The NFL Scouting Combine starts this week, which is the perfect time for another mock draft roundup! Rankings will change after a week in Indianapolis, as testing, interviews, and medicals change the lives, and career paths for players very quickly.
This roundup has 52 mock drafts and 29 of them feature EDGE rushers. Texas’s David Bailey continues to be the most popular option for pass rushers, with 17 mocks sending him to Washington. Miami’s Rueben Bain is still a very popular selection for the Commanders
with 12 mocks giving him to Washington.
EDGE is easily the most mocked position for Washington, but safety Caleb Downs is still a popular choice at No. 7 overall. He goes to the Commanders in the first round in 8 different mock drafts, and he goes earlier than that in a few more. A safety that early has to be special. The Downs hype train continues to grow, and he could go as high as Top 5.
The Washington Commanders have a lot of work to do to fix their defense, and the secondary has been an area that still needs an upgrade. If Adam Peters doesnt think safety is a good enough value, will he consider LSU’s Mansoor Delane, who is the top CB in the draft on a lot of lists? Marshon Lattimore’s returning from a late-season torn ACL and has pending gun charges. Rookie Trey Amos also ended the season on IR, and Mike Sainristil needs a reset under new DC Daronte Jones.
Ohio State OLB/EDGE Arvell Reese is expected to be a Top-5 pick, but continues to “fall” in several mock drafts that want to send him to Washington. Daniel Jeremiah said he would be a tough evaluation for some teams, but Reese would bring toughness and versatility to the Comanders. The other first-round Ohio State LB is Sonny Styles who gets mocked to the Commanders twice as much as Reese. He would be considered a reach at No. 7 overall, but he’s rising up some boards, and continues to be a popular option for Washington.
Wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle round out the selections in this week’s roundup. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love continues to get the nod from Walter Football and a few others, but the odds remain low for the Commanders to draft a RB that high with no second-round pick. Carnell Tate was the only WR sent to Washington. One mock drafter must think a first round OT every year is the solution to protecting Jayden Daniels, because they gave the Commanders the first OL off the board in Spencer Fano from Utah.
Position selections:
EDGE – 29
S – 8
CB – 2
LB – 6
RB – 3
WR – 3
OT – 1
Where will Washington pick, and who/what position should they take next year?
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas
The Athletic
The Commanders’ list of roster needs is so extensive that Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane and Jeremiyah Love all would have been upgrades here. But Bain is the clear pick. The Commanders need to rebuild the defense to give Jayden Daniels some support, and it starts up front, where they’ve lacked an elite pass rusher the last two seasons. Enter Bain, a ferocious and complete pass rusher, who knows how to use his power and leverage to dominate tackles. His 30 3/4-inch arms could be a sticking point for some, but his length didn’t appear to be a hindrance; he had an FBS-best 83 pressures to go with 23 run stops in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s the game-wrecker Washington sorely needs.
Yahoo Sports (McDonald/Tice)
This one is a pretty easy pairing. The Commanders are starved for edge rushers, especially ones who can win one-on-one and get after the quarterback. That’s exactly what Bailey brings to the table. He’s a dynamo off the edge and brings the heat play after play. Bailey’s lack of size can give him issues against the run, but he improved in that area during his lone season in Lubbock. He’ll immediately inject some juice into a front that needs it under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
CBS Sports (Fornelli)
David Bailey is just so damn fast off the snap. His first step overwhelmed a lot of his competition at the college level, and while life will be more difficult at the next level — meaning he’ll need to develop more technique — Bailey will improve your pass rush. Will he help stop the run? I’m not as confident there.
The Draft Network (Melo)
Dan Quinn has a new defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones. They both need a stud pass rusher to maximize the potential of the new scheme. David Bailey is an athletic EDGE who essentially won every matchup he saw this year.
Pro Football Network (Decker)
In a strange paradox, the Washington Commanders’ organizational reset in 2024 led to a conference championship appearance, while their win-now push in 2025 earned them the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Entering 2025, Washington had the oldest roster in football; now, they simply need as many quality young players as possible. Bailey is an ideal prospect at a premium position, one where the Commanders clearly need significant upgrades.
David Bailey graduated from Stanford and again after transferring to Texas Tech. He plays hungry, eats space quickly, and combines power with bend, consistently finding ways to win. Selecting him with the seventh overall pick would be great value.
Walter Football (Campbell)
Washington needs some edge rush youth.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey is a fast edge rusher with serious speed off the ball and the ability to bend around the corner. In 2025, he had 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes batted, and 52 tackles. In 2024, he recorded 31 tackles with seven sacks and five forced fumbles with Stanford. Bailey has natural quarterback hunting ability and could be a riser in the pre-draft workouts.
Round 3: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Washington could use more receiving weapons for Jayden Daniels.
Williams had 55 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns. Williams flashed playmaking ability for the Tigers in 2024 with 75 catches for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams (5-11, 190) has enough size and some natural talent as a route-runner.
Sportsnaut (Johnson)
Of the Washington Commanders‘ draft needs this year, pass rusher is the top priority. Dan Quinn attempted to make it work with short-term fixes and veterans he liked but the 2025 season showed the issues with that approach. All-American edge rusher David Bailey would immediately be Washington’s No. 1 edge defender. He also improved this past season against the run. He’ll be the first true building block the Commanders’ defense has had at edge rusher in years.
M Live (Raven)
David Bailey is super tough to block thanks to his short-area explosiveness and aggression. He was the top-graded edge rusher from PFF last season, and as long as he continues to develop as a run stopper, he has the look of being an impactful edge defender.
M Live (Woods)
The Commanders investing in the trenches for a second year – but on the defensive side this time – makes sense. David Bailey had a 21.6% pass rush win rate last season with the Red Raiders, along with 15 sacks, 23 quarterback hits, and an NCAA-leading 73 pressures. He might be the most explosive edge rusher in the draft.
Roto Baller (Gregory)
Jeremiyah Love would be a fine fit for Washington, as we have projected many times since December, but Washington’s defensive-minded head coach will surely push his front office to pounce on an edge-rusher of David Bailey’s skill set if the Red Raider falls to this spot.
Bailey led all of college football in nearly every pass-rush metric there is. That includes sacks, pressures, and hurries. While he is a bit undersized for a traditional 4-3 defensive end, Quinn has experience working with undersized edges (Vic Beasley) and will find a way to make Bailey dominant in his scheme.
A to Z Sports (Crabbs)
Washington’s pass rush unit was a slow burn group in 2025. The threats off the edge were missing an explosive element, and it showed. You know who is explosive? Bailey. I would imagine Dan Quinn’s ability to scheme pressures would look a lot different with this kind of pop on the edge to dictate protections.
Round 3: Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
NFL Mocks (Basile-vaughan)
The Commanders get their edge rusher with the selection of David Bailey with the No. 7 overall pick. Explosive off the snap, Bailey is a defensive playmaker who will make an impact Day 1 in the NFL. With his diverse arsenal of pass rush moves, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey will have quarterbacks in the NFC East looking over their shoulders for years to come.
Fantasy Pros (Whitefield)
A lack of pass-rush has completely plagued the Commanders’ defense for two years. Bailey brings nation-leading pass-rushing productivity, along with enticing traits and skills.
Bleacher Nation (Flowers)
Bailey brings burst, flexibility, and pass-rush juice. He fits perfectly as a modern edge defender in a defense that needs more disruption up front.
Draft Kings (Krass)
The Commanders will get a chance to reset next season after a lost 2025-26 campaign. If Jayden Daniels gets healthy, the offense should be fine. The defense, however, had serious issues last season. David Bailey is an elite pass rusher who can step in and be a difference-maker right away.
Cleveland.com (Bielik)
Defense was one of the big reasons the Commanders failed to build off a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game. They were one of the worst teams at pressuring quarterbacks last season, and adding the electrifying Bailey should help fix that very quickly.
Fantasy Life (Freedman)
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The Athletic
The Commanders’ list of roster needs is so extensive that Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane and Jeremiyah Love all would have been upgrades here. But Bain is the clear pick. The Commanders need to rebuild the defense to give Jayden Daniels some support, and it starts up front, where they’ve lacked an elite pass rusher the last two seasons. Enter Bain, a ferocious and complete pass rusher, who knows how to use his power and leverage to dominate tackles. His 30 3/4-inch arms could be a sticking point for some, but his length didn’t appear to be a hindrance; he had an FBS-best 83 pressures to go with 23 run stops in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s the game-wrecker Washington sorely needs.
CBS Sports (Edwards)
Rueben Bain Jr. does not possess the length that a Dan Quinn defense often deploys, but he does have the requisite power and ability to set the edge. Bain led all of Division I with 83 pressures last season, according to TruMedia. He had quiet stretches and has a unique build but also took over games on college football’s biggest stage.
NBC Sports Boston (Perry)
It would come as a real stunner if Dan Quinn had the opportunity to draft a relentless and productive pass-rusher like Bain… then passed. Can’t see it.
USA Today (Ostly)
The Commanders’ defense needs youth on every level and Bain feels like the powerful presence on the defensive line Dan Quinn would like. His arm length may force him inside, but his power sets him apart in a strong edge-rusher class.
Sharp Football Analysis (McCrystal)
Best Draft Targets for the Commanders with the 7th pick:
- Trade Down: Washington might have too many needs to justify using this selection, especially with only two picks in the top 100 selections.
- David Bailey or Rueben Bain: Free agents Jacob Miller and Von Miller lead the team in pressures (76 combined), likely putting Bailey and Bain near the top of the Commanders’ wish list. However, it’s a relatively deep position in this draft class, so Washington should feel no pressure to turn down a trade offer to select one of the top pass rushers.
- Caleb Downs: Both safety starters (Quan Martin and Will Harris) remain under contract, though only for one more year. Downs would be an upgrade and likely the best available player if he’s still on the board.
- Wide Receiver: Ideally, Washington can find a reliable outside receiver to start opposite Terry McLaurin this offseason. Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson would both fit the offense well in that role. Though the value might be right on those prospects, it might be seen as a luxury selection given the other holes on the roster.
Who Calls the Shots in Commanders Draft Room?
GM Adam Peters (third year) has final say over the personnel decisions. He previously spent seven years with the 49ers, most recently as John Lynch’s assistant GM. He also previously served as the Broncos’ director of college scouting under John Elway. Head coach Dan Quinn likely has significant input in selecting defensive players, as he’s always had strong preferences on who fits his scheme.
Key Stats & Notes for the Commanders heading into the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Running backs averaged 1.0 yards before contact per carry, ranked 27th.
- Allowed 1.4 yards before contact per attempt to running backs, ranked 25th.
- Allowed 10 or more yards on 11.9% of carries by running backs, ranked 26th.
- Allowed 9.2 yards per attempt when the defense failed to generate pressure, ranked 32nd.
Athlon Sports (Easterling)
Jayden Daniels and the offense could definitely use some help, but Washington’s defense is desperate for playmakers at every level, and they have tons of strong options here. Caleb Downs would be a grand slam pick, but if the Commanders are wary of spending a top-10 pick on a safety (they shouldn’t be), Bain could be their preference. Regardless of any potential concerns over arm length, Bain was absolutely dominant on tape last season, and would make an instant impact on all three downs.
Round 3: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Pro Football Network (Elijah)
With multiple edge defenders set to depart in free agency, the Washington Commanders face a critical need to inject dominant talent along the defensive front. Enter Rueben Bain, a player widely regarded as one of the top pass-rushers in the 2026 class and projected by some scouts to go inside the top five picks.
His PFSN EDGE Impact score of 82.7 proves his ability to be a consistent bullrusher, something the Commanders have needed for a few seasons now. Bain’s game is built on raw power and relentless physicality. He can overwhelm blockers one-on-one while also absorbing combo and double-team blocks with rare durability, exactly the type of impact player the Commanders need to anchor their front for years to come.
Round 3: Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
Round 5: Jack Kelly, WR, BYU
Round 6: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Round 6: Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke
Round 7: Ricardo Hallman, CB, Wisconsin
RotoWire (Puig)
Bailey is the prized edge defender of the draft, but Bain might be better than most consolation prizes.
NFL Spin Zone (Scataglia)
Rueben Bain is a bit undersized, but that hasn’t stopped players before. Hopefully, Washington doesn’t overthink this is Bain if in their reach.
Covers (Caley)
Bain’s dominance was on full display during Miami’s playoff run. He is incredibly strong and regularly wins off the line. He’s also got that dawg in him, which is the type of mentality that head coach Dan Quinn would love to have on his defense.
Essentially Sports (Hubbard)
Rueben Bain might be the best pure pass rusher in this class, but concerns over his arm length could cause him to drop. Combine measurements will impact his draft stock drastically. Even if his arms are a bit short, I think the Washington Commanders would take a shot on him, because they really need pass rush help.
Fantasy Pros (Janvrin)
Von Miller led the team in sacks with nine. The Commanders need some pass-rush help, and Rueben Bain Jr. is powerful.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
SNY (Hughes)
Downs is among the most intriguing players in this year’s class. He might be the best defender, but because he plays safety, his value is uncertain. Dan Quinn saw how much impact safeties can have with Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in Seattle. Downs would give him a playmaker as the Commanders try to rebuild their defense.
USA Today (Camenker)
The Commanders would probably like to land one of the top-three edge rushers here, but all are off the board. Instead, they will settle for Downs, who fills a need at safety and is arguably the best player in the draft. The Ohio State product has great football IQ and was excellent in coverage for the Buckeyes. He should quickly emerge as a difference-maker in the NFL.
FanSided (Williams)
Draft Notes: Two-time unanimous All-American and three-time All-Conference; top-tier athlete with unreal versatility; return potential on special teams
Frankly, I’d be shocked if the Washington Commanders’ draft played out any other way than Dan Quinn pushing for the best defensive player left on the board when they come on the clock for the seventh overall pick. That’s clearly Caleb Downs in this spot. Whether you’re asking him to drop into zone coverage, defend in the slot, come into the box against the run, or even return kicks, Downs is just a stud. He’s too good to slip out of the top 10 and the Commanders get a true stud with their pick.
Round 3: Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn
Draft Countdown (Paul)
The oldest roster in the NFL last season needs to get play-ready young talent out on the field. Their secondary needs help, and he fits the bill. He might turn into the best all-around DB on the roster, against both the run and the pass.
TWSN
Caleb Downs is one of the most talented players in this class. However, safeties aren’t especially sought after in the NFL Draft. Still, Downs is talented enough that seeing him fall out of the top 10 would be a shock.
The Washington Commanders are a great fit. This team needs some defensive help, especially at safety.
Bleacher Nation (Rooney)
Safety might not be considered a premier position, but Caleb Downs is an elite defender and playmaker on that side of the football. I think the Commanders would have a hard time passing on him if this is how the board shook out.
Mock Draft Database
Tankathon
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
NFL.com (Davis)
The top cornerback in the draft heads to Washington, which should be making major investments on defense this offseason.
A to Z Sports (May)
The Commanders have a ton of needs — especially at edge rusher — but all three of the best players who fit that bill are gone at this point. They add an elite shutdown cornerback who gave up just 14 receptions throughout the entire 2025 college football season. Mansoor Delane defended nearly 20 passes in the last two seasons alone and racked up a half dozen interceptions in that span. Cornerbacks like that don’t fall too far in the first round.
Round 3: Kevin Coleman, WR, Missouri
Round 5: Louis Moore, S, Indiana
Round 6: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
Round 6: Beau Stephens, IOL, Iowa
Round 7: Kaleb Proctor, DT, SE Louisiana
Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State
NFL.com (Jeremiah)
Reese provides Washington some explosiveness and versatility. He might be a tougher projection than some of the other pass rushers in this year’s draft, given that he split time between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker for the Buckeyes. Reese has the highest upside of the group, though.
Pro Football Network (Infante)
Let’s face it: 2025 was a disaster of a season for the Washington Commanders. Injuries flooded their roster, but they also exposed their lack of developing young talent outside of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels. They have a serious chance in the 2026 NFL Draft to give their roster a much-needed youth infusion.
However, Arvell Reese is worth an exception. The 6’4″, 243-pounder is a physical specimen with elite size and length for an off-ball defender, which he pairs with impressive speed and ideal physicality. His play strength, long arms, and craftiness as a blitzing defender even have some projecting him as an edge rusher in the NFL.
Round 3: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Through two seasons at USC before his transfer to Georgia, Zachariah Branch has been one of the most dynamic receivers in football. He’s undersized but thrives in space with elite athleticism and ball-carrier vision that shines when he returns kicks and punts.
Round 5: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
Round 6: DJ Campbell, OG, Texas
Round 6: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Round 7: Vinny Anthony II, WR, Wisconsin
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Buccaneers.com (Dix)
The Commanders need more production from the middle of their defense and Sonny Styles would help fortify the unit. Dan Quinn has an impressive résumé when it comes to coaching linebackers with his hands-on approach, including pupils Bobby Wagner and linebacker-turned-edge Micah Parsons. Styles could be the next prodigy in the elite fraternity. He gets to the flats with lateral quickness and possesses man coverage skills. Styles could be utilized on disguises with his versatile skillset and finishes tackles with physicality. He gets to where he needs to be on the field without sacrificing leverage and is the type of player Quinn can build the defense around.
Fantasy Pros (Fanelli)
The Commanders need help on all three levels of defense. While many mock drafts have Washington selecting an edge rusher, Styles could have the most impact for Dan Quinn’s squad. Bobby Wagner turns 36 before the start of the 2026 season and is an upcoming free agent.
Fantasy Pros (Fitzmaurice)
The Commanders would love to have at least one of Bain, Bailey, or Downs available here. However, with none of those players on the board, Washington takes Styles as a replacement for Bobby Wagner, who’s 35-years-old and about to hit free agency. This is early for an off-ball linebacker, but the Commanders need an infusion of young talent on defense, and the 21-year-old Styles has vast upside.
A to Z Sports
With Daronte Jones coming in at defensive coordinator, the Commanders need to begin bringing in versatile players to run the Brian Flores style scheme. Sonny Styles is a former safety with a ton of height and athleticism Jones can tap into. Whether it be as a blitzing linebacker or dropping back into coverage, Styles can do it all.
Round 3: Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Pro Football Focus (McGuinness)
An edge defender would be a strong consideration here for the Commanders, and they’d likely sprint the card in for either Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey. However, there’s something to be said for adding an elite talent if one falls. Love, who earned PFF overall grades above 90.0 in each of the past two seasons, could pair Jayden Daniels to give the Commanders their version of the Baltimore Ravens‘ rushing attack featuring Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
Round 3: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
On3 (Kosko)
Washington fell flat on their face this year with age and injuries. Jayden Daniels would like to fix that in Year 3 and it would help if he had an elite back like Love fall to the Commanders in the draft.
Love was a star at Notre Dame and the best running back in college football. This makes sense for the Commanders’ backfield, almost too much sense.
Walter Football
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a fun story because he liked to be called Bill for some reason, but the Redskins need to make sure that Jayden Daniels can lean on a potent rushing attack so that he’s not taking too many hits.
Jeremiyah Love is a powerful, downhill runner with plus receiving ability.
Round 3: Keyron Crawford, DE, Auburn
The Redskins struggled to get to the quarterback last year, so they’ll need to find some new pass rushers.
Keyron Crawford is a raw pass rusher who had decent production at Auburn.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
New York Post (Selby)
Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are both 30, so here’s a young deep threat for new coordinator David Blough to help Jayden Daniels rebound from a sophomore slump.
Fox Sports
Easily the best receiver in this draft, Tate is next in the long line of pro Buckeye receivers. At 6-3, 195 pounds, he’s a big receiver who can dominate in the red zone while also serving as a deep threat. This year, he’s one of 12 Power 4 receivers to have nine receiving touchdowns and over 800 receiving yards. He is an instant offensive boost for an offense that struggled without Jayden Daniels last season.
NFL Spin Zone (Scataglia)
Washington grabs some wide receiver help and takes Carnell Tate, giving Jayden Daniels another weapon.
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fantasy Sports on SI (Morales-Smith)
After an injury-plagued season from Jayden Daniels, they need to build up an offensive line to protect him.
