The Washington Commanders will have no shortage of options to choose from when they select at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially on the defensive side of the ball. After last season's unit finished dead-last in yards allowed, it will be imperative to improve the personnel for first-year coordinator Daronte Jones.
Elite pass-rushing prospects Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey will be under heavy consideration. They are both potential game-wreckers who can transform a defense. But for the Commanders, there's one name that keeps on coming up in mocks, a prospect who has the upside to be special.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Commanders select Caleb Downs in Matt Miller's latest 2026 mock draft
Matt Miller of ESPN's latest mock has Washington taking Downs at No. 7, which seems to have become quite the popular projection. Obviously, a lot can change between now and late April. But if he's there, he's going to be hard to pass up.
"There might be criticism of a team using a top-10 pick on a safety, but this draft class lacks a ton of elite top-end talent at the premium positions. And Commanders coach Dan Quinn needs to tighten up a defense that allowed a league-worst 384.0 yards per game. Downs is a difference-maker in the mold of Derwin James Jr. or Kyle Hamilton who can dictate what an offense is able to do but also be a matchup problem in multiple alignments."Matt Miller, ESPN
The fit in Washington for Downs makes perfect sense. The Commanders' safeties were perhaps their single biggest positional weakness during the 2025 season. Quan Martin was supposed to be a breakout candidate, and he regressed badly. Will Harris missed eight games and was uninspiring when he played.
The Commanders had to start Jeremy Reaves, normally a special teams ace, eight times. He might have been the team's best safety, but as beloved as he is in Washington, you don't want him to be your best option.
With Downs in the fold, he won't have to be. A great safety can not only bring his own high-level production to a team, but can also make life easier for everyone around him.
The Buckeyes standout fits the bill. Washington should be chomping at the bit if he is available. And due to positional value, there's a good chance, arguably, the best prospect in the 2026 draft class will be there for the taking.
It's still early in the pre-draft process, but a clear favorite seems to be emerging as the Commanders' first-round pick. It's Downs, and he's got the athletic profile to thrive in the projected scheme Jones plans to run.