Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall choice in 2024, is the quarterback of the future for the Washington Commanders.
The most important question that still has to be answered is who will shield Daniels’ blind side going forward.
When analyzing out all 32 NFL clubs’ top problems at signal caller on May 15, ESPN’s Dan Graziano ranked the uncertainty around left offensive lineman as the biggest question regarding the quarterback position for the Commanders.
“Is there enough around Jayden Daniels for the Commanders to keep him healthy?” Written by Graziano. After a busy offseason in which the Commanders acquired tight end Zach Ertz, center Tyler Biadasz, guard Nick Allegretti, and running back Austin Ekeler to their offense, this is the team’s biggest question. Washington allowed 65 sacks in 2023, tied for the second-highest amount in the NFL, so the offensive line upgrades should improve, but the team still lacks a clear left tackle.
Who Will Guard Franchise QB’s Blind Side?
Graziano claims that two players with very different levels of experience—11-year veteran Cornelius Lucas and rookie Brandon Coleman, the Commanders’ third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2024 NFL draft—will compete to guard Daniels’ blind side in the near future.
“This offseason, rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman will have an opportunity to win the job, competing against seasoned Cornelius Lucas and others,” Graziano said. “Until someone declares themselves the winner, it appears to be a potential weak spot, and there will be a lot of uncertainty surrounding Daniels’ first season.”
After playing for four different teams and going undrafted out of Kansas State in 2014, 6-foot-8 and 327-pound Lucas finally found success with the Commanders in 2020. He started a career-high 12 games in 2022 and started 4 games in 2023, allowing just 1 sack in 231 snaps, according to PFF.
Coleman, who stands six feet four and weighs 312 pounds, started for three years at TCU and was twice selected to the All-Big 12 Conference team. In 2022, he was a member of the Horned Frogs’ national runner-up squad. In 2023, he served as team captain as well.
Scouts were thrilled by Coleman’s 40-yard sprint time of 4.99 seconds during the NFL combine in February.
In his pre-draft assessment of Coleman, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein stated that while he could be able to handle a transition to tackle in an emergency, Coleman will be scouted and picked as a guard. “When his hands are in the correct place, he fits up blocks quite accurately and is broad, but he will never be a path cleaner in the run game. Coleman’s protection of NFL quarterbacks as a guard is aided by his expertise as a tackle. Although he has good hands and mechanics when passing the ball, his relatively mediocre reactive athleticism could be problematic when facing rushers that are in the sub-package.
Commanders Haven’t Drafted OL 1st Round since ’15
The Commanders haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since taking Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff at No. 5 overall in the 2015 NFL draft, although Scherff moved to guard as a rookie.
The last time the Commanders picked an offensive tackle in the first round that stayed that way on the next level, it was three-time NFL All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams with the No. 4 overall pick in 2010.
Williams played for Washington from 2010 through 2019 and was named to the Washington Commanders 90 Greatest Players of All Time in 2022.
