Commanders' Major NFL Draft Steal Predicted With 'Menace' Pick

The Washington Commanders have gone through major transformations in the secondary after having one of the worst units in the sport just two years ago. 

Whether it was the trade of Marshon Lattimore or the development of their young collection of talents, Washington saw their secondary go from the worst in the league in 2023 to third in the league in yards allowed. 

That number could improve even more with the latest mock draft from ESPN's Field Yates. In it, he predicted the Commanders would draft South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with their first-round selection.

"The Commanders added veteran defensive back Will Harris in free agency to replace Jeremy Chinn, but Emmanwori could have some appeal to their defensive staff, given Dan Quinn's history of using safeties in creative ways," Yates said. "Emmanwori's physical tools are off the charts; he ran a 4.38 in the 40 at the combine despite weighing 220 pounds. He also jumped 43 inches in the vertical. 

"Emmanwori is a menace with the football in his hands and took two of his four interceptions to the house last season."

In other words ... he's a workout warrior but also a playmaker.

In Quinn's scheme, the safety position has been extremely important. From Kam Chancellor to Earl Thomas, to even Chinn, how the team deploys safeties makes life incredibly difficult for opposing quarterbacks. 

And a player like Emmanwori, despite potentially needing some time to learn the scheme could be the perfect kind of steal in the current Draft that the Commanders need to get by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC.