The 2026 NFL Draft is only days away, and ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid dropped his final seven-round mock on Monday. There was no mystery at the top of Reid's mock with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
At No. 2, Reid mocked Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese to the New York Jets. At No. 3, Reid had Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa going to the Arizona Cardinals, which led Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey to fall to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles goes to the New York Giants at No. 5, followed by Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate going No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns.
Next up: the Washington Commanders. Did you notice a name missing? That's right, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a player Washington reportedly covets, is there for the taking. In this dream scenario, the Commanders do not pass on Love, and he's the pick at No. 7 overall.
The Commanders need help everywhere, so I have them taking the player I feel is the best in this year's class. Love is an explosive play waiting to happen and would unlock multiple layers of the playbook that Washington couldn't access last season. He rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025 and had 39 runs of 10 or more yards, fourth most in the FBS. Having quarterback Jayden Daniels and Love together would strike fear in NFL defenses.
This is an ideal scenario for Washington. The Commanders allegedly loved both Styles and Love, and also liked Tate, too. However, Love is more than a running back. He can also impact Washington's passing game and will take some of the pressure off of Jayden Daniels. The thought of defending a backfield of Love and Daniels will present a new problem for the rest of the NFC East.
Who else did the Commanders pick in Reid's mock draft? Here all six picks, beginning with Love:
This would be an excellent draft for Washington, considering it's without second- and fourth-round picks. Fields gives the Commanders a promising receiver with excellent size, while Prysock is a long, toolsy cornerback with 4.4 speed. Coogan gives Washington a potential future starting center.
If this scenario played out for the Commanders, it's safe to say Peters would be happy.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Commanders land Jeremiyah Love in Reid's 7-round mock