The Washington Commanders' defensive front has been a pleasant surprise through the first four weeks of the season. However, this area of the field is one that general manager Adam Peters will look to improve next spring.
Peters never stands still. He is always looking for ways to enhance the roster, and he's been aggressive in his quest to keep the Commanders in contention. But for his long-term strategy to bear fruit in the coming years, the front-office leader needs to build through the draft for sustained growth.
Finding veteran free agents capable of helping immediately was a necessary evil for Peters, thanks in no small part to four years of terrible drafts from the previous head coach and primary decision-maker, Ron Rivera. That'll suffice for now, but it can't be an ongoing trend.
Commanders bet on Quincy Rhodes Jr. in CBS Sports' latest mock draft
Mike Renner from CBS Sports agrees. The draft analyst thought betting on the upside of defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes Jr. could be a possibility for the Commanders, something that would provide the trenches with another explosive weapon that can be molded into a valuable contributor.
"[Quincy] Rhodes is one of the biggest risers in college football this season in his first year as a starter. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder has 18 pressures already this season. He's still raw, but the physical tools are good enough to still go high."
Mike Renner
Rhodes has propelled himself into first-round consideration after a phenomenal season for the Arkansas Razorbacks thus far. He's ferocious off the snap, boasting a sound blend of burst and violent hands that make things extremely difficult for opposing offensive linemen. There are some technical flaws to address, but the Commanders' high-caliber coaching staff possesses the necessary credentials to maximize his influence.
The Commanders don't have much high-end draft capital after some frantic trade activity from Peters in recent months. That makes hitting on their first-rounder all the more critical, so betting on an athletically gifted but raw prospect might not be in the team's best interests.
It's impossible to determine for sure at this time. There is a long way to go and a lot of football — both at the NFL and collegiate levels — left to play before the all-important draft assessment process takes center stage. But it's not hard to see why Rhodes will be emerging on the draft radars around the league.
Peters will have a plan in mind. That could change, but the Commanders could do far worse than examine Rhodes' capabilities in greater detail.
More Commanders news and analysis