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2026 Nfl Mock Draft Has Washington Commanders Rebuilding Their Defense

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2026 nfl mock draft has washington commanders rebuilding their defense

There are still seven games remaining for the Washington Commanders in 2025. But with the season spiraling into irrelevancy when much more was expected, some sections of the fan base are already looking ahead to what promises to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Adam... The front-office leader has a significant amount of hard work ahead. Washington has roster holes everywhere you look. Peters' gamble to run it back with most of the squad that achieved so much in 2024 has backfired. A disastrous run of luck on the injury front hasn't helped, but it's clear that this squad, as presently constructed, isn't capable of reaching the heights fans anticipated.

Peters could have over $100 million to spend in free agency, and he'd be wise to use every cent before Year 3 of quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract. The Commanders stood pat at the 2025 trade deadline, which was surprising to most, leaving Peters with only six selections in next year's draft to utilize. Not exactly ideal, but the former San Francisco 49ers executive will have to make the best out of a bad situation. Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we took a look at how the Commanders could approach their selections in our latest seven-round 2026 NFL mock draft. It's no secret that the Washington Commanders need to get more explosive on the defensive edge. Only Dorance Armstrong Jr.

is guaranteed to be back next season, but even the ascending defensive end is in the final year of his deal in 2026. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has his hands full this offseason. One year after the Commanders went 12-5 in Peters's first year as GM, they sit at 3-7 heading into Week 11 and look like they'll be picking inside the top 10 of the 2026... Washington needs it. There are several holes on the roster that must be addressed. And the Commanders are already without second and fourth-round picks due to the Laremy Tunsil trade.

The two most glaring needs for 2026 look like edge rusher and wide receiver. Depending on how this season concludes, the Commanders could have their pick between a top pass rusher and receiver. In a new mock draft from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, the Commanders land arguably the top player in next year's draft at No. 8 overall: Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. Washington needs pass-rush help, and Rueben Bain fits the powerful profile Dan Quinn tends to favor. The Commanders did well to add veteran talent that could accelerate their timeline, but they got a bit too aggressive last offseason and over-leveraged their future.

Now it's time to start replacing some of those veterans The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain is currently ranked as Edwards' top-ranked prospect for 2026. However, three quarterbacks helped push Bain to Washington at No. 8 in this mock. In 31 career games at Miami, Bain has 98 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Many believe Bain's best football is ahead of him and the chance to work with a coach like Dan Quinn could unlock his vast potential.

There is a long way to go and a lot of football to come before the 2026 NFL Draft. But make no mistake, general manager Adam Peters' accomplished front-office staff will already be analyzing college football's latest stars before the all-important assessment process. The Washington Commanders don't have much in the way of picks once again. They are slated to have just five selections after some frantic trade activity during the offseason. That reduces the margin for error, but Peters has already proven capable of doing more with less. Needs will change depending on how things unfold in the coming months.

But for now, we took a look at some early perceptions in a seven-round 2026 mock draft using the Pro Football Network simulator. Bobby Wagner is a phenomenal player, but he isn't getting any younger. The Commanders need to find a long-term replacement for the future Pro Football Hall of Famer. Adding Anthony Hill Jr. would solve more problems than one. Hill is a dynamic second-level presence.

The Texas standout is explosive to the contact point, is a legitimate sideline-to-sideline presence, and can make things happen in pass-rushing situations. Placing him next to Frankie Luvu would instantly be a ferocious tandem if this is Wagner's final season. It's July, which means NFL training camps open for all 32 teams this month. It's also nearing time for college football teams to open fall camp in preparation for the upcoming 2025 season. So, before training camp kicks off, ESPN's Matt Miller revealed a pre-training camp 2026 mock draft. Miller has the Washington Commanders picking 26th in his mock draft, using ESPN's Football Power Index, which projects thousands of games using simulations for the 2025 season.

FPI has the Cleveland Browns picking No. 1 overall. Miller has Washington selecting Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris at No. 26. The Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore last season and picked Trey Amos in Round 2 of the 2025 draft but still have a need at corner, especially when considering Lattimore's age and injury history.

At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Harris has the length Dan Quinn loves in his corners. Harris has shown ball-hawking skills and loves to press and jam receivers. He's still a bit green, having started only one season, but last season's tape -- along with Penn State's track record in developing defenders -- makes Harris one of the most promising corners in... It's way too early to project the Commanders selecting a first-round cornerback. Currently, edge rusher remains Washington's most significant need. At cornerback, the Commanders have Lattimore under contract for two more seasons and just drafted Trey Amos with a 2025 second-round pick.

Mike Sainristil, Washington's 2024 second-round pick, has one starting spot locked down. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has his hands full this offseason. One year after the Commanders went 12-5 in Peters's first year as GM, they sit at 3-7 heading into Week 11 and look like they'll be picking inside the top 10 of the 2026... Washington needs it. There are several holes on the roster that must be addressed. And the Commanders are already without second and fourth-round picks due to the Laremy Tunsil trade.

The two most glaring needs for 2026 look like edge rusher and wide receiver. Depending on how this season concludes, the Commanders could have their pick between a top pass rusher and receiver. In a new mock draft from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, the Commanders land arguably the top player in next year's draft at No. 8 overall: Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. Washington needs pass-rush help, and Rueben Bain fits the powerful profile Dan Quinn tends to favor. The Commanders did well to add veteran talent that could accelerate their timeline, but they got a bit too aggressive last offseason and over-leveraged their future.

Now it's time to start replacing some of those veterans The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain is currently ranked as Edwards' top-ranked prospect for 2026. However, three quarterbacks helped push Bain to Washington at No. 8 in this mock. In 31 career games at Miami, Bain has 98 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Many believe Bain's best football is ahead of him and the chance to work with a coach like Dan Quinn could unlock his vast potential.

The Washington Commanders are trending down after four straight losses, but that means the team is moving up in the NFL Draft order. The Commanders were striving to be in the 20s or 30s for the first round of the draft, but the team could be in the top 10 if their record continues to deteriorate. That could put them in position to take Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. "Bain Jr. is an explosive, violent edge rusher with rare power and bend, capable of turning the corner from wide alignments and overwhelming tackles with speed-to-power," CBS Sports contributor Ryan Wilson wrote. "He wins with a deep arsenal of pass-rush moves -- from bull rushes to inside counters -- and plays with exceptional contact balance and hand usage to shed blocks both as a rusher and...

Relentlessly disruptive and highly explosive off the snap, Bain consistently collapses pockets, sets a firm edge, and makes impact plays from whistle to whistle." READ MORE: Commanders get good news on linebacker ahead of Lions game The Washington Commanders didn't select an edge rusher during the 2025 NFL Draft. That was a contentious issue among the fanbase, but one analyst believes this could be Adam Peters' biggest priority when next year's selection event rolls around. Peters played his board rather than focusing too much on need. That leaves the Commanders short of dependable pass-rushers, so it'll be interesting to see what the general manager has up his sleeve before Week 1 rolls around. Although the 2025 draft has barely concluded, that hasn't stopped those in the media from speculating who could potentially enter first-round consideration in 2026.

The Titans could use more blocking protection for Cam Ward. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Fano has a lot of talent and has played well at tackle for the Utes. He has been a versatile tackle with 11 starts at left tackle and 13 at right tackle heading into the 2025 season. For the most part, Fano played on the left side in 2023 and on the right side in 2024. Fano is fast, athletic, and plays with a mean streak. He is a force as a run blocker and shows a lot of athleticism to take away speed rushers.

A lot of teams could fall in love with his tape. Unless Tyler Shough impresses over the final two months of the season, New Orleans will be looking for a true franchise quarterback. Simpson has been phenomenal in 2025, leading the Crimson Tide to some big wins against tough opponents. In 2025, Simpson has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,461 yards with 21 touchdowns, an interception, and two rushing touchdowns. Simpson has shown some serious arm talent, making some beautiful throws downfield with superb ball placement to beat tight coverage. In tight games, Simpson made some great passes to lead his team to wins over Georgia and Missouri.

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