General manager Adam Peters heads into the 2026 NFL Draft with six selections. However, only two of those are in the first four rounds after the Washington Commanders traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
He would do that again, even if it doesn't make his task any easier when it comes time to select his next batch of college prospects. And despite the projections around the media, Peters believes moving back for additional capital might not be an option.
This is one of the more unpredictable drafts at the top end, at least after Indiana prospect Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders. No other signal-caller is projected to go in the top 10. In some mock drafts, another quarterback isn't seen until the second round.
Adam Peters doesn't expect much trade activity for the Commanders at No. 7
Considering the Commanders are picking at No. 7 and not again until No. 71, that's a complication. Peters freely admitted at the annual league meeting that he has no idea how things will play out in front of them. Even so, he didn't envisage many opportunities for movement if he's looking to recoup some assets.
"I have no idea who's gonna be there at seven right now. I mean, there's a couple guys that I know are gonna be gone, but then how that goes after that, I don't know.
"I don't know that there's gonna be a lot of moving around or moving back. I wouldn't anticipate it."
This is a sensible assessment. Teams typically only move up for quarterbacks or potential superstars. There aren't many of them in this class, and those picking in the top five need them more than any picks.
The Commanders will play the board effectively with several options in mind, depending on how things shake out. A trade back couldn't be ruled out entirely, but this is a supply-and-demand scenario.
The demand is not there, even if the supply is. This is perceived as a bad draft for quarterbacks, which has a ripple effect. Next year, it's a different story, but that doesn't help the Commanders right now.
Washington still has plenty of salary-cap space to fill out the remaining holes after the draft. That'll be at the back of Peters' mind, so he'll be looking to take the best prospects available. And there should still be some immediate difference-makers with long-term upside on the board when the Commanders go on the clock.
There are a lot of uncertainties. But any fans clamoring for a trade back might be out of luck.