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Washington Commanders NFL Draft picks 2022: Grades, fits and scouting reports for all 8 selections

Nov 11, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) warms up on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
By The Athletic NFL Staff
Apr 30, 2022

The Washington Commanders entered the 2022 NFL Draft with six picks over the three-day event, but through a few trades, they wound up with an eight-man draft class.

Washington added extra third- and fourth-round picks from the Saints on Thursday by trading down five spots in the first round. New Orleans took Ohio State wideout Chris Olave at 11, and the Commanders grabbed Penn State wideout Jahan Dotson at 11.

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Dotson is only 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds but is known for his speed (4.43 40-yard dash), route running and ball skills. He caught 91 passes for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two drops for the Nittany Lions in 2021.

Washington entered Day 2 on Friday with two picks, No. 47 and 98. At 47, they grabbed Alabama defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, who had nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss for the Crimson Tide in 2021. The Athletic reported earlier this week that defensive tackle Daron Payne’s future in Washington is uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract. The team is not expected to offer him an extension, and sources from other teams say the Commanders have made Payne available via trade.

In Round 3, Washington added another ball carrier and another Alabama product in running back Brian Robinson. The first-team All-SEC selection set a Crimson Tide bowl record with 204 rushing yards against Cincinnati in the College Football Playoff semifinal game.

The Commanders entered Day 3 with five picks. They started off with safety/special-teams maven Percy Butler of Louisiana, then traded down from pick 120, sending that pick and No. 189 to the Panthers for two fifth-rounders, 144 and 149.

Then came a bigger move, as Washington took North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell, whom many considered a possible Day 1 pick and likely Day 2 pick. Howell started 37 games over three seasons for the Tar Heels, throwing 92 touchdowns against 23 interceptions and rushing for 17 additional TDs, including 11 in 2021.

Five picks later, they took Nevada tight end Cole Turner. Both Howell and Turner were on our list of Day 3 players to watch for Washington, as was Tulsa guard Chris Paul, whom the Commanders took at No. 230. They wrapped up the class by taking Oklahoma State cornerback Christian Holmes at No. 240.

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NFL Draft 2022 tracker: Recapping Day 3 with pick-by-pick analysis
Best undrafted players: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?

Round 1

No. 16: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

How he fits: Washington moved down and still found a way to address a need for Carson Wentz. Dotson, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound Z or slot type who can also return kicks. A good all-around football player who found ways to separate from defensive backs during the middle of his routes. A savvy player.

A bit high for Dotson here? Arguably with Treylon Burks on the board. But Dotson should be able to work back toward the football and find ways to help fit in with Wentz’s style. This was a need and Washington filled it. — Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Dotson isn’t a tackle-breaker, and his marginal play strength will be more noticeable vs. NFL defenders, but his dynamic speed, route instincts and ball skills make him a difficult player to cover one-on-one. He is an NFL starter in the Diontae Johnson mold with better hands and punt-return skills.

Ben Standig’s analysis: Washington gets Carson Wentz another weapon

Audrey Snyder’s analysis: What Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson brings to the Washington Commanders

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: B

Round 2

No. 47 (from Colts): Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama

How he fits: Clearly, Alabama’s interior defenders have built a brand that the Commanders can trust, adding Mathis to a roster with Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen already in tow. Ultimately, I’d expect Mathis to be Payne’s replacement, and he fits all the physical requirements to be a plus run defender and allow Ron Rivera to play the split-safety coverages that Washington has been using for the last few seasons.

Mathis won’t add much in the way of pass-rushing explosiveness, but the Commanders have to expect that their young pair of edge rushers will get back to generating pressure at a high level. Mathis will add depth and phase into a starting role in the near future. —Diante Lee

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Dane Brugler’s analysis: Mathis’ inconsistent pass rush skills are notable, but he is a physically impressive big man with power and disruptive qualities. He should be part of a rotation as a rookie and grow into an NFL starter.

Ben Standig’s analysis: Will Mathis be Payne’s eventual replacement?

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: C

Round 3

No. 98 (from Saints): Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama

How he fits: Part of the secret sauce at Alabama has long been the program’s ability to stack premium running backs behind each other, so that when they get to the draft, the tread on their tires isn’t nearly as worn as what it might have been somewhere else. Robinson is an example of that. He was at Alabama five years, backing up a who’s who of stars (from Najee Harris to Josh Jacobs), and left with just 545 career carries.

His senior year was his best. He showed an ability to carry a load at 225 pounds, he caught 35 passes and he proved his dedication inside a winning program. He’s a player who will add value in Washington’s backfield immediately, and a guy who has a chance to be in the league for a minute. —Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Robinson isn’t a proven big-play threat, but he is a physical ball carrier with the one-cut instincts and third-down upside to carve out a role in an NFL backfield similar to Latavius Murray.

Ben Standig’s analysis: Robinson adds toughness alongside Antonio Gibson

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: B-

Round 4

No. 113: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Butler needs to play with more control and create more on-ball opportunities for himself, but his linear speed and ascending instincts are attractive traits for a developmental safety. His special teams value (he had 25 special teams tackles in his career, including eight in 2021) alone should get him drafted.

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Round 5

No. 144 (from Jaguars via Panthers): Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

How he fits: Howell goes off the board at the top of the fifth, surely much longer than he thought he’d wait to hear his name. But an opportunity nonetheless and a pretty fascinating one behind Carson Wentz and, possibly, Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke, 29, is entering the final year of his contract and is worth keeping on the roster right now in case Wentz implodes. Which, frankly, has to be taken into consideration as possible given his recent history. Howell could be the long-term answer at QB for Washington no matter how all this sorts out, we’ll see.

What this does give him, though, is time to sort himself out. Howell’s last year at UNC wasn’t great, and a lot of that went beyond his fault. The offense at UNC fell apart. It lost talent. It lost imagination, frankly, and his play suffered in part as a result. If he can prove to be more consistent with his decision-making and put his career as a runner to bed, he can be a starter in this league. But he has work to do. And right now, he has a lot of traffic in front of him. —Nick Baumgardner

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Howell needs to clean up his footwork and develop as a pocket passer, but he has NFL-quality arm strength, athleticism and work ethic and operates with a slow heartbeat. He projects as a low-end NFL starter, flashing similarities to Baker Mayfield.

Ben Standig’s analysis: Howell offers upside behind Carson Wentz

Nicole Auerbach’s analysis: What Howell brings to the Commanders

No. 149 (from Panthers): Cole Turner, TE, Nevada

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Turner is limited as a blocker, but skilled as a pass-catcher because of his ball skills and body control to easily expand his catch radius. He can be a poor man’s Mike Gesicki in the NFL, although his one-dimensional skill set will limit his landing spots.

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Round 7

No. 230: Chris Paul, G, Tulsa

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Paul doesn’t have great core strength or recovery skills, but he has the size, balance and hand exchange to give defenders all they can handle. He offers position versatility (clearly most comfortable at right guard), projecting as a backup who can grow into a valuable sixth lineman role.

No. 240 (from Eagles): Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State

(Photo of Sam Howell: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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