Ex-Commanders draft pick quietly sent packing after blockbuster trade moves

The Washington Commanders don't have many draft picks left from the Ron Rivera years. And there's a good reason why.

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. will add his name to the growing list of departures after things turned sour quickly. This is all part of Adam Peters' intent to rid the franchise of bad moves and replace them with players who can make a lasting contribution moving forward.

That might sting, but it's had instant results.

The fact that so many of Rivera's draft choices are failing to catch on elsewhere is a damning indictment of his personnel evaluation. Some are struggling to retain their starting spots. Others are fighting for roster places or out of the league entirely. And the former head coach had these players as core foundational pieces, in some cases.

Things haven't gone well for Phidarian Mathis since Commanders release

Another high-end selection made by Rivera is facing an uncertain future with a fortnight until the NFL season officially begins. The New York Jets released defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, ending his brief and underwhelming stint with the franchise. This came after the AFC East club struck trades for Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs from the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

Head coach Aaron Glenn felt more was needed in the trenches alongside Quinnen Williams. Phillips is a stout run stopper with proven credentials as the anchor of 3-4 fronts. Briggs played six games for the Browns last season as a rookie. He remains a work in progress, but the Jets believe some untapped potential remains.

Unfortunately, this left Mathis on the outside looking in. The former second-round pick struggled to stay healthy in Washington and never fit into the new regime's way of thinking. A chance on the Jets emerged quickly after he left D.C., but the fact that he was never used on the defensive rotation spoke volumes.

It was always going to be a fine line for Mathis this summer, and he couldn't raise performance levels enough. What the immediate future holds for the Alabama product is unclear, but he's had two chances to firmly establish himself in the NFL now and failed to deliver.

Perhaps someone will bet on Mathis' physical attributes finally becoming something more. Perhaps he might be forced onto a practice squad. Perhaps he might even end up in the UFL or CFL to keep his dream alive.

Even so, all this does is highlight the complete incompetence of Rivera to find the right prospects from the college ranks. Thankfully, this nightmare is firmly in the rearview mirror.

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