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USATSI

The Washington Commanders are entering a new era in 2022, although it feels as though we say this every offseason. Dwayne Haskins is long gone, the Ryan Fitzpatrick experiment lasted about two quarters and Taylor Heinicke was unable to proclaim himself the franchise quarterback although he was given a fair shot. Carson Wentz is the new quarterback in Washington, and Ron Rivera is going to have to find a way to set him up for success. 

Washington hasn't had an eventful offseason when it comes to free agent additions from other teams, so there are still holes to fill. Some needs the Commanders should look to address in the upcoming draft are wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back. Washington holds the No. 11 overall pick in the first round, and as of now, most of our CBS Sports NFL Draft experts are eyeing wide receivers. USC's Drake London and Ohio State's Garrett Wilson have been mocked to Washington in three different drafts. Josh Edwards and Ryan Wilson, on the other hand, have the Commanders going defense, as the former has Washington taking safety Kyle Hamilton out of Notre Dame, and the latter has Washington selecting linebacker Devin Lloyd out of Utah. 

Thanks to The Draft Network's seven-round mock draft machine, we were able to run through a full draft acting as Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew. Let's see how we handled it. 

Round 1 (No. 11 overall): WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

We came into this draft not specifically targeting a wide receiver with our first-round pick. However, the Commanders were given the option to take the first one in this deep class, so we didn't pass up the opportunity to pair Terry McLaurin with another Ohio State guy. Who knows, this could also be something that ensures McLaurin stays in the fold. 

Wilson is considered to be the best wide receiver in this class. In 2021, he caught 70 passes for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also became the second Ohio State wideout to go over 100 yards receiving in four straight games during the 2020 campaign. Wilson may be the complete package, and surrounding Wentz with as many weapons as possible is going to give him a chance to prove he's a franchise quarterback. 

Imagine having McLaurin and Wilson out wide, then Curtis Samuel in the slot. The Commanders' offense would sure look commanding. 

Round 2 (No. 47): S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State

Brisker is ranked No. 31 on Chris Trapasso's big board. He says he likes Brisker's angry demeanor on the field, and that he attacks blocks like a linebacker. While he's better as a run defender right now, Trapasso says his athletic profile indicates he could become a well-rounded safety that can find success in coverage down the road. The first-team All-Big Ten player had a career year in 2021 with 63 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five passes defensed and two interceptions. 

Washington does have Kamren Curl and Bobby McCain at safety as well, but all three of these players are versatile enough to wear different hats on defense. And having multiple players with that kind of versatility allows defensive coordinators to have more fun with how they disguise coverages. Plus, Brisker could end up becoming the best of the three.

Round 4 (No. 113): LB Brandon Smith, Penn State

Washington has to figure out the middle linebacker spot this offseason. Is it going to be Cole Holcomb or Jamin Davis? The Commanders could choose one of the two players, and then draft the starting replacement on either the strong or weak side. Smith is incredibly athletic, and has played all three linebacking positions. He plays with passion and stands out when blitzing the quarterback or pursuing ball-carriers in the flats. 

Per 247Sports, Smith was the No. 1 inside linebacker in the 2018 recruiting class, but he's not a finished product by any means. Still, he has that star potential. It's fun to watch Smith on film, as he lines up in several different spots. He sometimes joins the defensive linemen, standing over the center awaiting that one-on-one battle. Other times he's lined up in what is basically the slot, but always keeps his eyes downfield. Bring him as the extra man on a blitz and special things will happen. Smith just seems like a player Rivera secretly loves. 

Round 6 (No. 189): OL Cade Mays, Tennessee

It's interesting we targeted Mays for the Commanders, as NFL.com prospect evaluator Lance Zierlein compared Mays to longtime Washington center Chase Roullier. Mays played every position along the offensive line in college, but may fare best as a center in the future. Maybe he starts at guard and then could be a Roullier replacement further down the line. 

The top prospect from the state of Tennessee in 2018 spurned his hometown of Knoxville by decommitting from Tennessee and joining the rival Georgia Bulldogs. However, he transferred back home after two seasons and ended up rocking the orange as his family always wanted him to. He started at right tackle in 2021 after spending most of 2020 as a right guard, and was a 2021 Second-Team All-SEC. Mays is experienced and a former highly touted recruit. After seeing what Trey Smith did for the Kansas City Chiefs last year, Mays may be the next Vol drafted in the sixth round to surprise people. 

Round 7 (No. 230): QB Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

Zappe could be one of the most interesting fliers in the 2022 NFL Draft. While he spent just one season at Western Kentucky, that's all he needed to prove he possessed a big arm that could put up numbers. In 14 games, Zappe passed for 5,967 yards, 62 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Per Western Kentucky's official website, Zappe set new single-season FBS records with those numbers, passing Texas Tech's B.J. Symons, who had 5,833 passing yards in 2003, and LSU's Joe Burrow, who had 60 passing touchdowns in 2019. 

At his pro day last month, Zappe hit 55 of 56 passes -- including 13 deep balls -- in "freezing" conditions that also included 20-plus MPH winds, per Jim Nagy of the Senior Bowl. When we actually get to the draft in a few weeks, Zappe may not be available this late.

Round 7 (No. 240): CB Jermaine Waller, Virginia Tech

Waller is a press cornerback who is better in man than zone, and possesses solid ball skills. He's not the fastest player, however. Waller flashed early in his career when playing alongside Caleb Farley, and is a prospect with potential that I would want on my roster -- especially with him being an outside corner who isn't afraid to get physical.