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Commanders 7 Round 2026 Nfl Mock Draft High Stakes Yardbarker

Bonisiwe Shabane
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commanders 7 round 2026 nfl mock draft high stakes yardbarker

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. After the Washington Commanders address the edge rushing spot, bolstering the secondary could be Adam Peters' next port of call. This was expected to be among the team's biggest strengths this season, but injuries and underperformance have led to these expectations disintegrating. This is especially evident at the safety spots. Quan Martin's breakout hasn't happened. Will Harris got hurt early.

Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, and Tyler Owens look more like special teams options right now, so acquiring another athletic option with immediate starting-caliber credentials wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. The Commanders could target Caleb Downs in the first round, but positional value might see Peters wait until a little later in proceedings. In this scenario, taking a chance on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is well worth considering. McNeil-Warren comes from a smaller program at Toledo, but so did Quinyon Mitchell. He transitioned seamlessly after being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, and this year's Rockets prospect has the scope, explosiveness, and overall dynamism to do the same. His quickness, physicality, and instincts already look NFL-ready.

McNeil-Warren faces a steep step up in class. Still, there is nothing to suggest that he cannot continue his exceptional momentum en route to immediate involvement with the team fortunate enough to secure his services. 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 coming off a 27-18 Thursday Night loss to the Green Bay Packers. While Jayden Daniels and the offense had a tough time against Micah Parsons and company, they did have success at the tight end position. Daniels was able to find success throwing the ball to Zach Ertz who showcased his yards after the catch skill in scoring a touchdown for the Commanders. How impactful could the offense be with a younger tight end who is showing first round talent at Oregon. Yes, we are talking about Kenyon Sadiq who is one of the top tight end prospects to watch ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

So far in the 2025 season, Sadiq has 5 receptions for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Ducks. His athleticism and ability after the catch is what stands out about Sadiq which could make him a perfect replacement to Ertz if the Commanders are locked in on the position entering the draft. Dante dimes. #GoDucks @dantemoore05 🤝 @KenyonSadiq pic.twitter.com/w56yZYF6HQ A rejuvenated Ertz is showing how effective the Commanders’ offense can be with an athletic tight end target. In the team’s Week 2 loss to the Packers, the veteran tight end caught 6 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Imagine a younger version of Ertz and you have Sadiq who could be a prime target for Daniels. Wanna Get Waaay Ahead of Your League Mates? Trading future rookie picks feels like a roll of the dice. Will next year be a strong skill position class? Will certain be positions be stronger or weaker? Analysts will spout off about the strengths and weaknesses of a class, but putting it in context of other positions helps predict draft capital.

Plus many of those analysts haven't even watched these players. Next year will mark the 23rd NFL Draft I have scouted and covered. I've been producing seven-round mock drafts and rankings since 2004. Stay ahead with the latest 2026 NFL Washington Commanders Draft Order, updated weekly. Mark your calendars — the 2026 NFL Draft takes place on April 23-25, 2026. Bookmark this page to see where the Commanders stand every week on the road to the draft.

Adam Peters won't be looking too far ahead right now. The Washington Commanders are 3-4 with a brutal stretch of games upcoming, so it'll be interesting to see how much fight this squad has left amid some ongoing injury problems. If the Commanders lose their next three, they'll be 3-7. A season that promised much will fall by the wayside, and fans will inevitably begin to look at the offseason to see what personnel enhancements can be made. This is also why the Commanders are in a tricky spot heading into the trade deadline. Peters is an aggressive roster builder, but sacrificing more capital when they have only six draft picks in 2026 is a gamble.

Regardless of whether Peters makes a trade or not, the Commanders have to get their first-round pick right next spring. They currently hold the No. 12 pick as things stand, and although their needs will change between now and the big weekend, some clues are already starting to emerge. Ian Cummings from Pro Football and Sports Network believes Peters could go down the wide receiver route to provide Jayden Daniels with a long-term weapon. And his choice was USC's gifted playmaker Makai Lemon.

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