The Washington Commanders were always going to be aggressive in free agency. General manager Adam Peters may not have secured every potential target, but he's made the desired improvements over the first wave.
No fewer than 12 new signings have been confirmed so far, and the Commanders still have cash to spend. More arrivals are coming, which is precisely what fans demanded after head coach Dan Quinn's squad failed to meet raised expectations last season.
This will only increase Peters' flexibility during the 2026 NFL Draft, especially at No. 7 overall. The Commanders don't pick until the third round after this, unless there is a trade up or down. Getting it right is crucial, and the front-office leader is no longer picking to fill needs.
Commanders swing for the fences with Jeremiyah Love in FanSided mock draft
That could lead to a dice roll. Cody Williams of FanSided agreed, giving the Commanders a surprise in the form of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in his latest mock draft.
"Hear me out, the way the Commanders have operated so far this offseason has me wondering if this is now very much in play for them. I still think they'd prefer someone like [Rueben] Bain, but there has been some buzz that Dan Quinn and Co. are trying to upgrade the run game. Frankly, I don't think they have someone as capable as [Jeremiyah] Love to do that in the building. It would be a risk, sure, but he also might be the best pure talent in the draft, and there are worse strategies than that."
The Commanders have signed Rachaad White and Jerome Ford on one-year deals to bolster their running back room after Chris Rodriguez Jr. left for the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, that will not prevent Peters from drafting Love if he believes it can help Washington get back among the contenders.
Nothing should be completely dismissed. Taking an edge rusher doesn't seem likely after Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu joined the ranks. Perhaps a wide receiver will be considered, or a defensive back like Caleb Downs or Mansoor Delane. The possibilities are endless, and they definitely include Love.
Some draft analysts don't expect Love to be available when Washington goes on the clock. He's arguably the best overall prospect in this class, boasting unique traits capable of taking the NFL by storm immediately. Taking running backs so high is rare, but there are exceptions.
Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson are two examples who've thrived in the league. Ashton Jeanty was the No. 6 pick last year, and he came 25 rushing yards short of 1,000 as a rookie on a woeful Las Vegas Raiders team. Love could be generational as well, and he made no secret of his excitement about potentially being in the same backfield as quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Time will tell on that one. But if Love is available, the Commanders could do a lot worse.