Commanders 2023 NFL mock draft: Who will Washington select in first round?

Three teams from the NFC East made it to the playoffs, but the Washington Commanders were not one of them. They saw both the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys make it to the Divisional Round and the Philadelphia Eagles go all the way to the Super Bowl. If the Commanders are to challenge the trio this year, they need to rebuild their team.

They already seem to be moving on from Carson Wentz, with coach Ron Rivera pretty much confirming that Sam Howell would be the presumptive starter. However, there are a lot of positions beyond the quarterback position that Washington needs to fill. That's where the NFL draft comes in. By virtue of finishing below their NFC East rivals, the Commanders have a better draft position when the time comes to pick players.

Let's take a look at who the Washington Commanders are expected to target in the first five picks. While trades are always possible that may alter the draft order, we are currently considering the draft order as it stands at the start of the 2023 offseason.

Washington Commanders: 2023 Mock Draft

Here's a look:

Round 1, Pick 16 - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

If you ask ten people about mock drafts, there's a good chance that each one will give you a different answer of who to draft. However, one thing most people seem to agree on is that the Commanders need a new league-ready cornerback.

They have worked on their front seven, ignoring the secondary, and now it shows. Beyond Kendall Fuller, they have no depth, so if they have the opportunity, they must pick Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr when lined up in press coverage last season:

🐾 Zero TDs Allowed
🐾 7 Forced Incompletions
🐾 58.0 Passer Rating Allowed https://t.co/Y5enT580uq

The son of NFL legend Joey Porter is an elite college cornerback. He's a versatile playmaker who can play across the secondary, including safety in some schemes. He did not allow a single touchdown last season when targeted.

Round 2, Pick 47 - Steve Avila, IOL, TCU

With a new quarterback likely under center, the Commanders will need all the help they can get from the offensive line. Having someone who can play across multiple positions across the offensive line would be a great positive.

TCU IOL Steve Avila is a fun player and was someone I enjoyed talking with at the Senior Bowl. Agree that he looks like a plug-and-play type of guy with G/C versatility. He's a lot stronger than he looks too. twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/… https://t.co/rQBR65Dlmj

In this regard, Steve Avila fits the bill perfectly for the Washington Commanders. He has played at center, right tackle and most recently, left guard.

In his three regular seasons in college, he has allowed only four quarterback hits and four sacks in total. At 6' 4" and 332 lbs, he's an athletic behemoth with upside, so the Commanders should not hesitate to bring Avila to Washington.

Round 3, Pick 97 - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

If Steve Avila plays guard, as expected, the franchise will still need to figure out someone who can play right tackle. They're incredibly weak in that spot, with Cornelius Lucas pretty much the only player in the depth chart in that position.

Darnell Wright, RT, Ten

Has a plan vs upcoming opponent
Strategizes vs rusher as game progresses
Light on his feet for a big guy - athletic, active feet
Surprisingly showed a variety of sets
Snatch trap addict, smooth, maintains good balance
Strings together counters, finishes… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/7AyGfDy3pI

Darnell Wright makes perfect sense with this pick. He's versatile, as he has played both the right tackle and left tackle positions, but three years out of four in college, he was on the right.

Last season while playing at that position, he allowed only two quarterback hits and no sacks. At 6' 6" and 342 lbs, he's not easily moved and would be another great addition to the porous offensive line.

Round 4, Pick 118 - Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State

The linebacker position is another one the team needs to fill. Aside from Jamin Davis and Khaleke Hudson, it's tough to see who the starters could be, and the latter is set to hit restricted free agency this year.

The Washington Commanders would do well to draft a linebacker at this stage and should set their sights on Daiyan Henley.

Daiyan Henley (#1) is not Fred Warner.

BUT...if there was ever a super athletic, 230lb former receiver turned linebacker prospect that could do some Fred Warner-ish things on a football field as a value pick in the 3rd or maybe 4th round.....it's probably Daiyan Henley! https://t.co/k0bywRkIpD

He's a fascinating developmental prospect. He has shown versatility in both coverage and pass rush and can fit in different schemes.

While with Nevada before transferring to Washington State last year, he allowed an exceptional 39.0 quarterback rating on his targets in 2021 but no sacks. With Washington State in 2022, his quarterback rating on targets was a high 101.8, but he racked up a solid five sacks.

Getting him and using him as a chess piece on a team that has to plug a lot of holes makes sense.

Round 5, Pick 152 - Payne Durham, TE, Purdue

Finally, having addressed their needs on defense and the offensive line, the Commanders need to give their new starting quarterback some receivers to throw to.

Logan Thomas did not look the same after his ACL injury the year before last, and he will become a free agent next year. Better to get a rookie and train them behind a leader like him so that they can fill in the future.

Payne Durham could fit that bill perfectly. When targeted in the last two seasons, his quarterback rating has been over 115.0 consistently. He also has 14 touchdowns in the last two seasons and could help the Washington Commanders as another offensive weapon.