While general manager Adam Peters and the Washington Commanders have continued to build the roster elsewhere, adding a few youth-infused playmakers at the edge spot continues to look like a position of focus in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Although Dorance Armstrong Jr. has been sensational through the first month of the campaign, the injury to Deatrich Wise Jr., the age of Von Miller, and the lack of intriguing depth showcase a lack of pass-rush talent in the nation's capital.
Things will undoubtedly change as boards adjust, sources share news, and the college football season concludes, but here are three early names — on each day of the selection process — Commanders fans should keep on their radar as the campaign progresses.
Commanders can find another long-term edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft
Day 1: LT Overton, Alabama
A player that could have been drafted had he declared in 2025, LT Overton is a physically impressive prospect with the versatility to make an impact on all three downs early in his career.
At 6-foot-5 and 283 pounds, Overton carries the kind of mass that allows him to win with power easily. He’s not built like a speed-only edge rusher; he looks like an old-school defensive lineman with the movement skills of a modern one.
He's comfortable lining up outside the tackle, shaded over the tight end, or even reduced inside against guards. His size makes him difficult to displace, and his quick first step allows him to generate push from multiple alignments.
His mass would give the Commanders a defender who can stay on the field all three downs without being schemed off in the run game. Unlike lighter edge players who need sub-package deployment, Overton provides a sturdy base edge defender who can both set the tone physically and kick inside on passing downs to create mismatches.
Day 2: Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Another physically impressive prospect, you'll quickly catch onto the theme here: Peters and company eye a specific build in their edge defenders.
At 268 pounds (verified summer measurements), Gabe Jacas is a powerful yet agile pass rusher with a deep arsenal of counters and body movements to work around or through offensive tackles.
As of writing, he's amassed 19.5 sacks in his four-year career for the Fighting Illini. The spotlight will only continue to shine on his game as Illinois sits in the hunt for not only a spot in the college football playoffs, but also a Big Ten title.
Jacas has the strength at the point of attack to hold up on early downs, with the bend and nuance to threaten either shoulder in designated passing situations. For Commanders' head coach Dan Quinn, that's a combo worth spending capital on here on Day 2 — where they added Johnny Newton, another Illinois prospect, in 2024.
Day 3: Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame
Peters went into the crop of pass-rushers from South Bend in 2024 with Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and Boubacar Traore could be next in line.
As teams progress into the latter rounds of the draft process, they tend to identify players with traits that need development. Often, certain prospects are selected who are favorites of specific regional scouts or a coach who happened to watch some tape of a player following the grueling schedule of an NFL season.
Either way, finding contributors in these four rounds can often take a competitive or playoff-level roster into a potential Super Bowl-winning one. It's where organizations can showcase their scouting acumen, identifying players that the other 31 teams overlooked.
For Traore, he's a dynamic athlete at the five-technique position. He looks the part at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds or more. If the metaphorical light bulb switches in his head, look out.
Still only a redshirt sophomore, the Boston native in Traore could opt to return to school, but the size and traits are all there for him to make an impact at the NFL level should he indeed declare following his 2025 season.
Additional names to watch:
- Mikail Kamara, Indiana
- Damon Wilson II, Missouri
- Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico