The Washington Commanders possess the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they'll have no shortage of options to choose from. But six prospects will go off the board before general manager Adam Peters gets his chance to select.
After the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the picture has come into clearer focus in regard to who some of those six players might be. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles are among the top prospects who wowed scouts with their impressive measurables.
Meanwhile, Styles' college teammate wasn't too shabby either. And it spells bad news for any hopes Washington had of landing him.
Commanders can officially kiss their Arvell Reese dream goodbye after dominant Combine
Arvell Reese, who can play either linebacker or edge rusher, has been considered arguably the best defensive prospect in the draft. He only further validated that idea in Indianapolis, putting together a performance that should solidify his selection as a top-five pick.
Reese ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, tying with Styles for the fastest time by a linebacker or defensive lineman. His 1.58-second 10-yard split ranked behind only his college teammate and TCU's Namdi Obiazor.
He did not perform the vertical jump, saving that for his Pro Day next month. Still, all Reese had to do was not embarrass himself in order to solidify his position. Currently, all four of CBS Sports' draft analysts have him going at No. 2 overall to the New York Jets.
Reese is regarded as an explosive athlete with a versatile skillset, the type of weapon who can transform an NFL defense. He's only 20 years old and still has room to grow into his frame, which makes his upside even scarier. He has been compared to can't-miss prospects such as Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter.
In college, Reese was a three-year contributor, but didn't break out until his 6.5-sack campaign last season. He was named an All-American and shot up draft boards after entering the year as somewhat of an unknown.
Now, he's on everybody's radar. Unfortunately for the Commanders, someone else will snap him up before they can.
There was never much of a hope that Reese would fall into their hands to begin with. Now, it's completely out the window.
Adam Peters will still have a chance to draft an elite defensive talent in April who can headline Daronte Jones' new unit for years to come. But it won't be Reese.