Commanders select Rice WR Luke McCaffrey with pick No. 100 of 2024 NFL Draft

Adam Peters was part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that traded to acquire Christian McCaffrey.

In his first draft as the Washington Commanders general manager, Peters brought another McCaffrey on board.

The Commanders selected Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey with the No. 100 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday night in Detroit, making Christian’s younger brother the final selection of the third round.

Having begun a pivotal draft Thursday by selection LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick, Peters and Co. concluded a busy Day 2 with the McCaffrey pick, which was fifth of the day for the club. Previous to McCaffrey, the Commanders selected Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (No. 36 overall), Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil (50), Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott (53) and TCU guard Brandon Coleman (67).

As for McCaffrey, the Commanders are banking on a successful bloodline running through D.C. with him likely to jump right into the starting lineup in the slot next to Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

Football runs deep in the McCaffrey family. Luke McCaffrey, son of Ed McCaffrey and brother to the noted Niners Pro Bowl running back, is a superb athlete. His impressive 4.46 40-yard dash time and 36-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine demonstrates the professional-level athleticism that the youngest McCaffrey sibling possesses.

McCaffrey spent his early college years trying to become a quarterback at various institutions. However, he eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and became a receiver in his last two years at Rice. In 2022, he topped the charts at Rice with 58 receptions and 903 all-purpose yards. He further improved in 2023, garnering 71 catches for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. His performance earned him a spot on the first-team All-AAC, and he led the conference in receiving touchdowns.

Despite only two years of experience as a receiver, McCaffrey demonstrated impressive acceleration and excellent catching skills. As he’s still adjusting to performing the position at a high level, there’s considerable scope for him to further develop.

The 23-year-old is quite tall, standing at 6-feet-2, and has the potential to build more muscle. However, his reach is not ideal, which restricts his ability to go after the ball. McCaffrey, who mainly played from the slot position at Rice, could serve as a reliable target who won’t shy away from battling for the ball.

His game’s negative aspects, such as the need for quicker transitions in and out of breaks, stem from his novice status in the position. He demonstrated enhancement in route running as he accumulated experience, which should continue to improve.

McCaffrey, a meticulous worker with NFL heritage, has a lot of potential if he maintains his current path.