After an eventful early period of free agency, attention is now turning to the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have made their presence felt at various pro days across the country in recent weeks, as the selection process approaches. And make no mistake; a strong class is needed this year after the team regressed considerably in 2025.
The Commanders won just five games. They only have two picks in the first four rounds after trading for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year. The margin for error has reduced considerably, but the needs are fewer after several impressive signings from the veteran pool.
Peters has set the table well. The Commanders have their franchise quarterback. They have a premier left tackle, a stud wide receiver, and some intriguing defensive pieces that can hopefully be molded into a cohesive unit. With a bit more quality, Washington's bounce-back potential next season will be extremely high.
The pressure is on to stay composed in the chaos. Using the Pro Football and Sports Network simulator, we projected how things could play out for the Commanders in our latest seven-round 2026 mock draft.
Commanders' 7-round mock draft builds on Adam Peters' aggressive free agency
Commanders draft Caleb Downs
- Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 7
The Washington Commanders have a plethora of possibilities with the No. 7 overall selection. Adam Peters earned some extra flexibility with the pick by acquiring 14 new players in free agency so far. This should allow him to take the best prospect available, regardless of need.
Trading down is an option, though with no quarterback rated high enough to warrant a top-10 pick after Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, finding a potential suitor will be difficult. It'll be a waiting game without the ammunition to move up, but it would be surprising if Caleb Downs wasn't high on the shortlist.
Downs may slide a little due to positional value, but his ceiling is through the roof. The Ohio State prospect is a do-it-all tone-setter on the defensive back end. He's got an exceptional tackling technique, reads the game extremely well, and possesses a unique blend of instincts and supreme athleticism.
Reports about a concerning medical evaluation were seemingly false. Downs might be the best overall prospect in this class, and the Commanders' defense would improve instantly if they pull the trigger on him.