The Commanders were below average in this metric in the 2023 draft and again in 2024, consistently reaching for players.
But last year, Washington finished #11.
This year, they finished No. 1 in the NFL in terms of draft capital over expected.
Washington didnโt have much capital, but it grabbed value early and often.
It started in Round 1, when Sonny Styles slipped from an expected top-five pick to the Commanders at No. 7.
With Fridayโs only pick, the Commanders drafted WR Antonio Williams in Round 3 at No. 71 when he was expected to go at No. 66.
But their Saturday picks flashed even more value.
In Round 5, they took EDGE Joshua Josephs at No. 146 when he was expected to go No. 77.
In Round 6, they drafted RB Kaytron Allen at No. 186 when he was expected to go No. 130.
Later that round, they grabbed C Matt Gulbin from Michigan State at No. 208 when he was expected to go No. 168.
This was an exercise in maximizing draft capital and making more out of less by drafting players the vast majority of evaluators expected to go earlier in the draft.