Ron Rivera’s quietest Commanders draft mistake finally exposed four years on

Drafting Dyami Brown at No. 82 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft was a grave error in judgment by the previous regime. One could argue that the wide receiver's development was mismanaged, but he always flattered to deceive during his time with the Washington Commanders overall.

Had the Commanders gone with another talented player instead, things would have been much different. Although hindsight is a wonderful thing to have for those who pick apart draft selections several years after they happen.

The Commanders didn't come out of a recent article by Damian Parson from The Bleacher Report looking too hot. He examined the best steals from the 2021 NFL Draft four years on. Brown wasn't on it, but three prospects who could (or should) have ended up in Washington featured prominently.

Commanders' drafting Dyami Brown over Nico Collins is Ron Rivera's biggest overlooked blunder

All the hype often goes on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Trey Smith when it comes to Ron Rivera's draft misses in 2021. There is one more who the Commanders bypassed in favor of Brown, going seven picks later to the Houston Texans.

That was Nico Collins. After a rough start, the former Michigan star has found his feet as one of the league's most dynamic playmakers. Parson recognized this, highlighting the Texans' decision to draft quarterback C.J. Stroud as a primary catalyst behind his surge.

[Nico] Collins was a victim of porous quarterback play and coaching. But after the Texans selected quarterback CJ Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Collins turned his career around. His target share went up, and the quality of his targets substantially improved. Since Stroud took over two years ago, Collins has caught 148 passes for 2,303 yards and 15 touchdowns on 208 targets. He's one of the best explosive playmakers in the league and routinely takes the top off opposing defenses. Thanks to Stroud, Collins overcame the slow start to his career and became a star over the past two seasons.Damian Parson

Collins is a 6-foot-4 matchup nightmare. He's a prolific weapon all over the field, accumulating 218 receptions for 3,230 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns to date, securing one Pro Bowl distinction as a result of his efforts.

In contrast, Brown mustered just 59 catches for 784 receiving yards and four touchdowns in Washington. The two are not the same.

Nobody has a crystal ball during the draft. It's a guessing game based on hope, assessments, and future expectations. Some teams are much better at it than others, and Rivera could never find the right formula.

Adam Peters brought a different approach that reaped immediate rewards. The Commanders are in great hands at long last, but Brown won't be coming along for the ride after he was allowed to walk for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

That's the way things went most of the time for Rivera. But thankfully, the Commanders are on the right track now.

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