The 2026 NFL Draft will be upon us before we know it, and the picture is beginning to come into focus for the Washington Commanders.
After general manager Adam Peters cleaned up in free agency, Washington's top priority is a wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. The Commanders could also still use some help at linebacker or safety, and don't rule out Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love if he's still available at No. 7 overall.
According to one NFL insider, Washington's biggest need is simple. As if anybody needed to state the obvious, here it is: The Commanders shouldn't draft any old players.
Mike Florio's mixed narrative states the obvious for Commanders before the draft
Commanders fans can always count on Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk to have less-than-stellar things to say about their team. On this one, it sounds like he's mixing up his narratives.
"You gotta get away from the older guys. You gotta get away from the high price guys. You gotta get guys that will grow and develop alongside Jayden Daniels."
Because, as we all know, the NFL Draft is notorious for being littered with landmines of old and high-priced players. Remember when the Cleveland Browns picked 28-year-old Brandon Weeden in the first round? Yeah, Washington shouldn't do that.
You have to stay away from those expensive picks, too. For reference, last year, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward signed a rookie contract worth $48.7 million over the course of four years. The No. 7 pick, where Washington is selecting, was offensive tackle Armand Membou, who signed with the New York Jets for just under $8 million per year.
More than likely, Florio's mind is still stuck on free agency here. In that regard, those were the Commanders' top two objectives, and they passed both tests with flying colors.
They didn't sign a single newcomer over 30. Beyond edge rusher Odafe Oweh, they didn't break the bank for anyone; instead, they wisely spread their money.
The Commanders do need to prioritize their long-term future, and it would be ideal to put some weapons around third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is 21 years old, and Love is 20. Either of them could give Washington significant value for at least four years while seeking to maximize the LSU product's rookie deal.
All in all, we're just stating the obvious here.
Of course, the Commanders shouldn't draft players who are too old or too expensive. It would be hard to do that even if they tried, because the entire point of the draft is that everybody is young and cheap.