Analyzing the 2023 Washington Commanders draft class

On day two, the Commanders doubled down on the defensive backfield by taking Jartavius "Quan" Martin out of Illinois, who primarily plays safety. They then drafted Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg in the third round.

Martin is an interesting selection, as it's uncertain what position he'll play for the Commanders. His versatility will be an asset, though, and it doesn't hurt to have DB depth. Martin's primary strength is against the running game.

Stromberg, meanwhile, fills a much greater need at center. The Commanders signed Nick Gates and also retained Chase Roullier, but Roullier has been injury prone and Gates can also play other positions on the offensive line. Stromberg will likely be a rotational piece to start the year, but could eventually become the starter.

The team's third day picks featured a diverse group of players: Utah guard Braeden Daniels, Clemson DE KJ Henry, Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez and Louisiana LB Andre Jones. These players will likely be rotational pieces at most, but there's always the potential for a diamond in the rough.

Henry and Jones probably won't see much (if any) playing time barring a slew of injuries, given Washington's front seven depth. Daniels has a much better chance to play his way into some reps as the Commanders' guard situation is less than ideal, particularly on the left side of the line.

Rodriguez is intriguing. He'll be behind Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson on the depth chart and likely competing for third string touches with Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams. Young, fresh legs are always valuable in today's NFL, so don't be surprised if Rodriguez gets some run this year.

It's never easy to grade a team's draft until we see the selections in action. All in all, though, it's safe to say the Commanders addressed all their biggest needs, and if at least three of these picks can turn into starting caliber NFL players, this draft should be considered a success.