Ben Standig analyzes the Commanders' NFL Draft direction and team needs

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I saw yesterday you tweeted out two things.

Number one, just real quickly for those that haven't followed it.

Washington did add another player via free agency.

A DB, a corner from the Rams.

Tell everybody about a Keller witherspoon.

Yeah, I mean, this is a classic depth timing.

It's the rare guy that actually added it.

This offseason is over 30, but he's, you know, 31.

They needed depth.

They needed some size.

He's six, two.

This will be his 10th year.

So this is not a guy that I would peg as a potential starter.

But, you know, at a minimum, he gives you a rotation corner back.

And then that's something that's like one of the few things that kind of didn't have going into the draft.

So, you know, it's an easy, easy signing, not a biggie.

But, you know, it's the kind of thing you got to be, you know, paper over at some point.

So we've talked a lot about center ever since Tyler Beatish was let go.

I ended up signing with the chargers.

And yesterday Lloyd Kushenberry, the Titan Center from the last few years, was signed by the bills to a one-year deal.

Now, he did fail a physical in late February, right around the time that Tyler Beatish was let go.

Do you think our team had interest in Kushenberry?

Well, incredibly not wrong.

Didn't the bills at a re-sign are starting center recently in the government?

Yes, he did.

So he would have been one of the big ones in free agency.

Yeah, right.

So Kushenberry signing there suggests to me that he's not ready to play, right?

Because why are he going to be a backup center?

Even here, even if he said I like ready was the starter.

It's not a guy you just paid millions of dollars to.

The way he did it.

So I'm guessing he's just not ready.

And therefore the bills are like, hey, we'll bring in and, you know, let's re-have and we'll see what we are.

That's my guess of what.

Do you still find it a little bit odd?

A little bit odd.

Out of everything that's happened this off season, I'd put releasing Tyler Beatish at the top of the list of,

what the hell happened?

Why did they do this?

Yeah, I mean, you know, it is odd because we didn't necessarily see it coming and they haven't done anything definitively about it.

And yes, they kept aligretty.

Yes, they made a play for Tyler Lindon moment and they didn't do anything.

I mean, if I'm them, you know, not being a town of evaluate, but if I'm them, you know,

once the first couple of centers went off the board, this is a year we're in the draft that's considered to be pretty solid,

effort centers in the ground like three to five.

So basically you tell the people who were available, hey, look, here's the deal.

We're willing to pay you this if you want to take it.

Cool.

It's not we're going to wait for the draft and see where we're at.

I don't think it's that crazy.

It's just, you know, I get it, it feels slightly unsettling because it's the unknown.

But, you know, I think they're still in relatively good shape.

You didn't grasp somebody with that, you know, either that third or fifth round pick or, you know,

there are still some guys out there that, you know, you could use this needed.

I'll pose the question to you that I posed in the first hour of the show today and I did it because,

um, Vic to four.

I don't know if that's how you pronounce his name from the athletic and his mock draft.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

You have Vic paper.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh, he did a mock draft yesterday and this was a new one for me anyway.

At seven, Washington, selects Francis, Malinoa, tackle Miami.

That's just the, can you imagine a month from last night?

If guys like Tate and Delane and Bain are on the board, Downs are on the board and that's who he still had on the board

and Washington takes a tackle.

Now this guy might end up being a guard in the NFL.

He's got shorter arms, but I mean, obviously you're not taking a quarterback and there's not a quarterback worthy of going at number seven.

But there are plenty of linemen that could easily be Ben, the best player on the board.

And what if they stick to their board and draft their board and select an offensive lineman?

What do you think the reaction to that would be?

Well, I think there's zero percent chance.

Especially the way it was.

I saw the mock draft.

I know, Vic.

I saw the mock draft.

He phrased it as being a right tackle and obviously they just drafted honorily.

At least he'd be saying we're playing with guard.

At least when I died, I got it, but okay.

But to be fair to him, I still don't understand it because I had the same reaction you did.

I'm like, what on earth is this?

And then I went back and read the intro.

He was doing it based on like the gambling odds because he used to be there.

I didn't read the premise.

I just saw a mock draft.

But even still, it still doesn't make any sense.

If you're telling me he's the seventh highest odds of being drafted or something,

okay, but there's no chance there's any list that says the best odds to be drafted by Washington is this guy.

He couldn't even crack the top five, I wouldn't think.

So yeah, I don't understand the premise.

If you tell me they trade down out of seven, right?

And then maybe all bets are off.

I could seriously award where they say, hey, we think the best guy out there is an offensive lineman.

We can draft them, put him in guard, and you know, we'll see where tonsil that in a couple of years kind of deal.

But other than that, I would find that hard to believe.

That's right.

So I want to make sure I'm understanding you.

You find it hard to believe that an offensive lineman would be the highest rated player on their board at seven?

No, they would take one.

What if the player is by far and away the highest rated player on their board?

I mean, I don't know what to trade back.

I don't know what their grade system is exactly, but so much better.

I mean, the way I was looking at it is best position, best player available at a position of need.

Do they need an offensive lineman?

I mean, if tonsil was on like the last year of his deal, that might be one thing.

But he's going to be here in theory for three more years.

Conor, they just drafted.

So it doesn't make any sense you're drafting it.

You're basically doing what they grew into adulthood, drafting a guard at seven.

Well, well, Scott McClellan didn't draft a guard.

He thought he was drafting a right tap.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Exactly.

I mean, look, I'm all for the offensive lineman.

They'll get me wrong.

But, you know, between Chris Paul, Brandon Coleman, and let's just say, you've been Nick Allegrede into Wiley,

they should have enough there at left guard to be good and potentially really good at it if Coleman or Paul progress.

So this doesn't make any sense to me now.

All of a sudden, what are you going to do?

Those guys are both going to be on the bench.

That I just doesn't make any sense to me.

Well, it doesn't make any sense.

But here's what does make sense.

They have right now that we know of one player that we would put in the A plus category, the quarterback.

And if they had a player that they all said, this dude's going to be a Hall of Fame guard.

And it's not even close.

Look, I'd be shocked.

I'd be stunned.

But I also wouldn't kill him for it if that was the way they felt about the player.

Because I don't know that they have a Hall of Fame other than Tuncil, potentially Hall of Fame talent on their offensive line.

All right.

Let's go to what you did with your latest mock draft because you put this out after we talked on Monday.

mock draft 6.0 from a two time mock draft champion.

So this would be very interesting to I think a lot of people tell everybody what you did.

Well, similar to the last one, let's clarify here's something.

The premise of the leading was about trade down scenarios because that's obviously what we talk about all the time.

You know, I've talked about that as well.

So I felt like if I'm going to come up with these scenarios, I should at least include one of them in the Washington deal.

If I was holding pad at seven, I would go, here am I a love in this one I had him going up earlier so he wasn't there.

Same thing with sunny style that those would be the two guys that they're there.

I think I'm just going to sit.

Everything else that I think is up for grabs.

So yeah, I mean, I threw out a bunch of different scenarios.

In this one, it was about the dolphins trading up from 11 and long story short,

Washington met an extra third round pick at a third or fourth out of it.

So you get an extra day to selection.

You've got an extra third rounder that they pick up for force sports back.

Oh, right.

Okay.

So, you know, that, you know, it's not it's not around to pick, but you know, it's a top 100 pick.

And, you know, if they're, to me, if you look at their board, you know, I mean, that's as I would guess,

I think at 11, you would still get somebody that they would feel that they didn't go down a tier on.

Maybe it's man's or the lane.

Maybe it's caled down.

You know, it all depends on obviously what, what happens in front of them.

Did you see the couple off in the line?

I'm going to go off the board and they should be fine.

So, to me that would, you know, would make some sense.

And again, if you stand the same level of tier of the player and, you know, from a position,

we just talked about the offensive line is probably something I would say they don't need.

But pretty much there's almost anybody that they would, that they've possibly been looking at,

is a reasonable position of me.

Like it's not like, you know, a core defensive tackle in there.

Quarterback in tackles, we, we feel okay about.

Right, right.

So, yeah, so basically anything else, the receivers, cornerback, safety, even the pass rusher,

I think all of that could be in place.

So, yeah, to me that would be, make some sense.

And the question I did after that, if you drop down below, say 11, you know,

now you're probably going to be getting somebody at the next tier down.

And you cool with that, is that worth it for the pick, especially on defense, I think they still need.

I mean, maybe it's always, but I still would like them to get like a guy on defense

of the other team really has to, you know, pay attention to it all times.

Maybe it's a lead, but I think one of these young kids could be there as well.

And then, by the way, your trade back, you've got them selecting Carnell Tate,

wide receiver, Ohio State.

Was there a reaction positive negative benign to Tate not running 40 at his pro day the other day?

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It doesn't seem like it.

I had one of your Ohio State beatwriters on my podcast the other day.

And he was talking about, you know, that this didn't happen.

And, you know, what the view is.

And he said that, you know, talking to the people there at the pro day

was kind of like, look, we have all the, you know,

next-gen stats data that shows how much it has passed.

I got it running in the game.

You know, it'd be getting north of 20 miles an hour and what have you.

And isn't that, like, kind of matters more than the 40-yard desk,

which is not exactly something that happens.

You know, it's just a one-off situation.

So, yeah, you know, I think it seems we're saying,

hey, we need to see more problems.

He runs, but I'm guessing they didn't care enough

to bring him to feel like he had to go do it.

So, you know, I think the kale down the one

that's a little more interesting, I mean, at this point,

he didn't run again.

He didn't run to the combine either.

You know, I don't buy that these,

the rumors about his knee seem to be,

his potentially a notable knee,

he seems to be not even just going to be overstated,

but just completely false of all levels.

That said, to not run 40 twice is, you know,

kind of interesting that he wouldn't do there.

Yeah.

I mean, especially when there is that, you know, potential,

and he spoke to it right and said to have no idea

where this sort of, you know, emanated from.

In terms of the potential injury.

Yeah, and he did do with me drills,

well, he was air, I mean, it was no like,

from what I gathered, there was no sign of him,

you know, any kind of lamp or him being slow

and doing all the other defensive back kind of drills,

he just didn't do the 40.

Right.

We're talking to Ben standing, of course.

You know, we're in that period now where the top 30 visits

are happening and we usually get a list of the players

that they are choosing to bring in on a top 30 visit.

The most famous top 30 visit, of course,

is when they had Jaden and a few other players

and they went to top golf and that became quite the story

there for a few days.

But anything interesting about the players that they've brought in,

do you have a quick list of who they've brought in so far?

Well, as far as I know, they haven't brought in anybody.

They're doing the, you know, probably doing something

you can do another group outing down the line here.

So as far as I know, they haven't brought anybody in.

They've done like a private workout with,

at least I know McIleman, the USC receiver,

and probably others.

But, you know, look, you know, like I reported that,

you know, sunny styles, is it going to come in for a visit?

You know, Denzel Boston a later round for a surrounding pick.

Basically, anybody who's going to be in the top 10,

I would be stunned outside of the quarterback or something,

I'd be stunned if they weren't showing up to their 30 visit

and then beyond that, you know, what positions like receiver,

you know, edge cornerback,

like these would be things you would think,

okay, well, that's probably a position you're going to take later on.

So, yeah, I mean, I think to this one,

it's, well, I get it.

We all get worked up to a degree and I'm reporting it,

but I don't think it's going to be a huge deal there.

It'd be a bigger deal if somebody's guys don't show up.

You know, if Carl Tader kale becomes,

don't go, it's like, that's weird, what's up with that?

Yeah, I'm looking.

Denzel Boston's a receiver at a Washington

that I've talked about a lot going back to when they played Maryland.

I'm like, this guy really does look the part.

He's a big dude, 64 really good hands.

We're receiving projected mid to late first round.

Yeah, sort of like 20 to 40.

Yeah.

Yeah, the top 30 visits,

I think people are kind of looking for clues

like who they brought in before

and what did it, you know,

did it match up to who they took

or was it more, you know, of a head fake?

By the way, it's quite the logistical challenge.

I would imagine for these players that are being asked

by, you know, double digit teams to come

to their top 30, you know,

interviews slash workouts.

I mean, are there any rules around it

with respect to players?

I mean, I think it just travels as they need to

or want to, you know, yeah,

it is sort of the,

like at least for the football players

it's mostly just show up to talk at that point.

Like it's not really, like,

not typically I don't do like workouts or anything.

Or like when the bat,

for the basketball,

it's the same amount of crazy travel

except everywhere you go,

they want you to work out

and it puts you through a pretty rigorous

workout so that's got to be crazy.

But yeah, like I said,

I mean, you know,

all these guys will be coming in

and, you know,

you would imagine,

and, you know,

yeah, there's always fun to look for clues

and try to figure out,

compare to other years,

you know, what happens.

But, you know,

look, they've also met with these guys

at the combine,

some of them at the senior bowl,

or on campus,

at their pro days,

whatever.

So, you know,

this is, you know,

it's all just part of the puzzle

but it's not necessarily the end result.

You wrote something

or in answering an email,

I think you said it.

But,

is it possible that they're viewing

after Terry McClauren,

Chigakon, quote,

as kind of their number two pass receiver?

Yeah, I mean,

I do wonder, you know,

if you look here,

okay, we all would say,

they probably are not settled

at that second outside receiver

with Terry McClauren,

and I'm sure they would agree as well,

and that's why we're considering

they take a receiver at seven.

But, you know,

I think there's a world

where they think,

hey, Chigakon,

what was going to be,

something we didn't have last year,

an athletic presence,

over the middle,

we know about the yak,

that he can provide.

If he can do that,

and we have not,

the Army Brown speed,

to use when we need to,

we have, you know,

trailing birds,

is that, you know,

jump all athleticism,

and bench represents

a solid guy.

Like, it's not that those guys,

they're all fine players,

you just have to know how to use them

and use them in a role.

So, yeah, if they think Chigakon,

quote, could be sort of,

but, you know,

give them that second target,

that they just really didn't have

last year,

beyond sort of the first,

you know, five yards,

then, you know,

that could be a way to look at it.

I also wonder if,

you know,

we're all kind of,

sort of, you're wondering,

you know, what's up,

have been Senate now,

how does this play out?

You know, the league last year

was more towards 12

and 13 personnel,

often,

and if you don't have,

if you don't end up

with that obvious second receiver,

you know, maybe that's the way

to do it.

Senate is nothing if not athletic.

Chigakon is as well,

so, you know,

if it's a matchup deal,

you know,

force the other team to,

you know, play you

with more,

you know,

four or three kind of looks,

and then take your

tight end with speed,

and go,

put them on the linebacker

outside.

So, you know,

there are still other ways

that they could go

that they don't have to just be,

they go out and get

Cornell Tater,

Richard Jennings,

or somebody like that,

or Joanne Jennings,

sorry,

but, yeah,

I would still say,

why would he recruit two to me

is the big question.

Before I let you go,

anything on your mind

that we haven't talked about?

No, I just,

I think the giant,

five or a question,

but sometimes I know

you're itching to talk

about something,

and sometimes it has

nothing to do with the team,

which is fine.

Yeah, no,

I'll just say with the team,

I mean,

I just think the giant

is five to me

or such a fascinating

pick,

I feel like they could take

four different players,

and I would,

each one,

I could justify for them,

and obviously it matters

because of,

you know,

they're watching,

it's picking two slots

later,

and, you know,

you could tell me

it's sunny-style,

because based on

John Harbaugh's history,

he's more likely to,

you know,

add somebody

like in the middle,

there,

than, like, say,

running back at five,

they take the second

receivers early,

but I don't know,

Colonel Tate looks

like he's got a high floor,

but I don't know where

the ceiling is,

cable down,

and, you know,

again, I think he could be

a leader for that back seven,

except, anyway,

my point is,

until we sort of sort

out where the giant

are,

it's sort of hard for me to say,

that's going to happen

here,

as long as Jeremiah Love

gets by the Titans,

then it seems pretty

interesting,

because I don't know why

the giant would take him,

other than the fact,

I get it,

he's really good,

but, I don't know,

I just don't seem like,

that makes sense for them,

and this is also where the

money part comes in,

the fifth take is going to

cost X amount for Jeremiah Love,

that means he's probably

like a top ten high paid

running back day one.

Yeah.

You know, is that,

is that makes sense for

your versus, you know,

Colonel Tate plays

a position where,

I think it's like

there are different players

making worth of 20 million.

So,

and then again,

you know,

styles might be the best

player in this class,

but again,

all fall linebacker,

and they sign in

for main Edmonds.

So, I just think the

giant's, to me,

is kind of where my head

that right now,

trying to figure out what makes

sense there,

and that little,

whatever that nut is cracked,

it'll help solve,

you know,

what the option to realistically

are going to be here.

The other day,

I just, I did a segment,

which I've called,

just give me your number one,

NFL 2026 Hunt.

It doesn't have to have,

to do with,

with our team at all.

And one of mine,

was,

I just don't buy the

giants.

And what's odd about that

is I've always felt

in recent years

that their roster was

underrated.

And I,

and I do think it's a good

roster.

I just don't,

see it with Jackson Dart,

not to mention that

he basically is in the

blue tent every other week

that he plays.

And I think there's

going to be a lot of hype

about the giants going

into the season.

Do you have a hunch,

just an early March,

late March Hunt,

about the 2026 NFL season?

No, I,

and the Giants one is

fast because I do agree

that they're going to be,

especially if they take

love, I think the hype

is going to be significant.

And it's potentially

worthy, but I'm with you.

The quarterback is,

I'm not sold on him.

I don't know,

he's back in the Super Bowl.

That was my number one.

That was my number one.

Yeah, I mean, I, I don't,

just because you see my

homes throwing a couple

past that doesn't mean he's

ready to play week one.

But, you know, it's got

obviously got months

to go.

And, you know,

what is the really time

of it?

Say, never underestimate

the heart of the

champions.

Yeah.

I just, I just don't imagine

the teams are going to have

another year like they did.

And, you know, getting

Kenneth Walker,

helps will see what they do.

They've got, you know,

two first round picks.

I mean, you know,

they can easily

play a lot of games.

They can easily

play a lot of games.

I mean, you know,

they can easily

change the,

change the look of that

offense.

And, if my home is

ready, be back at the top.

And, a lot of people

I'm sure will go to the

season thinking, wow,

now come on.

Which is dead.

Well, we'll see.

Yeah.

Thanks for doing this.

Appreciate it.

I will talk to you,

perhaps before Monday.

We'll see.

Thanks.

You rock man.

Thanks.

Ben Standing,

everybody at Ben Standing

on X on Twitter.

So, that tweet came out

about the uniform stuff

yesterday.

I'll tell you what I learned

about what may be coming

on April 15th,

as it relates to

our team's new uniforms.

That's next, Kevin Sheen,

show the team 980

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