Much of the focus for the Washington Commanders fans when it comes to the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft centers on three prospects. But what if general manager Adam Peters has something else up his sleeve?
Most fans and experts project Ohio State safety Caleb Downs to be in the mix. The edge rushing tandem of Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech's David Bailey is also being touted. If Buckeyes' do-it-all linebacker Arvell Reese somehow fell into their laps, that represents another strong possibility.
A lot can and will change by the time Washington goes on the clock. There is no guarantee that any of the aforementioned prospects will be around, so Peters must be ready for anything.
Joel Klatt has the Commanders drafting Mansoor Delane in his latest mock
Joel Klatt of FOX Sports thought he'd found the perfect contingency for the Commanders. The respected draft and college football analyst thought LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane would be a tremendous fit in Washington, especially with the club looking to bolster one of the worst pass defenses anywhere in the league under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
"Washington gave up the most yards in the league last season. Jayden Daniels hopefully will be back and healthy. I think that the offense is going to be better just because of that. Okay, we can solidify that defense, which was very poor. I like Mansoor Delane from LSU. He's my top corner. The Commanders can grab the top corner right here at seven, and their pass defense was nowhere near where it needed to be. Delane's my top corner, and this is the perfect spot."Joel Klatt
Delane has the athletic attributes Jones may be looking for in his defensive revolution. His anticipation of routes and ability to mirror receivers are astonishing, reflected in his 27.5 passer rating when targeted in 2025. He is versatile, operating in both zone and press-man schemes during his college career. Not many quarterbacks made the move to throw to him, but the prospect showcased the ability to make plays on the football when opportunities arose.
There are times when Delane is overly aggressive, which can be his undoing. He's also not the biggest or longest cornerback to ever grace the league, so it'll be interesting to see if these measurements hurt his draft stock when push comes to shove.
From a pure production standpoint, Delane ticks the boxes. He's a big-game performer who thrives under pressure. The Commanders have two young corners — Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos — and not much else. Perhaps Peters will be looking for some added experience, but that shouldn't stop the Commanders from finding another blue-chip prospect with long-term promise.
Delane might be the best of this year's bunch.