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Commanders Land Arguably Top Player In This 2026 Mock Draft

Bonisiwe Shabane
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commanders land arguably top player in this 2026 mock draft

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 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.

It's no secret the Washington Commanders need an infusion of youth on defense, specifically, at edge rusher. Heading into last offseason, edge rusher was listed as a primary need for Washington. Instead of devoting significant resources to the position, Washington did not overspend in free agency on an edge rusher and followed its draft board in the 2025 NFL draft. Ultimately, the Commanders signed future Hall of Famer Von Miller this summer. Washington didn't expect Miller to be a full-time player, but instead provide some help in obvious passing situations. Miller has played well, recording four sacks through seven games in a part-time role.

Washington's top pass rusher, Dorance Armstrong, was lost for the season after injuring his knee in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. Armstrong's 5.5 sacks lead the Commanders, and his injury is the latest blow to the position. Washington has already lost defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Javontae Jean-Baptiste for the season. Currently 3-4, the Commanders are on pace to land a top-15 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. As we approach the midway point of the current NFL season, it's already mock draft season. Mike Renner of CBS recently unveiled his latest mock draft, which has Washington selecting at No.

13 overall. Renner's pick: Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. 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 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 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. Adam Peters made the aggressive moves needed to potentially keep the Washington Commanders in the Super Bowl hunt during the offseason. Unfortunately, things have not gone as anyone associated with the franchise expected. It's been one disaster after another for the Commanders at the midseason point.

Injuries have decimated the roster. Young players expected to progress haven't lived up to their billing. The NFL's oldest roster looks exactly that — a massive problem holding the team back right now. Peters opted to stand pat at the 2025 trade deadline. Fans were anticipating a couple of outgoings, given the Commanders' slow start this season. But either no suitable interest arrived, or the offers weren't enough for the front-office leader to remove certain players from the equation.

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