The views and opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of the team.
In anticipation of the 2024 NFL Draft, which will be held April 24 - 26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, here's a compilation of various league experts' predictions about what the Washington Commanders will do with the No. 29 overall pick. Check back weekly until the draft for more updates.
Expert: Mark Ross, NFL.com
Selection: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State (April 17)
- Analysis: Maybe the most underrated player in this draft class. Tuimoloau joins Dan Quinn's defensive front as a hard-nosed and productive talent. Filling a big need in Washington, JTT -- who registered 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss during Ohio State's four-game playoff run -- could start immediately for the Commanders, whose DE depth chart is littered with NFL journeymen.
Expert: Jack McKessy, USA Today
Selection: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (April 17)
- Analysis: Washington needs to bring in pass-rushing reinforcements after losing sack leader Dante Fowler Jr. to the Cowboys in free agency. Enter James Pearce Jr., who's a lengthy edge rusher with tons of explosiveness coming off a first-team All-SEC season that featured 13 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. With some added strength and developed technique, he has a future as a dangerous weapon off the edge in Washington.
Expert: Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports
Selection: Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC (April 10)
- Analysis: This might feel like a luxury pick given the Commanders' needs elsewhere, but they would have some serious horsepower on offense with the addition of Hampton. He has been a star of the draft process coming off the backs of a dominant season running the ball for UNC. Hampton paired with Jayden Daniels would give the Commanders a chance to repeat last season and cement themselves as an elite running team for years to come.
Expert: Rhett Lewis, NFL.com
Selection: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (April 8)
- Analysis: Ezeiruaku fell just shy of Mike Green with 16.5 sacks last season; fittingly, the Boston College product comes off the board right behind his Marshall counterpart in this exercise, giving the Commanders a bona fide pass-rush presence. Ezeiruaku is on the smaller side for a true NFL defensive end, but Dan Quinn will get the most out of his abilities.
Expert: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Selection: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (April 16)
- Analysis: The Commanders get an heir apparent to Zach Ertz at tight end. In 2026 and beyond, a pairing of Warren and 2024 draftee Ben Sinnott would be a blast over the middle and after the catch for Jayden Daniels.
Expert: Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report
Selection: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (April 16)
- *Analysis:* Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has a history of using big, long strong safeties as part of his defenses, whether we're discussing Jayron Kearse with the Dallas Cowboys or Jeremy Chinn last season. Well, safeties don't come much bigger, longer or more athletic than South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori. The 21-year-old prospect stands over 6'3" and weighs 220 pounds. He also posted the highest relative athletic score among safeties over the last 38 years, per Kent Lee Platte.
Expert: Mike Band, NFL.com
Selection: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (April 15)
- Analysis: Dan Quinn has long leaned on hybrid safeties with size and range -- think Kam Chancellor, Keanu Neal, Donovan Wilson and Jeremy Chinn -- to serve as tone-setters in his single-high-heavy scheme. Emmanwori fits that mold, offering versatility as a box defender or big nickel in sub-packages. GM Adam Peters shores up a secondary that allowed a league-worst 146.8 passer rating on throws of 10-plus air yards to the deep middle last season, per Next Gen Stats.
Expert: Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, ESPN
Selection: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (April 15)
- Analysis: Ezeiruaku would be terrific value at the top of the second round -- he could easily climb into the 20s as one of the best pure pass rushers in the class. He had 16.5 sacks last season, and his 65 pressures led the nation.
Expert: R.J. White, CBS Sports
Selection: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (April 15)
- Analysis: Washington is +180 to go DL/edge first, with offensive line at +320 and cornerback at +360. All three positions have options remaining who are minus odds in the Round 1 market, but Hairston at -250 is a bit shorter than Conerly at -200 or edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at -145. And with Hairston meeting with the Commanders this week, it's a pick that makes sense here.