Commanders linksbest value 2026 NFL draft classes1. Commanders2. Panthers3. Colts4. Bengals5. Jets6. Giants7. Buccaneers8. Raiders9. Falcons10. Chiefssee pic for 1-32 plus methodologyREAD FULL ANALYSIS:https://t.co/RaVIrqOuUjteam-by-team & round-by-round analysis to follow 🧵 pic.twitter.com/P9BAQwNGHW
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 26, 2026
Josephs, 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, was just the 3rd pick for the Commanders in the draft after taking Ohio State inside linebacker Sonny Styles in the 1st round (No. 7 overall) and Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams in the 3rd round (No. 71 overall).
The numbers on Joshua Josephs seemed to indicate he would be selected much sooner than the 5th round, but there just wasn’t much buzz around him in the lead-up.
“Joshua Josephs’ speed/length has a crazy high ceiling for someone I’ve never seen in a Round 1 mock draft,” Underdog’s Hayden Minks wrote on his official X account on March 18.
WHO DID COMMANDERS 5TH PICK JOSHUA JOSEPHS SACK ON HIS FIRST CAREER SACK…? NONE OTHER THAN JAYDEN DANIELS!!!Here is video of his 1st college sack when he took down JD5 in a Tennessee win over LSU in 2022. Now the two are teammates. Credit @BenStandig with the great question. pic.twitter.com/3s7891MN6I
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Josephs as a 4th round pick.
“Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide.”
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Josephs as a 4th round pick.
“Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide.
[The Commanders replaced] former sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. with highly-productive prospect Kaytron Allen, viewed by one longtime observer as the “No. 3-rated running back” in the 2026 NFL draft.
Allen’s a 1300-plus-yard back capable of replacing Rodriguez, who got paid by the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency after being usurped by Jacory Croskey-Merritt, last year’s seventh-round draft steal.
Keytron Allen an Able Replacement for Chris Rodriguez Jr.
The Commanders needed to find a Rodriguez replacement in this draft. Somebody able to be a power-style runner between the tackles and punish defenses.
Allen qualifies, according to veteran former Green Bay Press-Gazette writer Bob McGinn. Writing for Tyler Dunne’s Go Long Substack, McGinn dubbed Allen a “Naturally instinctive runner. If there is a quarter of a hole he’s going to find it. He’s got great run strength and contact balance. He’s going to get the dirty yards.”
FATMAN HIGHLIGHTS!!!@kaytron_allen | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/wlYPkMJbpZ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 25, 2026
The Niners eventually sent over the No. 209 pick for Robinson. He backed up Christian McCaffrey last season and didn’t do enough for an extended stay. Now, the former Alabama standout has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, while the Commanders spent the pick they received on Michigan State center Matt Gulbin.
Matt Gulbin is the most underrated '26 OL imo. Doorstop in the A-gap with exceptional anchor & grip strength pic.twitter.com/mQ4t7Uhy7q
This is a high-value selection. Gulbin was touted by some analysts as a potential fourth-round selection. He made it all the way down to the sixth. Although that brings some concern, Peters was clearly satisfied enough to take a swing at someone who was evidently being completely overlooked before Washington came calling.