Commanders linksHello, Pittsburgh 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1anfdcJ5Fc
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 23, 2026
Draft day is electric! Jay Glazer dropped a massive tease, hinting at huge news coming tonight, but he can't spill the beans yet. What could it be? Glazer usually deals in haymakers, not just transactions. #NFLDraft #JayGlazer #DraftDay #NFLNews #Football pic.twitter.com/kY6WX6PrMf
Here’s what we know: In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Washington Commanders will likely draft edge rusher Arvell Reese or linebacker Sonny Styles or running back Jeremiyah Love or cornerback Mansoor Delane or safety Caleb Downs or receiver Carnell Tate or other edge rusher David Bailey or other edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. or other receiver Makai Lemon or trade down and not take any of them.
“Man, you hear something new every day, right?” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said last week. “Really, nobody’s telling the truth.”
Unlike in past drafts, when quarterbacks dominated the conversation and were pushed to the top because of their value, three of this year’s top overall prospects play non-premium positions: Love, the Notre Dame running back; Styles, the Ohio State linebacker; and Downs, the Ohio State safety.
Does that matter? It might. But it depends on how the Commanders view these prospects and what their vision for each is long term.
Jeremiyah Love on #Commanders:"I'd be blessed to go there… I feel like me and Jayden Daniels would be a very good duo… I would help him be a better version of himself, taking some load off of him"Also spoke on TopGolf visit, meeting Josh Harris@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/6KyAPeOnzW
Today, two days prior to the draft, Washington has 6 selections in the 7-round draft, which starts Thursday.
As has been true every year, each entrant in Draft Pick 3 is allowed to nominate three players for each draft pick that the team has at the moment.
One change this year is that I have added a BONUS pick that anticipates the possibility of a 2nd- or 4th-round pick acquired by trade. Each entrant will be able to nominate 3 additional players in each of those rounds (6 in total) who will come into play if the Commanders pick in either of those rounds by trading up or down. Your bonus pick players will only be considered if the Commanders a pick in the relevant round.
That means that each entrant can identify up to 24 players that he or she thinks might be drafted by the Commanders next week — your own “little board” in effect. If any player on your list gets drafted by the Commanders in the 2026 draft, you get points. The entrant with the most points wins. Simple!
The names I love for the Commanders at pick 7. pic.twitter.com/bC2ZBXCyRo
That is what 106.7 The Fan’s Danny Rouhier confidently stated on Wednesday, on the Grant & Danny Show. What position group was Rouhier referencing? “It is the gaping hole,” he continued. “I will not do the Noah Brown, ‘I hope someone gets cut’ tier of receiver again. No, thank you; neither will they, by the way.”
2025 was quite a disappointing season for Washington receivers. Their best receiver attempted to play hardball with the Commanders, sitting out, then sitting in training camp, demanding a much better contract extension, and it lasted entirely too long. Coaches and players played up to the media, smiling, acting as if it were a Disney movie, and everyone was going to live happily ever after. Everyone except former OC, Kliff Kingsbury. He put an end to the acting, stating starters need enough time on the grass together, and it wasn’t happening.
Sure enough, McLaurin, who missed time, wasn’t physically 100 percent prepared for the regular season when he signed his extension. He missed seven games and wasn’t healthy in some of the games he did play. Luke McCaffrey missed the final eight games, and Brown missed 13 games. The Commanders signed Treylon Burks, who had been released by the Titans, and he played the last eight games. Robbie Chosen and Tay Martin were called upon to play three games, and Jacoby Jones saw action in one game.
Steve Smith had his breakdown of Carnell Tate and his route tree at Ohio State. Smith loves Tate's game. Smith think Tate is without a doubt WR1 after watching everyone's film. pic.twitter.com/gqyCJaHo1U
[According to PerThirtySix], Washington ranked 23 out of the 32 with a C- Grades.
They have a hit rate of 14% (picks that outplay their value).
In terms 2nd round picks, they ranked dead last in draft value here. Only Sam Comsi and Preston Smith are the only positive 2nd round picks here.