The Washington Commanders had an interesting NFL Draft, with many pundits believing that the franchise reached for some of their picks, most notably for wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who some had as more of a second-round selection.

However, the Commanders managed to find a couple of values with their next two picks, selecting a pair of Alabama standouts in defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis and running back Brian Robinson Jr.

While Dotson figures to occupy a large role in year one simply due to the lack of depth at the wide receiver spot, projecting the roles for the Commanders' other rookies isn't as simple.

That said, this rookie sleeper will make a huge impact in the 2022 NFL season.

Commanders Rookie Sleeper For 2022 NFL Season

The Commanders' rookie sleeper in the 2022 NFL season is Alabama's Phidarian Mathis. Taken in the second round, Mathis is a 6-4, 313-pound defensive tackle capable of playing on all three downs.

The mammoth tackle didn't start until his senior season due to the depth on the Crimson Tide line, but he excelled in a leading role on the interior for Alabama, earning second-team All-American honors while tallying nine sacks.

Not only is Mathis powerful, but he also has a seemingly never-ending motor, which will help to wear down opposing offensive lines while consistently putting him in a position to make plays.

While Mathis doesn't project to rack up sacks at the pro level, he should be a consistent source of pressure on the quarterback up the middle, which is the next best thing.

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The Commanders' defense went from one of the league's best in 2020 to one of its worst the following year. One of the reasons for their decline in performance? Their ability to pressure the quarterback. Per Pro Football Reference, the Commanders ranked ninth in pressure rate, though they fell to 19th in that area this past season.

It's not due to personnel, as the Commanders have Pro Bowl-level talents in Chase Young and Jonathan Allen, as well as capable starters in Montez Sweat. With Daron Payne also in the mix, the Commanders have the potential to have a strong rotation of players on the interior- all three of whom are Alabama products.

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The defensive line powered this Washington defense to a playoff berth two years ago- and the front office recognized that, beefing up what was already a promising line with the selection of Mathis.

Even if the Crimson Tide star consistently creates pressure up the middle and clogs running lanes on early downs, he'll be a difference-maker. Mathis doesn't have to fill up the stat sheet for his rookie year to be considered a success.

The opportunity is there for him to make a big impact in the 2022 NFL season.