Commanders draft Eric McAlister
- Wide Receiver | TCU Horned Frogs
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 187
Adding to the wide receiver group should also be considered at some stage during the draft. The Washington Commanders have several questions to answer, with some prominent veterans out of contract and others representing unknown quantities until further notice.
Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane are the only three on Washington's active roster under contract for next season. Deebo Samuel Sr. could be extended if the money works, and Treylon Burks is another who could get another year if he shows enough over the second half of 2025.
Either way, the Commanders need another young weapon. Eric McAlister has the size and scope to be molded into something more. He's a matchup nightmare once early momentum is generated, and the wideout is also emerging as a red-zone threat to enhance his influence further.
This represents a ton of value here, but McAlister could go much higher.
Commanders draft Wydett Williams Jr.
- Safety | Ole Miss Rebels
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 200
The Commanders' safety room remains an enigma. There is no telling what Washington's long-term future holds on the backend, with young players not getting the required time on the field and veterans underperforming.
Quan Martin's breakout campaign hasn't come close to being achieved. Jeremy Reaves is solid enough, but Will Harris' injury has impacted the stability. Tyler Owens and Percy Butler have been utilized more on special teams, despite their athletic attributes warranting additional involvement in the rotation.
Wydett Williams Jr. is an intriguing prospect. The physical, hard-hitting defensive back transferred to Ole Miss this offseason, and he's coped exceptionally well with the rigors of SEC competition. He remains a work in progress, but the trajectory is only pointing up.
Williams could stay in school to bolster his chances of going higher. But if he declares, the Commanders could do a lot worse at this stage of the draft process.
Commanders draft Fernando Carmona Jr.
- Offensive line | Arkansas Razorbacks
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 222
The Commanders' offensive line could use a slight makeover during the 2026 offseason. This has greater significance on the interior, which has put a strain on the team's consistency and depth in front of either Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota.
Sam Cosmi and Tyler Biadasz remain rooted in their respective spots. Things are less clear at the left guard spot, although Chris Paul is doing enough for another extension. Regardless, the Commanders need to fortify their depth to ensure they can navigate injury problems when they inevitably arise.
Finding a development piece later in the draft is an option to consider. Fernando Carmona Jr. ticks those boxes, with his size, power, and brute force representing a solid foundation from which to build.
Carmona needs to work on the technical aspect of his game. His footwork can be his undoing at times, so expecting miracles right away would be unrealistic. However, if the Commanders can bring him along gradually in this scenario, they might have another steal on their hands.