General manager Adam Peters revealed at the annual league meeting that he does not expect much trade activity in the early stages of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, one insider held a very different opinion.
And it may work in the Washington Commanders' favor when push comes to shove.
The Commanders are without a second or fourth round pick in 2026 after their trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil last offseason. While there is no doubt Peters would do that deal again in a heartbeat, it leaves him sort of premium capital. He could stand pat, but the front-office leader will also keep the phones open in case an offer to move back arrives.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz believes that scenario may come to fruition. Based on his conversations with several executives, there could be a flurry of activity in the top half of the first round. He also heard that teams are looking to acquire extra picks later in the draft, given the lack of blue-chip prospects at the top.
"The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources. Several executives I’ve spoken with believe we’re likely to see a flurry of activity in the first half of Round 1.
"Additionally, because this specific draft lacks depth in the later rounds, many teams plan to pursue extra Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, per league sources."
It's a wait-and-see scenario. Peters acknowledged how unpredictable this year's draft is after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. He'll be ready for anything, but it would have to be a pretty decent offer to move off a prospect high on their board.
The Commanders have fewer needs right now after a busy free agency that saw Peters secure 15 new signings. Several others were re-signed to deals, but the hard work is just getting started. Obviously, the more picks you have, the better. At the same time, that doesn't guarantee anything.
Peters is not going to move back just for the sake of it. The Commanders will listen, of course, but unless it meets their valuation and a little extra thrown in for good measure, there's also a chance Washington holds firm to take a legitimate difference-maker at No. 7 overall.
Schultz gets the feeling that it could be a wild opening to the draft. Just what that means for the Commanders won't be confirmed until the big night, but Peters will roll with the punches and do what he believes is best for the franchise.
Fireworks could arrive. If not, Peters will have a plan in place for every eventuality.