The college football season is finally back. And even though the draft process is probably the furthest thing from the minds of Washington Commanders fans right now, that will not be the case inside the organization.
General manager Adam Peters' scouting and personnel evaluation department will already be compiling reports, gathering references, and identifying potential prospects of interest in the coming months. Hundreds of NFL hopefuls will come under the microscope, and even though not everyone eligible will declare for the draft, now is the time to surge their stock.
The Commanders have a lot at stake this season. Peters won't be thinking too far ahead right now. There is a long way to go and a lot of football to be played before the draft becomes more important, but Washington will no doubt have a plethora of needs to address.
At least Peters has his full arsenal of picks next year.
He's resisted the urge to make trades, preserving his picks to improve hopes of long-term prosperity. But if the Commanders are picking No. 11, as the Pro Football and Sports Network's mock draft simulator expects, there is just no telling where things might go.
To celebrate the triumphant return of college football, we put together our first seven-round 2027 mock draft, which starts with some help in the trenches.
Commanders 2027 NFL mock draft starts with a defensive trench injection
Commanders draft David Stone
- Defensive Line | Oklahoma Sooners
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 11
The Washington Commanders' new-look defense will only go as far as the trenches take them in 2026. Daronte Jones has three capable veterans to call upon this season, but what comes in the future remains to be seen.
Daron Payne is still around. He wasn't traded or cut, but the Commanders are not giving him an early extension. This makes it a contract year for the Pro Bowler, and it'll be interesting to see if he does enough for another lucrative financial commitment.
Javon Kinlaw looks like a prime cut candidate if he cannot step things up. Tim Settle Jr. should still be on the books in 2027, but Johnny Newton's torn pectoral injury might be enough to see him removed from the equation if the right improvements can be found.
Building from the inside out is always the key to prolonged success. And it would be surprising if David Stone wasn't one of the first names taken if the desired growth arrives this season.
Stone is an aptly named prospect. He's got the size, length, and mass associated with productive NFL defensive linemen. The Oklahoma prospect's explosiveness off the snap is extraordinary, and his versatility to play anywhere along the front is something that Jones could put to good use.
If he can become a better processor and improve technically, Stone will be a first-round lock.
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