The Washington Commanders will be eagerly awaiting the dominoes to fall in front of them before decision time comes at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters knows anything can happen, and he will be ready when the time comes.
Projections are sketchy. ESPN insider Peter Schrager has been more accurate than most in recent years. His draft projections are based on reports and countless conversations with league personnel. That matters, and his final mock of the 2026 cycle brought a few surprises along the way.
And for Washington, it created a few nightmares as well.
Peter Schrager gives Commanders fans reasons to worry in final mock draft
Schrager had the Commanders picking Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, which is feasible. However, Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles were off the board, giving the New York Giants a can't-miss opportunity with do-it-all linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.
"I haven't seen many mock drafts having Reese slip this far, and maybe he won't. But I also remember Leonard Williams inexplicably falling out of the top five in 2015. These things happen.
"Edge rusher is not one of the Giants' holes, but the roster needs good football players. Choosing to add the blue-chip prospect makes sense -- especially if New York ends up trading Kayvon Thibodeaux. If the Giants can get Reese, I think they'd take him."
This is the lowest Reese has been seen in almost any other mock draft. Not insignificant, but it would be a bombshell.
That wasn't all. Schrager also had the Giants getting lucky with Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 10 — the pick they acquired by trading defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals. But before then, the analyst had another blockbuster trade in mind that would shake things up in the NFC East.
In Schrager's mock, the Dallas Cowboys surged up to No. 9 for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. He's gaining steam for Washington at No. 7, but if Peters opts to give quarterback Jayden Daniels another dynamic weapon in the passing game, Jerry Jones may have the ammunition needed to secure the best shutdown coverage presence in this class.
The Commanders will be focused on what they can control. Everyone knows Peters is a little light on top-end assets after trading for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year. It's a high-stakes choice at No. 7, but he would also be wise to keep a close eye on developments around the division.
More talent is coming to the NFC East. The Commanders must meet fire with fire, or risk getting left behind.
It's that simple.
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