Commanders' pivotal draft decision already looks like a three-horse race

Draft capital creates flexibility. A lack of it creates urgency.

As things stand, Adam Peters is scheduled to enter the 2026 NFL Draft with just six total selections. That reality sharpens every decision, especially at the top, where the Washington Commanders currently sit at No. 7 overall.

Whether Peters elects to stay put, slide back for volume, or maneuver around the board will depend on how the class stacks and how the board falls. But if Washington is on the clock at seven, the conversation narrows quickly.

This is not a draft where Washington can afford to miss on a foundational piece. The roster is no longer hollow — the quarterback position has direction. What remains is elevating the defense with a player who changes how opponents game plan.

That leads to a clear this-or-that discussion built around three very different, but equally impactful, defensive prospects.

Commanders' first-round draft choice could come down to three candidates

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs would enter the Commanders with a level of expectation rarely attached to the safety position. The comparison is unavoidable and well-earned, as he would be the most naturally gifted safety to wear a Washington uniform since Sean Taylor in the mid-2000s.

Downs plays the game with rare clarity and controlled violence. He tackles everything that moves and arrives with intent, but what separates him is how many roles he can fill without compromising structure.

The Ohio State prospect can play single-high safety and erase mistakes. He can drop into the slot to neutralize wide receivers and tight ends. He can also attack the fringe areas and shut down perimeter run concepts before they develop.

Ohio State asked him to do everything, and Downs handled it without looking overstretched. His ball production matches the film. His range shows up snap after snap. He's a flat-out impact player from the moment he steps onto NFL-branded turf.

In Washington, Downs would immediately improve all three levels of the new-look defense in 2026, providing the coaching staff with answers rather than questions. You don't draft him to fill a hole. You draft him to reshape how you defend space.

Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey

If the priority is affecting the quarterback without needing help, David Bailey makes a compelling case.

A Stanford transfer who became the heartbeat of Texas Tech’s defense, Bailey was arguably the best pure pass rusher in college football this season with 81 pressures and 15 sacks. His performance against Oregon in the playoff quarter-final told the full story. Even in a loss, he controlled his side of the line of scrimmage, consistently disrupting timing on all three downs.

His explosiveness off the edge is real. He bends cleanly, and his approach to each rep showcases a player mature in his craft. What separates Bailey, however, is that when he can't reach the quarterback, he still impacts plays, getting his hands up in passing lanes and forcing altered throws.

What makes Bailey especially appealing is his discipline. He has a high understanding of run-pass option structure and has no issue closing from the backside on run concepts away from him. For the Commanders, he would be a three-down edge defender from Day 1, not a situational specialist.

Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

Rueben Bain Jr. is the hardest to project of the three and potentially the most destructive. A prospect built in the mold of a Mack truck at over 270 pounds, the defensive lineman is a tweener by traditional standards, but an absolute game wrecker no matter where he aligns when you flip on his tape.

Not only is he the most powerful pass rusher in the class, but he's also one of the elites in stopping the run on early downs, as well. That combination, despite potential weight concerns or a lack of arm length, showcases blue-chip, top-of-the-class talent across all defensive structures.

Miami moved him up and down the front, and it rarely mattered. Bain dominated in isolation. He held his ground against double teams. At times, teams allocated three bodies to limit impact.

Bain’s versatility allows a defense to stay flexible without having to substitute. He can play on the edge, reduce inside, and anchor against the run while still generating interior pressure. For Washington, he would immediately raise the physical floor of the defense and give the front seven an identity they've longed for.