Commanders draft Ethan Onianwa
- Offensive Line | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 202
No team should ever settle along the offensive line. Adam Peters recognized this fact during the offseason, spending the No. 29 pick on Josh Conerly Jr. and trading for Laremy Tunsil to form the Washington Commanders' new bookend tackle tandem.
This looks like tremendous business so far. Tyler Biadasz remains the glue guy at center, and Sam Cosmi is set to make a triumphant return from a torn ACL in the coming weeks. Even Chris Paul is staking a strong case after the Commanders surged him into the starting left guard position.
Keeping continuity should be the primary objective. Peters should also find upgrades to the team's depth if injuries occur. Although he is far from the finished product, Ethan Onianwa has the physical profile to become something more with enhanced coaching.
Onianwa is a massive presence with the ability to play on the edge or the interior. He mirrors oncoming rushers well and boasts the brute strength needed to hold his ground on running plays. Once his footwork and pad level are improved, it's all systems go.
Commanders draft Isaiah Horton
- Wide Receiver | Alabama Crimson Tide
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 211
The Commanders will need more at the receiver position in 2026. Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane will be back, but Deebo Samuel Sr. and Noah Brown are out of contract with their futures uncertain.
If Samuel keeps up his current pace, the Commanders should extend him. Brown is injury-prone, so identifying a rough diamond with similar traits later in the draft could be the smart way to go.
Isaiah Horton is a 6-foot-3 wideout with a large wingspan that makes him incredibly difficult to cover in red-zone situations. Enhancing his route tree could unlock even more from the Alabama prospect once he gets to the pros.
Commanders draft Bryson Washington
- Running Back | Baylor Bears
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 215
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has taken the NFL by storm through five weeks. The Commanders could have found the steal of the 2025 draft if the same trend continues, but there are questions elsewhere in the running back room.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is the most likely to stick around. Jeremy McNichols is aging and seen more as a special-teamer these days. Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 and probably won't be back once his contract expires.
That could lead Peters to another late-round running back following his success with Croskey-Merritt. Bryson Washington fits the bill, with his two highly productive seasons at Baylor sure to attract interest when the 2026 pre-draft process begins.
Commanders draft Eli Stowers
- Tight End | Vanderbilt Commodores
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 234
This could be veteran tight end Zach Ertz's last season. He's still playing well, but age eventually catches up to everyone. John Bates and Ben Sinnott are long-term pieces. That won't be sufficient if Colson Yankoff cannot refine his skill set.
Eli Stowers has more intrigue than most projected Day 3 picks. He started his college career at tight end before spending two years at quarterback. A switch to Vanderbilt saw him move back to his original position, and there's been a lot to like about his improved route-running and dependable hands.
Stowers is quickly picking up the nuances and timing. There are significant improvements needed as a blocker, but the Commanders have Bates and Sinnott to address this.