3 Most Likely Commanders Draft Targets With the 16th Overall Pick

When the 2022 NFL regular season concluded, the Washington Commanders were left on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs... again. An 8-8-1 record saw the Commanders miss the playoffs for the 12th time since 2008, forcing them to go back to the drawing board this offseason.

It's not all bad news for the Commanders, though. After all, their middle-of-the-pack performance earned them the 16th overall pick at the 2023 NFL Draft. There'll be several NFL-ready players when Washington is on the clock, meaning general manager Martin Mayhew can't afford to miss on his pick if he wants to end his team's postseason woes.

For now, here are the three most likely draft targets for the Commanders with the 16th overall pick.

Commanders Draft Rumors

1. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste are projected to be the Commanders' top cornerbacks next season, highlighting a need to improve the position. Fortunately, Kelee Ringo can help. The Georgia CB had a phenomenal 2022 campaign, finishing with seven broken-up passes, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 15 games. Quarterbacks also only had a 69.8 rating when targeting him. Ringo has also wowed scouts with his size (6-foot-2, 210lbs) and his ability to play in both zone and man situations. He has the tools to be a No. 1 CB one day and could become a focal point in the Commanders' defense for years to come.

2. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

It's time that the Commanders start thing about their quarterback of the future. Carson Wentz is a shell of his former self, Taylor Heinicke isn't anything special and there's no guarantee that Sam Howell will pan out. That's why Washington must consider drafting Anthony Richardson at No. 16. The Florida gunslinger showed some upside in his first full season as a Gator, finishing with 2,549 passing yards and 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions in 12 starts. He was also a force on the ground, turning 103 carries into 654 rushing yards and nine TDs. Though he might not have the same potential as someone like C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young, most experts still see Richardson as having a bright NFL career with some even comparing his skill set to Cam Newton.

3. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Offensive tackle is another pressing need for the Commanders, who allowed 48 sacks in 2022 — seventh most in the NFL. In other words, a player like Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. is desperately needed. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound OT was lights out for the Buckeyes in the fall, allowing only 12 hurries, two sacks and zero QB hits on 827 offensive snaps. In fact, he only allowed three sacks in three seasons (30 games) as a Buckeye. He also has quick feet and can be a solid run blocker, further adding to his upside. Johnson's hands are his biggest weakness, but the right coaching can fix that. If the Commanders want more out of their QB position, it starts with drafting someone like the Ohio State product.

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.