Commanders draft Anto Saka
- Edge Rusher | Texas A&M Aggies
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 161
A small trade sees the Washington Commanders exchange Day 3 selections with the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving them an extra fifth-round pick in exchange for moving down a few spots. And even though it might not be the biggest need right now, it could be worth it for general manager Adam Peters to add another development project to the edge-rushing room.
Odafe Oweh and Joshua Josephs are under contract for the foreseeable future. K'Lavon Chaisson looks on course for a bigger payday, though much will depend on the money involved. Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste are also aiming for new deals, but that is much more debatable.
Though Anto Saka might not have met expectations this season after transferring to Texas A&M, his physical gifts should intrigue NFL teams during the pre-draft assessment phase. He fits Daronte Jones' scheme perfectly, but he still has work to do to maximize his obvious athletic skills.
Commanders draft Dejuan Lane
- Safety | Tennessee Volunteers
- Round No. 5 | Pick No. 179
Nick Cross was a magnificent addition to the Commanders during the offseason. He's completely changed the dynamic at safety, providing versatility and physicality tailor-made for Daronte Jones' aggressive defensive scheme.
Jeremy Reaves is under contract for another season. Percy Butler, Quan Martin, and Tyler Owens are not, so adding to the safety unit should be high on Washington's list of priorities when the 2027 recruitment period gets underway.
Owens would be the most likely to return, given his special teams contribution and the fact that he is a restricted free agent. Either way, the Commanders need more, and Dejuan Lane could be a mid-round gem to consider at this stage of the process.
At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, Lane has the scope to have a successful pro career. His ball-hawking skills this season have taken a significant leap forward, and if he can improve in a few technical areas, this is a risk well worth taking.
Commanders draft Will Henderson III
- Running Back | UTSA Roadrunners
- Round No. 6 | Pick No. 192
The Commanders don't have a stable ground game right now. That might change when Jacory Croskey-Merritt returns from injured reserve, but it's something general manager Adam Peters must address when the 2027 offseason arrives.
Perhaps the Commanders will take a swing on one of the prominent free agents. Trading for someone like Jonathan Taylor is another possibility, and he could even take a running back much higher than this during the draft. But with Rachaad White, Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols all out of contract, more than one option could be needed.
Peters struck gold in the seventh round with Croskey-Merritt, and Will Henderson III is another intriguing late-round prospect who could give the Commanders a nice change-of-pace option.
While Henderson is too light to be considered a bell-cow option in the NFL, his lightning speed offers intrigue. He's got useful pass-catching skills, and the UTSA product has the vision to exploit gaps when they open up.
Add us as a preferred source on Google