ASHBURN, Va. -- The 2023 NFL draft was held Thursday through Sunday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

ESPN provided pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Washington Commanders' selections:

Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

Round 1, No. 16: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

My take: Washington entered the draft wanting to take a corner or an offensive lineman in the first round. When there was a run on tackles early, and the top four tackles were gone by the time the Commanders selected, corner became a strong option. And they got the guy they considered the second-best corner in the draft, behind Illinois' Devon Witherspoon. The Commanders needed more depth at the position alongside starters Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste. Fuller is a free agent after the season. Forbes provides the Commanders something they didn’t have: a consistent playmaker in the secondary. That will pair well behind a line that can apply pressure.

Key stat: Six. That’s the number of passes Forbes returned for touchdowns at Mississippi State, an FBS record. He picked off a total of 14 passes in his college career, and he did it by being around the ball, grabbing tipped passes and errant throws. Washington’s corners combined for four interceptions last season and only seven in the past two years combined. The Commanders ranked 28th in the NFL with nine total interceptions last season. One way to help their offense? Take the ball away. Forbes provides that opportunity.

Will he start as a rookie? That’s hard to say with veterans St-Juste and Fuller returning. But Washington plays a lot of nickel sets so Forbes will play a considerable amount. He’s best suited for the outside, so the question then becomes: Who will play inside? Fuller has been an effective slot corner in the past and as little as two years ago. But he seems more comfortable in their zone match system on the outside. St-Juste played in the slot early last season before he moved to the outside for good.

Round 2, No. 47 overall: Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois

My take: Washington needed to restock its defensive backfield, particularly at corner where it lacked depth -- but has now selected two corners in the first two rounds. It’s a somewhat curious move by a team that has some other holes, but Washington entered wanting to focus on adding more talent, not just filling holes. Martin, who goes by "Quan", offers versatility because he can play in the slot as well as at safety -- a role filled by Bobby McCain last season before Washington cut McCain him in the offseason. Martin is considered a good slot corner. The team's first-round pick, Forbes, will play on the outside.

Will he start as a rookie? Washington’s philosophy is that its first- and second-round picks should come in and start. That means Martin should become their starting nickel corner. But that also means the Commanders could have some decisions to make at corner. Veteran Fuller, entering the last year of his contract, has started here for the past three seasons. The Commanders would save $8.5 million if they cut him. Washington also has St-Juste who can start on the outside. Regardless, Washington has added talent and speed to its secondary in the first two picks. Now it must focus on finding help elsewhere.

Round 3, No. 97*: Ricky Stromberg, C/G, Arkansas

My take: Washington needed more help on the offensive line, so taking Stromberg is a good move. But they signed Nick Gates in free agency to play center (although he can play guard). Though Stromberg can also play guard -- he played both guard spots in addition to center at Arkansas -- his best spot appears to be center. So, it’s possible he just adds depth right now more than instant help. But the Commanders desperately needed to add more young bodies along the line. They really only have one starting job -- left guard -- up for grabs. But it’s possible Stromberg or even Gates could end up there if others fail to win the job.

Will he start as a rookie? That’s really hard to say because Stromberg does offer some versatility as do others up front. But his addition could mean the end for veteran Chase Roullier. The one-time starting center has ended the past two seasons on injured reserve. After signing Gates and drafting Stromberg, it’s hard to know where Roullier fits. Washington would save $4.32 million if it cut Roullier. The Commanders also have veteran guard Andrew Norwell, but it’s also hard to see where he fits. The Commanders also have Saahdig Charles and Chris Paul to compete at guard. Releasing Norwell, which seems likely, would save Washington $2.28 million against the cap.

Round 4, No. 118: Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah

My take: Washington needed more help along the offensive line and added it with Daniels. He showed at Utah that he could play tackle, as well as guard. The Commanders love positional flexibility. And they also want to add linemen who are adept at zone blocking, something Daniels showed he could do in college. The question is: Will he be a guard or a tackle? Left guard remains open for Washington. If he works out there, Daniels could challenge holdovers Chris Paul and Saahdiq Charles for the position -- though Daniels at 294 pounds would probably need to add weight inside. Daniels was selected one round after Stromberg; the team also signed likely starters Andrew Wylie (tackle) and Nick Gates (center) in free agency.

Round 5, No. 137 (from Arizona through Buffalo): K.J. Henry, DE, Clemson

My take: Washington was disappointed in the development of 2021 low-round picks Shaka Toney and Will Bradley-King at defensive end. The Commanders wanted more youth to develop at the position behind starters Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Washington also has a lot of questions beyond this season, with both Sweat and Young in the last year of their contracts. Henry, a captain at Clemson, provides someone they can try to groom -- which is why they traded back into the fifth round to draft him. He has good length and did a nice job off the edge for Clemson, with the ability to win with inside rushes as well. There would be questions about his ability to defend the run, so it's possible Henry is more of a situational pass rusher than a future starter. That would still be a win if he produces in that role.

Round 6, No. 193: Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky

My take:: Washington didn’t need a starting running back with Brian Robinson. and Antonio Gibson, on the roster, but the Commanders needed more depth. Rodriguez isn’t a replacement for J.D. McKissic, whom Washington cut in the offseason. Rodriguez offers a more powerful running style and wasn’t much of a receiver at Kentucky. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry in five seasons with the Wildcats. He could provide help in short-yardage situations. The Commanders want to run the ball more with new coordinator Eric Bieniemy, so building depth is wise. Gibson is a free agent after the season. Washington could use a smaller change-of-pace back as well, but the Commanders are helped by Gibson’s versatility.

Round 7, No. 233: Andre Jones Jr., DE, Louisiana

My take: Similar to Washington drafting KJ Henry in the fifth round. Washington wants to develop more young edge rushers. It’s not just Montez Sweat and Chase Young who will be free agents after next season. So, too, will backups James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill. That’s why they need to develop young players; it will be hard to pay everyone. Jones provides length with 34 ¼-inch arms, a good trait for an edge rusher. Jones played six years of college football at Louisiana and will turn 25 in October. Though Washington needs more off-the-ball linebackers, Jones said he's at his best moving forward as an edge rusher.

* Compensatory selection