Four draft prospects the Washington Commanders could target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft

The No. 7 overall pick for the Washington Commanders is getting plenty of coverage as we head into the final month of Hogs Haven’s draft coverage. Rightly so, as the selection will be expected to provide a significant and immediate impact in 2026. Still, with the majority of Adam Peters’ picks in rounds five through seven, there will be plenty of work left to be done on Saturday. Today we take a look at four prospects that might be available when the Commanders are on the clock on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL

Draft.

VJ Payne, Safety, Kansas State

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 206 lbs

College Stats:

Defense & Fumbles Table

						Tackles					Def Interceptions					Fumbles
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Comb	TFL	Sk	Int	Yds	Avg	IntTD	PD	FR	Yds	FRTD	FF	Awards
2022*	Kansas State	Big 12	FR	S	14	18	9	27	1.0	1.0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0
2023*	Kansas State	Big 12	SO	S	13	44	13	57	3.0	0.0	1	17	17.0	0	3	1	0	0	0
2024*	Kansas State	Big 12	JR	S	13	39	25	64	3.5	0.0	2	24	12.0	0	4	0	0	0	2
2025	Kansas State	Big 12	SR	S	12	40	19	59	3.0	0.0	1	0	0.0	0	3	0	0	0	2
Career					52	141	66	207	10.5	1.0	4	41	10.3	0	10	1	0	0	4

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/25/2026.

Mock Draft Consensus Board: 166

Projected Commanders Selection: 5th Round, No. 147

This year’s safety class is incredibly deep, which may be why a player of Payne’s length and athleticism could be available in the 5th round. A three-year starter, the Kansas State prospect can play multiple roles and shows good eye discipline in the secondary. He ran a 4.40 40-yard dash with the fourth-best 10-yard split (1.52) out of the safety group and has the movement skills to stay with receivers and tight ends in coverage. A senior captain, Payne has played in over 52 career games (42 starts), amassed 207 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and 13 pass deflections. VJ had a strong Senior Bowl, drawing praise for his coverage skills, length, and football intelligence in Mobile.

While the clips above portray him as a physical run stuffer, Payne is somewhat passive in run support and lacks aggression when faced with bigger blockers. VJ is adequate in the box, but it is not his forte, and he struggles at times tackling in the open field. He also needs to add more lower body mass and strength. While the 2025 film is solid, his tape in 2024 wasn’t nearly as good, and the lack of consistency year-to-year will hurt his draft stock. Payne should be able to find a home in an NFL defense that values his coverage ability and is willing to develop his raw tackling skills. Payne may very well go before the 5th round, but if he falls to pick No. 147, the selection makes a lot of sense for the Commanders to develop behind Will Harris and pair with Nick Cross in 2027.

Jager Burton, Center, Kentucky

Height/Weight: 6’4”, 312 lbs

College Stats:

Defense & Fumbles Table

						Tackles					Def Interceptions				Fumbles
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Comb	TFL	Sk	Int	Yds	IntTD	PD	FR	Yds	FRTD	FF	Awards
2021*	Kentucky	SEC	FR	OL	4	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022*	Kentucky	SEC	FR	OL	13	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023*	Kentucky	SEC	SO	OL	12	1	0	1	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2024	Kentucky	SEC	JR	OL	10	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2025	Kentucky	SEC	SR	OL	12	2	0	2	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career					51	3	0	3	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/25/2026.

Mock Draft Consensus Board: 167

Projected Commanders Selection: 6th Round, No. 187

I suspect Adam Peters does not have the same sense of urgency as some fans regarding the center position in 2026. Still, the GM will most likely add to the room during the draft, and Day 3 would be a logical place to do it. Projected to go in Rounds 4-6, Jager Burton would be a strong choice for the Commanders first sixth-round selection.

A five-year senior with 47 consecutive starts, Burton began his college career at right guard, allowing no QB hurries, no QB hits, and one sack in 34 total snaps as a freshman. He played 12 games at left guard in 2022 and a mix of center and guard the next two seasons before settling into the pivot full-time in 2025. Burton is highly athletic and possesses the quick first step and movement skills to succeed in a zone-based scheme. He also demonstrates good feel on combo blocks and is capable of sealing the back side when needed. Burton works well with teammates against stunts and inside pressure.

Jager has limited lower body flexibility, which causes him to play too upright. This inhibits his play strength at the point of attack and ability to mirror and handle defenders in pass-blocking. He didn’t allow any sacks or QB hits in his final season, but it could be problematic at the next level as it leaves him open to counter moves and power rushes.

There are certainly better prospective starters in the upcoming draft, but many profile as center-only prospects. If Washington is looking to utilize their first two selections in other areas, drafting a player with some versatility to play guard ensures that a Day 3 pick will warrant a roster spot as a backup if he doesn’t win the starting job. Burton’s success relies heavily on scheme fit, which should push him down draft boards but increase interest in the Commanders’ war room. Team representatives met with Jager at Kentucky’s Pro Day this March.

Noah Whittington, Running Back, Oregon

Height/Weight: 5’8″, 205 lbs

College Stats:

Rushing & Receiving Table

						Rushing					Receiving					Scrimmage
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Att	Yds	Y/A	TD	Y/G	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	Y/G	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD	Awards
2020*	Western Kentucky	CUSA	FR	RB	12	16	39	2.4	0	3.3	3	5	1.7	0	0.4	19	44	2.3	0
2021*	Western Kentucky	CUSA	FR	RB	12	101	617	6.1	2	51.4	12	58	4.8	0	4.8	113	675	6.0	2
2022*	Oregon	Pac-12	SO	RB	13	139	779	5.6	5	59.9	22	169	7.7	1	13.0	161	948	5.9	6
2023*	Oregon	Pac-12	JR	RB	4	20	146	7.3	2	36.5	10	78	7.8	0	19.5	30	224	7.5	2
2024	Oregon	Big Ten	JR	RB	14	118	540	4.6	6	38.6	24	136	5.7	2	9.7	142	676	4.8	8
2025*	Oregon	Big Ten	SR	RB	13	129	829	6.4	6	63.8	19	98	5.2	1	7.5	148	927	6.3	7
Career					68	523	2950	5.6	21	43.4	90	544	6.0	4	8.0	613	3494	5.7	25
Oregon (4 Yrs)					44	406	2294	5.7	19	52.1	75	481	6.4	4	10.9	481	2775	5.8	23
Western Kentucky (2 Yrs)					24	117	656	5.6	2	27.3	15	63	4.2	0	2.6	132	719	5.4	2

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/27/2026.

Mock Draft Consensus Board: 269

Projected Commanders Selection: 6th Round, No. 209

Washington’s front office may wish to repeat last year’s success by selecting another running back in the final round. However, this time they may have to utilize the 6th-rounder acquired in the Brian Robinson trade. The reason? No. 209 is one spot ahead of the Chiefs’ final selection, a team that, along with the Commanders and Bears, is rumored to have “a lot of interest” in Oregon running back Noah Whittington.

Undersized but powerfully built with a low center of gravity, Noah transferred from Western Kentucky to Oregon ahead of the 2022 season but missed the majority of 2023 with a torn ACL. He came back strong in 2024, contributing a 100-yard kickoff return in Oregon’s comeback win versus Boise State.  In 2025, Noah put together his best statistical season: 829 yards and 6 touchdowns on 129 carries, 19 receptions for 98 yards, and 126 return yards for 1,053 all-purpose yards. Whittington runs with excellent pad level and contact balance along with good vision. He’s a tough, physical runner who consistently maximizes available yardage by falling forward and utilizing his lower-body strength. Noah also offers some value as a receiver and, while he does need to refine his technique, is a willing blocker in pass protection.

There are a few issues working against Whittington in the draft. After red-shirting in 2023, he is a sixth-year senior and is already 24 years old. He also demonstrates limited on-field acceleration and speed. Additionally, Noah suffered another injury in 2025, undergoing surgery for a turf toe, which prevented him from testing at his Pro Day. Whittington may improve in some areas but has plateaued as a runner. Still, he offers value as a third running back that can churn out yards, provide some receiving ability, and contribute on special teams. Whittington would compete with Jeremy McNichols and Jerome Ford for a roster spot, and his running style would pair well with Bill Merritt. The running back will most likely be in play as a late-round selection for the Commanders.

Bryce Phillips, Cornerback, San Diego State

Height/Weight: 6’0″, 202 lbs

College Stats:

Defense & Fumbles Table

						Tackles					Def Interceptions					Fumbles
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Comb	TFL	Sk	Int	Yds	Avg	IntTD	PD	FR	Yds	FRTD	FF	Awards
2024	San Diego State	MWC	SR	CB	12	32	8	40	4.0	0.0	1	68	68.0	0	1	0	0	0	0
2025*	San Diego State	MWC	SR	CB	12	29	5	34	1.0	0.0	1	28	28.0	0	9	0	0	0	1
Career					24	61	13	74	5.0	0.0	2	96	48.0	0	10	0	0	0	1

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/27/2026.

Mock Draft Consensus Board: Not Applicable

Projected Commanders Selection: 7th Round, No. 223

The Commanders’ scouting department may have attended San Diego State’s Pro Day to watch Chris Johnson’s performance, but they actually met with a different Aztec cornerback. Bryce Phillips started his college career at Tennessee State before transferring to San Diego State in 2024. His production and size are not off the charts, but Bryce is solidly built, and his physical play style and sure tackling ability have him on the NFL radar. The corner carried a 5% missed tackle rate and allowed just 44.9% of his targets to be caught with only 29 yards surrendered after the catch in 2025, per PFF. Phillips is not afraid to mix it up with bigger, larger wide receivers on the outside, and he played his part alongside Johnson in San Diego State’s resurgent secondary.

Phillips’ measurables and athleticism are not eye-popping, but he is not deficient in any area. While his teammate will go much sooner, Phillips has an outside chance of being drafted on the final day. In addition to the Commanders, Phillips also met with the Chiefs and the Saints after his Pro Day. Given the team’s need at the position, Adam Peters may opt to use his final selection to secure the cornerback’s services instead of competing to sign Phillips as an undrafted free agent.

Bottom Line

Despite the work done in free agency, the Commanders will still have a number of needs headed into the final day of the draft, and there should still be plenty of talent on the board. Expect third-year GM Adam Peters to follow his philosophy of drafting the highest-rated players, but also with an eye for filling the remaining holes on the roster. The prospects listed above may represent the best of both worlds for the Commanders but could change based on the first two days of the draft. Make sure to check in frequently at Hogs Haven for the latest news and updates as the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds.