We've finally made it to NFL draft time. Shortly, none of the rumors will matter, and we'll know who the next Washington Commanders will be.
Like always, there are rumors galore, and we can expect the unexpected to happen once the draft gets going. The Commanders are currently sitting at No. 7 and could go several different directions. The team patched several holes in free agency, but there are still some positions that need upgrading.
Some in the fanbase want an offensive weapon like Carnell Tate or Jeremiyah Love, while others prefer another defender such as Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles. Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame recently revealed what he thinks would be the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Commanders in the first round.
"Best-case: A couple of premium players fall to the seventh pick, whether it’s Love, Styles, Bain or Bailey. Any would be fantastic for Washington," Verderame explained. Love and Bailey are almost always off the board before the Commanders pick in mocks, but it's not hard to imagine Styles or Bain being available.
Styles would be a perfect replacement for Bobby Wagner. The off-ball linebacker previously played safety, so he thrives in pass coverage, but also excels as a run defender. Bain, meanwhile, has fallen a bit due to his shorter-than-desired arms, but was extremely productive off the edge in college, nonetheless.
"Worst-case: The board falls in a way where the Commanders are looking at either taking a safety (Downs) or a risky receiver such as the injury-prone Tyson," Verderame added. Caleb Downs was once seen as a popular choice for the Commanders, but safeties rarely go inside the top 10. Jordyn Tyson, meanwhile, was a productive receiver in college, but dealt with multiple injuries. After last year's injury debacle, the Commanders could be scared off by Tyson's medicals.
If Love, Bain, and Carnell Tate or somehow all off the board, the team could also consider trading down. The Commanders only have two picks in the top 100, so adding more assets wouldn't be a bad idea. Regardless, we don't have to wait much longer to find out what's going to happen.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Best and worst case scenarios for Commanders