Commanders add to DL with Phidarian Mathis in 2nd round
The Washington Commanders selected Alabama defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 47 overall.
Mathis is coming off his first full season as a starter for the Crimson Tide. He racked up 53 tackles (10.5 for loss) and nine sacks through 14 games last year.
He adds immediate depth to one of the NFL's most explosive defensive lines, which is led by defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat and interior linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The latter two also spent their collegiate careers at Alabama.
Washington recently signed Allen to a long-term extension, but Payne is entering the fifth year of his rookie contract in 2022. The Commanders, who lost Young to a torn ACL midway through last season, racked up 38 sacks in 2021.
Scouting profile: Phidarian Mathis
| School | Height | Weight | 40 time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6'4 | 310 | DNP |
The run game may be less of a factor in today's NFL, but not being able to defend it can still derail a team's campaign. Mathis is the kind of player who will help you avoid any such issues. Not only is he a stout presence who is difficult to move off the ball, but he's an experienced two-gap lineman with the processing ability to find the ball, stack, and shed to make the play himself. Mathis can push the pocket at times and plays with an impressive effort level, so he may tally some sacks, too. But he'll mainly contribute to the rushing game, where he should have an immediate and long-lasting impact.