The Washington Commanders have given their fans plenty of reasons to feel optimistic after the 2026 NFL Draft, and it's not just about the big-name picks. While star linebacker Sonny Styles falling to them in the first round was a major win, the team's overall draft performance has drawn praise from analysts—especially in one key category.

Coming off a tough 2025 season plagued by injuries, the Commanders are looking to bounce back and re-enter contention. Much of that hope rests on the shoulders of general manager Adam Peters, who has been busy reshaping the roster. His latest work during the draft has caught the attention of NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who devised a clever way to measure draft success.

Jeremiah's system assigns point values to every pick based on prospect rankings: 150 points for the top-ranked player, 149 for the second, and so on, with zero points for any player outside the top 150. Teams are also given an "expected" score based on their draft position. It's a simple but telling metric for which franchises got the most value from their selections.

According to Jeremiah's formula, the Commanders didn't just have a good draft—they had the second-best in the entire league. Washington earned 315 points, significantly outpacing their expected total of 228. Only the Indianapolis Colts performed better, making the Commanders the top team in the NFC when it comes to maximizing their picks.

This is especially impressive within the NFC East. The New York Giants ranked 15th overall, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys landed at 22nd and 23rd, respectively. That puts Washington in a strong position to close the gap on their division rivals.

Of course, draft grades only mean so much until players hit the field. The real test will come when rookies like Styles—who is expected to be an every-down contributor right away—and the rest of the class translate their potential into production. But for now, Commanders fans have every reason to believe their team made the most of its opportunities.