Sikkema writes. "He also has a ton of experience throwing over the middle, as well as pushing it down the field outside the numbers. I like Maye’s overall arm talent (mainly natural velocity) more than Daniels. For those reasons, I have Maye as the second quarterback in the draft behind only Caleb Williams."

Maye is the slight betting underdog to Daniels on FanDuel and DraftKings, though, Washington picking the 6-foot-4, 223-pound quarterback from North Carolina wouldn't be a shock. The more eye-grabbing pick in Sikkema's mock draft was the Commanders trading back into the first round with the Denver Broncos to take UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu with the No. 12 overall pick. In the trade, Sikkema has Washington give up one of its two second-round picks (36) and a third-round pick (67) in 2024 and its second and fifth-round picks in 2025.

Latu has been one of the best pass rushers in college football and rode a stellar senior season to winning the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and being named an All-American. Latu set career highs with 13 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions in his final season as a Bruin. Latu also had a strong 2022 season with 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.

Latu was medically retired at the University of Washington in 2020 before being cleared to return in 2022. Sifting through his medicals is imperative for any team interested in drafting him, but if the Commanders are comfortable with his medicals, then trading up to take Latu is a deal that makes plenty of sense, especially after trading away Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last season.

"The Commanders signed Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell in free agency, but that doesn't make up for their need for a top edge rusher," Sikkema writes. "Latu had the highest pass-rush grade and highest pass-rush win percentage of any pass rusher in college football over the last two years."

Here are the rest of the picks in Sikkema's mock draft:

2nd round (40): BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia

3rd round (78): Kentucky CB Andru Phillips

3rd round (100): Clemson edge Xavier Thomas

5th round (139): Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker

5th round (152): Missouri OT Javon Foster

7th round (222): Air Force safety Trey Taylor