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The Athletic (paywall)
How much does positional value matter as Commanders mull No. 7 pick?
Here’s what we know: In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Washington Commanders will likely draft edge rusher Arvell Reese
or linebacker Sonny Styles or running back Jeremiyah Love or cornerback Mansoor Delane or safety Caleb Downs or receiver Carnell Tate or other edge rusher David Bailey or other edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. or other receiver Makai Lemon or trade down and not take any of them.
“Man, you hear something new every day, right?” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said last week. “Really, nobody’s telling the truth.”
Unlike in past drafts, when quarterbacks dominated the conversation and were pushed to the top because of their value, three of this year’s top overall prospects play non-premium positions: Love, the Notre Dame running back; Styles, the Ohio State linebacker; and Downs, the Ohio State safety.
Does that matter? It might. But it depends on how the Commanders view these prospects and what their vision for each is long term.
Hogs Haven
Commanders Draft: Pick-3 Contest – 2026
So, how does the Draft P3 work?
Today, two days prior to the draft, Washington has 6 selections in the 7-round draft, which starts Thursday.
As has been true every year, each entrant in Draft Pick 3 is allowed to nominate three players for each draft pick that the team has at the moment.
One change this year is that I have added a BONUS pick that anticipates the possibility of a 2nd- or 4th-round pick acquired by trade. Each entrant will be able to nominate 3 additional players in each of those rounds (6 in total) who will come into play if the Commanders pick in either of those rounds by trading up or down. Your bonus pick players will only be considered if the Commanders a pick in the relevant round.
That means that each entrant can identify up to 24 players that he or she thinks might be drafted by the Commanders next week — your own “little board” in effect. If any player on your list gets drafted by the Commanders in the 2026 draft, you get points. The entrant with the most points wins. Simple!
Commanders Wire
Commanders must address one critical need during 2026 NFL Draft
“It’s the most critical area of the team.”
That is what 106.7 The Fan’s Danny Rouhier confidently stated on Wednesday, on the Grant & Danny Show. What position group was Rouhier referencing? “It is the gaping hole,” he continued. “I will not do the Noah Brown, ‘I hope someone gets cut’ tier of receiver again. No, thank you; neither will they, by the way.”
2025 was quite a disappointing season for Washington receivers. Their best receiver attempted to play hardball with the Commanders, sitting out, then sitting in training camp, demanding a much better contract extension, and it lasted entirely too long. Coaches and players played up to the media, smiling, acting as if it were a Disney movie, and everyone was going to live happily ever after. Everyone except former OC, Kliff Kingsbury. He put an end to the acting, stating starters need enough time on the grass together, and it wasn’t happening.
Sure enough, McLaurin, who missed time, wasn’t physically 100 percent prepared for the regular season when he signed his extension. He missed seven games and wasn’t healthy in some of the games he did play. Luke McCaffrey missed the final eight games, and Brown missed 13 games. The Commanders signed Treylon Burks, who had been released by the Titans, and he played the last eight games. Robbie Chosen and Tay Martin were called upon to play three games, and Jacoby Jones saw action in one game.
Hogs Haven
A 20 Year Report Card of Drafts: Washington results were surprising
[According to PerThirtySix], Washington ranked 23 out of the 32 with a C- Grades.
They have a hit rate of 14% (picks that outplay their value).
In terms 2nd round picks, they ranked dead last in draft value here. Only Sam Comsi and Preston Smith are the only positive 2nd round picks here.
Their best round, the 3rd which they ranked 3rd in positional value with Terry McLaurin, Kendall Fuller, Antonio Gibson, and Morgan Mosses leading the way.
They made the top 10 in pure draft 5 times in the 20 year period. With 2012 being their highest at 4. Kirk Cousin, Alfred Morris and Tom Compton provided excellent value.
Their worst draft was 2023 they were ranked second to last at 31with Chris Rodriquez being the sole player with a net positive rating.
The past two draft classes have yeilded varrying results.
Hogs Haven
So Does Defense Win Lombardis?
I looked over the most important defensive stat (points allowed) for both teams involved in the last 10 Super Bowls. Interesting pattern emerged.
You want an easy way to predict the winner of the SB game? In 9 of the 10 years, it was the team that allowed fewer points during the regular season. The only exception was KC in 2022 (#16), when they beat the Eagles (#8). Does any other indicator come close to predicting the winner so well?
The winner of the SB had a defensive ranking of #1 in 2 games and #2 in 2 other games. The trend has been pronounced lately, with the winner ranking #2 in 2023 and 2024 and #1 in 2025. The only years in which the winner did not have a team scoring rating in the top 10 in the league were 2022, when KC (#16) beat PHL (#8), and 2021, when the Rams (#15) beat Cincinnati (#17).
Podcasts & videos
Built On Competition | Commanders Log: Season 5, Episode 2
GM Adam Peters Previews the 2026 NFL Draft with Bryan Colbert Jr. | Command Center | Commanders
NFC East links
ESPN
Cowboys say they won’t talk long-term deal with George Pickens
The Dallas Cowboys will not hold contract talks regarding a long-term deal with their franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
The Cowboys informed Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, of their decision last week, hoping to put to rest the questions of an extension that would need to be completed by July 15.
Dallas placed the nonexclusive $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens in March.
Speaking from the NFL’s annual meeting last month, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the Cowboys have “long-term plans” for Pickens, but all they will be guaranteed now is the 2026 season. The Cowboys could use the franchise tag on Pickens in 2027, which would cost them roughly $32.7 million, or work out a long-term deal next year. If Pickens were to leave, the Cowboys [could] receive a compensatory pick in 2028.
Last May, the Cowboys acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-rounder. He responded with the best year of his career, establishing career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (9).
NFL Draft
ESPN
Bettors divided on Bailey, Reese as No. 2 pick in NFL draft
The odds on the second pick have moved dramatically in recent weeks, with bettors and bookmakers trying to figure out the Jets’ plans. On Thursday morning, Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey was a -135 favorite to be the second pick, with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese listed at +105 at DraftKings. Reese had been the favorite at -400 on Wednesday, and the odds have been flipping almost daily with each report out of the Jets’ camp and each mock draft.
At Caesars Sportsbook, the odds to be the No. 2 pick had attracted more bets and more money than any other draft market. Sportsbook Circa said it received a flurry of bets on Bailey early Tuesday morning that moved him from underdog to favorite in a matter of minutes.
Pro Football Talk
Jaguars may be trying to get back into round one
Last year, the Jaguars gave up this year’s first-round pick as part of the effort to move up three spots to get Travis Hunter. This year, the Jaguars may be using a prior first-round pick to get another one.
As the draft approaches, we’re told that the Jaguars may be trying to lay the foundation for a potential trade into the bottom of round one. The potential bait could include receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
For whatever reason, Thomas didn’t have the same impact under Liam Coen. With both the coach and G.M. who were with the team when Thomas was drafted gone, he becomes an asset the Jaguars could utilize in an effort to crash the round-one party.
Much of it depends on whether a player the Jaguars covet is available as the first round moves past the first 20 picks or so — and whether there’s a team in that window that would prefer to trade its first-round pick for Thomas.
The reality is that every first-round pick, when used, becomes essentially a trade for that player. The question is whether a team would rather trade that pick for an unproven incoming player, or whether that team would trade the pick for a player who made a significant splash in his first NFL season.
The Athletic (paywall)
A shorter NFL Draft? Time between first-round picks shortened by 2 minutes in 2026
This year’s first round of the NFL Draft might be slightly shorter thanks to a change the league made to the time between picks.
Teams will have eight minutes to make their first-round selections, down from the previous 10-minute window. The two-minute cut puts teams on a tighter clock to negotiate trades, but it should shorten the Day 1 proceedings, which had previously taken nearly four hours to complete.
It was the first adjustment to the opening-round timing since 2008. In 2007, the first round lasted a record six hours and eight minutes, which prompted a change from 15 to 10 minutes between picks.
Teams have seven minutes to make picks in the second round, five minutes for regular or compensatory picks in rounds 3 through 6 and four minutes in the seventh round.
NFL league links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
Ravens pick up wide receiver Zay Flowers’ fifth-year option: Source
The Baltimore Ravens have picked up the fifth-year option on Zay Flowers’ rookie deal, according to a team source, a decision that keeps the wide receiver under contract through 2027 but doesn’t eliminate the possibility of an extension.
Given Flowers’ strong first three seasons, which have included two Pro Bowl selections, this was widely considered a formality. The Ravens beat the May 1 deadline for picking up fifth-year options on 2023 first-round picks by about a week. Flowers’ option is worth $28 million, a tough but necessary price for Baltimore to pay for its top receiver.
Front Office Sports
NFL Pushes Back As FCC Scrutiny of Media Strategy Grows
Schroeder made a series of points as he defended the NFL’s antitrust exemption, according to league officials, including that it shows 87% of all its games on free, broadcast television. That figure rises to 100% for the competing teams’ home markets in each contest.
The league also argued that having each team negotiate its own media rights, as opposed to the current pooled approach, would lead to far greater fragmentation and higher costs for consumers.
The NFL’s growing migration to streaming, meanwhile, is mirrored through sports media and is happening as those services continue to grow in size and traditional cable and satellite subscribers are in marked decline. Under the current model, the NFL last season had its best regular-season viewership since 1989.
The FCC’s ongoing pressure on the NFL, and what chairman Brendan Carr sees as potential antitrust violations, is one of at least four major legislative and regulatory efforts percolating in Washington on this subject. Most recently, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wisc.) introduced For The Fans Act, a bill that, if successful, would end regional blackouts on sports streaming subscriptions and require that all pro leagues provide free, live access to local games.
The NFL already does the latter measure in the home markets of the competing teams in each game, but Baldwin’s bill aims to expand the concept to every other major league and on a state-level basis.
NFL Gossip
ESPN
Mike Vrabel to seek counseling, won’t be with Patriots for NFL draft Day 3
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel won’t be with the team for the third day of the NFL draft Saturday.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel said Wednesday night. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Vrabel, who has two sons with his wife, Jen, plans to be with his family this weekend outside of Massachusetts.
Vrabel said he will still be in contact with the Patriots on Saturday for the final day of the draft, but he expressed confidence in executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden to lead the draft room.
The Patriots enter the draft with 11 selections, headlined by the No. 31 pick of the first round. Eight of their selections are on the final day of the draft: two in the fourth round, one in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Front Office Sports
How the Patriots Are Stage-Managing the Vrabel-Russini Fallout
News of Vrabel’s altered draft plans came less than two days after he finally broke his weeks-long silence on the situation involving Russini, speaking to local media at the team facility on short notice and saying little.
Though the appearance seemed carefully stage-managed, the Patriots deny having used any exterior communications firms to manage their response.
During his presser on Tuesday, Vrabel looked and sounded contrite. He was solicitous of the press. But he didn’t apologize. He didn’t admit any guilt. He didn’t comment on his relationship with Russini. He never mentioned the ex-Athletic senior NFL insider by name.
“It was definitely scripted. A true apology has no ifs or buts and has a full repentant heart. It’s more about heart work than head work to win back the ultimate currency: trust,” Paul tells FOS. “However, in sports some fans ultimately will divide his personal sexual situation from his coaching ability this season. If he wins, they will forget soon. If he loses, they will say maybe he could coach better if he keeps his pants on.”
[The Patriot’s] response has all the earmarks of a carefully choreographed crisis management operation.
[N]o NFL franchise has weathered more scandals and crises. Spygate. Deflategate. Aaron Hernandez. Kraft himself faced two charges—later dropped—of soliciting prostitution.
So when it comes to handling scandals and bad news, the Pats are as good as it gets in pro sports. To the media’s chagrin, they proved that Tuesday when they played rope-a-dope with frustrated reporters.
On Tuesday, the team told local press that “two players” were going to be available for interviews. That drew a bare-bones media crowd, with many regular reporters not in attendance.
With only five minutes’ notice, the Pats suddenly informed the press that Vrabel would be appearing instead of the players. The switcheroo worked to his and the team’s benefit.
To provide even more air cover, the Pats dictated the rules of engagement during a subsequent “side session” with the coach. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported reporters had to turn off all cameras, including phones, and ask only football questions. Not all reporters complied. But the damage was done. Volin described it as a “last minute sneak attack” on the media.
“Though appearing transparent, the Patriots did their best to dictate the terms of Vrabel’s appearance,” Volin wrote. “It cuts against Vrabel’s message of accountability.”
