Cornerback seemed like a clear and obvious Commanders need heading into the NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters didn’t take one with any of his six selections.
We may have had a different discussion had the Kansas City Chiefs not traded up to take LSU’s Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall, but we’ll never know what Peters would have done.
Delane or Sonny Styles? No way Peters will let that preference go public. The Commanders looked to receiver Antonio Williams in the third round other positions after
that, leaving the defensive backfield alone.
That doesn’t mean he won’t address it as spring turns to summer. As matter of fact, Peters probably should. There aren’t many cover corners on the open market who flow with his objective to get younger, but the position group can surely get stronger and deeper and more dependable by adding Rasul Douglas.
The 30-year-old isn’t a household name and has bounced around a fair amount recently, but Douglas is a guy who can come in and compete. He’s a bigger cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, and could certainly fit into new coordinator Daronte Jones’ scheme.
Adding Douglas isn’t an original thought. Our John Portis and Matt inBrisVegas have brought him up a bunch, and I like their logic. He has been a steady starter throughout his career, including the 2025 campaign in Miami. He had 62 tackles, two interceptions and a sack, allowing just a 72.6 passer rating when targeted.
That’s, you know, pretty good.
Incumbent cornerback Mike Sainristill, by contrast, allowed a 109.7 passer rating when targeted. And a 71.3% completion rate.
It’s safe to say that Trey Amos will lock down one outside cornerback spot. The Commanders would surely like Sainristill to develop and secure his position atop the depth chart. They used a second-round pick on him for a reason.
Adding Douglas brings competition and valuable experience to the position group. Whether he’s injury protection, a hedge against Sainristill’s development or quality depth, it’s a good investment.
Signing Douglas won’t break the bank and should add positivity to the locker room culture. There’s no downside to this one, as Peters continues to fortify a defense that simply must be better than it was last season.
