Nobody expected the Washington Commanders to be sitting at 3-8 during their bye week. Fans were anticipating this club going deep into the playoffs, but a series of factors has prevented head coach Dan Quinn's squad from meeting those expectations.
Injuries have decimated the roster. Adam Peters running it back with the large majority of last season's squad hasn't paid off. The NFL's oldest roster has looked precisely that, and opposing teams have no trouble exploiting their weaknesses.
There are still six games to navigate after the bye, but fans have already turned their attention to the offseason. It is a pivotal one for Peters, and he must get the tough decisions right in pursuit of turning the Commanders' fortunes around.
Washington could have over $100 million in available salary-cap space if the necessary sacrifices are made. Peters only has six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to utilize, with just two of those coming in the opening four rounds.
Not exactly ideal, so Peters has a lot of hard work ahead. With this in mind, we took a look at how the Commanders could approach their selections, using the Pro Football Network simulator, in our bye week 2026 mock draft.
Commanders 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft at the bye week
Commanders draft Caleb Downs
- Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 7
Ideally, the Washington Commanders will trade back for more picks here, or a game-changing player on the front seven, such as Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain Jr., will be available. If neither materializes, general manager Adam Peters could do far worse than examine Caleb Downs' credentials in greater detail.
Although positional value dictates that safeties don't tend to be taken this high, Downs could be an exception. He's a generational talent in a similar mold to Kyle Hamilton, who took the league by storm with the Baltimore Ravens. This is also a grave need for the Commanders, especially considering the alarming regression of Quan Martin in Year 3 of his professional career.
Downs is a legitimate three-down game-changer. He's exceptional in the box against the run. He's instinctive in coverage with a high football IQ and elite athleticism. Whether it was with Georgia or Ohio State, the defensive back has excelled. Adding him to head coach Dan Quinn's scheme looks like a match made in heaven.
The Commanders need help everywhere. If Downs is still available at No. 7 overall, he'd be the best prospect available.
Commanders draft Deontae Lawson
- Linebacker | Alabama Crimson Tide
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 84 (via trade)
As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders should look to trade back for more picks at some stage. That won't be easy with only two selections in the first four rounds, which only makes the process more challenging for general manager Adam Peters.
In this scenario, the Commanders move back in the third round after striking a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This gives them two extra late-rounders to utilize, and they also managed to strengthen their linebacking corps with Deontae Lawson.
Lawson is an experienced player with the athleticism to back it up. He's a well-rounded presence at the second level, physical against the run, and a weapon in coverage and blitz packages. With Bobby Wagner aging and possibly retiring after the campaign, the Commanders need a ready-made replacement to fill the void.
The Commanders need an injection of energy on defense. Lawson would provide that and more.
Commanders draft Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
- Edge Rusher | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 147
The Commanders are in desperate need of explosiveness and dynamism in their edge-rushing room. Dorance Armstrong Jr. was in the midst of a breakout campaign before getting hurt. But aside from that, it's been relatively underwhelming.
Jacob Martin is doing enough to warrant another one-year extension, but he's a rotational weapon being asked to take on starting responsibilities right now. Adam Peters could swing for the fences in free agency, but finding a capable performer via the draft is another strong possibility.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is a physically imposing player who is starting to put it all together on the production side. The Ohio State Buckeyes have given him more of a run this season, and he's rewarded them accordingly. There is still untapped potential, but the trajectory continues to point up for a player with every athletic intangible needed to thrive in the pros.
Commanders draft Ian Strong
- Wide Receiver | Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 161
Finding more productive weapons for quarterback Jayden Daniels is another must for Adam Peters. Several are out of contract and probably won't be back. Others are unproven, so finding some real difference-makers should be high on Washington's list of priorities next spring.
The Commanders will likely identify some targets in free agency. There is growing speculation that Brandon Aiyuk could be headed to Washington if he's released by the San Francisco 49ers as expected. Even so, Peters needs to find a physical force capable of taking the top off defenses if Noah Brown departs.
Ian Strong could be precisely that. He's got the size, speed, and wingspan to be a matchup problem in the pros. If the Rutgers prospect refines his route tree and overall awareness, he's got the scope to be a possible steal who could thrive with Daniels distributing the football in his direction.
Commanders draft Christian Gray
- Cornerback | Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 185
The Washington Commanders could use some help at the cornerback position. Marshon Lattimore could be released with $18.5 million in salary cap savings attached, which is highly likely considering he struggled to meet expectations before suffering a torn ACL.
Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are the only two corners guaranteed to be back. More is undoubtedly required, and although Christian Gray isn't the finished product by any stretch of the imagination, he's got enough solid qualities to become a dependable part of the rotation with additional polish.
Gray is sticky in coverage and anticipates things well. He's not the biggest, so landing in a scheme that suits his strengths is desirable.
Commanders draft Emmett Johnson
- Running Back | Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 198
The Commanders might be on the lookout for another running back at some stage during the offseason. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is doing more than enough for another deal. Although Jacory Croskey-Merritt's production has dipped after a sensational start, he remains an intriguing part of their long-term plans.
Emmett Johnson is in the midst of a fantastic campaign with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He's a dual-threat force with the patience, vision, and contact balance to be a valuable contributor almost immediately. Considering he's projected to be a Day 3 pick right now, someone could have an absolute steal on their hands.
Commanders draft Aaron Graves
- Defensive Line | Iowa Hawkeyes
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 200
Washington could use another young asset in the defensive trenches. This need becomes more glaring if Pro Bowler Daron Payne departs or 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton doesn't show signs of life over the Commanders' remaining six games of the campaign.
Someone like Aaron Graves makes a ton of sense here. He's got four years of starting experience with Iowa, putting up decent numbers and growing in stature each year. There is some technical refinement needed, especially against the run, but his high work ethic should ensure that improvements arrive quickly when he lands his NFL opportunity.
Commanders draft Alex Harkey
- Offensive Tackle | Oregon Ducks
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 221
No team should ever settle on its offensive line, regardless of how well they are performing. The Commanders have a bookend tackle tandem in five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil and first-round rookie Josh Conerly Jr., but depth behind them could be scarce if some veterans leave in free agency.
The Commanders could use another development project to sit and learn behind the starting duo. Alex Harkey is a former teammate of Conerly's at Oregon. He could go a lot higher than this, but Washington would be wise to scoop him up if the athletic edge force makes it this far down the pecking order.