If you’re just logging in for the first time and want a clear picture of where Washington stands for the 2026 NFL Draft, here’s what you need to know.
The Commanders pick at No. 7., and for the first time in years, they have a franchise quarterback in place and the ability to add a true top-10 talent to the team in the first round. That combination changes everything. Rather than chasing need at quarterback or forcing a direction, Adam Peters will have the chance to add a difference-maker to a roster thats entering a pivitol year ahead.
The range at No. 7 is wide. Washington can address the defense, where Dan Quinn needs immediate help, or add a blue-chip offensive player to build around Jayden Daniels.. There are a handful of names you’ll keep hearing as the top of the board comes off. Some will be gone. A few will slide. There is little we can say for certain about the NFL Draft, but history always tells us that the board always has a surprise in store.
Here are the players to know before the clock starts Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate’s jump from 2024 to 2025 is why he’s in this conversation.
He went from a vertical option in a loaded receiver room to a complete target. After a 52-catch, 733-yard season in 2024, he followed it with 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, while expanding his role across the entire route tree. The efficiency stands out even more. His catch rate over expectation sits above 28%, which reflects how often he finishes in contested situations.
What changed is how he wins.
He’s more controlled in and out of breaks, understands spacing, and can separate without needing to rely purely on speed. Washington wouldn’t be drafting projection here. They’d be getting a receiver who can step in as a primary option on the outside and handle volume right away.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles doesn’t play like a traditional linebacker, and that’s the appeal.
A former safety, he transitioned into a full-time role in the middle of Ohio State’s defense and produced immediately. He finished with 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and six sacks in his first full season at the position, then followed it with All-American recognition. The production matches what shows up on tape, because he’s a player who covers ground quickly and plays through contact.
That combination is what allows him to stay on the field in all situations. He can handle zone coverage, close downhill against the run, and contribute as a blitzer. Washington needs range and consistency in the middle of the defense. Styles brings both without needing to be protected schematically.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love’s production is hard to ignore.
He rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024, then followed it with 1,372 yards and 18 scores in 2025, averaging nearly seven yards per carry across both seasons. The efficiency holds even with volume. He’s a big play machine and he’s consistently creating them with a controlled running style.
He presses the line, waits for lanes to open, and then accelerates through gaps. Once he reaches the second level, he’s a nightmare for defenses to handle. He also caught 55 passes over the past two seasons, which adds value on third downs. If he reaches No. 7, he becomes the most dynamic offensive options Washington could add in this class. Hands down.
Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Reese is one of the more debated players in this class, but he has the upside to be the top non-QB in this draft.
In his one full season as a starter, he posted 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss while earning All-American honors. He plays with power and length, and when he gets into contact, he can control the rep. There’s a reason he’s been discussed near the top of the board.
The question is role.
He can line up as a linebacker or work off the edge, but he’s still developing in both areas. That creates some projection, but the traits are difficult to pass on. If Washington is comfortable with how they would use him, the upside is more than there.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain offers one of the steadier profiles in this group.
He produced early with 7.5 sacks as a freshman and remained a steady presence on Miami’s defensive front in 2025. At 275 pounds, he plays with leverage and strength that translate directly to the next level. He holds the edge, handles contact, and doesn’t get moved off his spot.
As a pass rusher, he leans on power. He collapses pockets rather than running around them, and he stays involved throughout the game. Washington doesn’t need to project what he might become. They’d be drafting a player who can step into a full workload and stabilize the front.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is one of the most complete players in the class, and you know Dan Quinn has his eyes all over him.
He’s been part of two top defenses at Alabama and Ohio State, and his role translated immediately in both. The raw numbers don’t always jump off the page, but the consistency does. He’s rarely out of position and consistently limits what offenses can do after the catch.
He processes quickly, plays with control, can align deep, rotate into the box, and handle coverage assignments without forcing changes around him. That kind of reliability is what Washington has lacked at times on the back end. Downs would give them a player they can trust on every down.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane brings size and competitiveness to the outside.
He’s built to handle one-on-one matchups and holds up at the catch point. He stays connected through routes and doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air. That shows up in how often he forces tight-window throws. Corner has been inconsistent for Washington, and drafting corners is particularity difficult given how hard it is to truly evaluate the position as a whole.
Delane wouldn’t fix everything, but he would give them a player who can line up outside and compete from Day 1. At this point in the draft, that has value, especially for a defense in desperate need for help in the secondary.
What It Comes Down To
Washington will have plenty of options on the table, and the good news is, it’s hard to see a bad one in sight.
The defense needs help, and this class offers multiple players who can step in right away. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine Peters and Co. turning down the chance if Tate or Love becomes available for the taking.
That’s what makes No. 7 one of the more interesting picks on the board. We’re just a few hours away from finding out exactly what direction they go.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior NFL Insider at SportsJourney.com, where he covers the Washington Commanders and the league at large. A Northern Virginia native and George Mason University graduate, his work has appeared in FanSided, NBC Sports Washington, Heavy.com, and The Fourth Estate. He is also the host of the “After Further Review” podcast, reaching a global audience with his analysis and storytelling.
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