Even though the season opener for the Washington Commanders is just days away, it is never too early to look ahead to the future and what the Commanders might do in the 2027 NFL Draft. In ESPN’s most recent mock draft, Washington is projected to have the No. 10 overall pick and select wide receiver Charlie Becker out of Indiana.
First, it is notable that the Commanders are projected to have the No. 10 overall pick. ESPN projects no trade, meaning Washington is expected to have the tenth-worst record in the NFL and will not be close to making the playoffs.
This is a rather dismal prediction for a team that just reached the NFC Championship in 2024. Washington’s fate relies on the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who suffered three different
injuries last season. If he can stay healthy all season, the Commanders have a chance to compete for a playoff spot this season.
However, there are other concerns about Washington’s playoff chances. Arguably the biggest concern for the Commanders going into training camp was the wide receiver depth. They have Terry McLaurin as the No. 1 receiver and signed Stefon Diggs as the No. 2, with rookie Antonio Williams expected to be the No. 3. It is unclear what Williams will bring to the table as a third-round draft pick, and McLaurin also missed time last year. Diggs is coming off his seventh 1,000-yard season in his career, so he should help Daniels out this season.
Overall, it is reasonable to believe that Washington may end up with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but that projection could change as the season goes on. If the Commanders do end up with a top-10 pick, Charlie Becker would not be a bad selection. Here is what ESPN’s Jordan Reid had to say about Washington selecting Becker:
“Even though Stefon Diggs just signed with Washington, he'll be 33 years old and it's unclear if he'll be the Commanders' WR2 past this season. There's still a need for help opposite Terry McLaurin, and the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Becker was the player I enjoyed studying the most this offseason. He exploded on the scene last November and was the X factor in Indiana's run to the national title, averaging 19.9 yards per reception (seventh in the FBS). Becker combines deep speed with elite ball tracking and excellent hand-eye coordination. His skill set would perfectly complement Jayden Daniels' deep-ball proficiency.”
The concerns about Diggs long-term are completely valid given his age. It should also be taken into consideration that McLaurin will turn 31 this month, making the wide receiver position even more important for Washington to go after. At this point, Becker is considered one of the best wide receiver options in the draft, but that could easily change by the time the draft takes place near the end of April.
One other position the Commanders could target with their first-round pick is offensive line. The offensive line is already considered a question mark for Washington going into this season. It can be difficult to find quality offensive linemen in free agency, so it may be better for the Commanders to target the offensive line in the draft to ensure quarterback Jayden Daniels is protected for the foreseeable future.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders draft national champion WR in latest 2027 mock draft
