Commanders Linked To Interesting Dl Prospect In Early 2026 Mock Draft

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 16, 2025, 5:58 PM

commanders linked to interesting dl prospect in early 2026 mock draft

The Washington Commanders just closed out a very productive 2025 NFL Draft. However, it’s never too early to start planning for the future. With that in mind, Kyle Crabbs of “The 33rd Team” put together his way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft. On a negative note, he doesn’t have the Commanders winning the Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t even have them reaching the NFC Championship Game again, as he projects them to have the No. 25 pick.

The Washington Commanders and their fans are gearing up for their most anticipated season to date after taking the NFL world by storm a season ago by making it to the NFC Championship game... Washington retooled their roster this offseason, nabbing key players on both sides of the ball through trades, free agency, and the NFL Draft in an attempt to strengthen their team to compete with their... The Commanders' draft might not have been all that jaw-dropping, but they added solid pieces depth-wise, with some having starting potential now or down the road in Josh Conerly Jr., Trey Amos, and Jaylin... Fans will be paying close attention to their rookies once training camp rolls around in mid-July, but it is never too early to look at how the Commanders will finish this season, and when... According to ESPN draft expert Matt Miller, the Commanders will, unfortunately, fall short of their dreams of winning the Super Bowl. Miller has Washington exiting the playoffs in the divisional round and entering the 2026 NFL Draft with the 25th overall pick, in which he believes they will bolster their secondary, taking promising young cornerback...

Harris out of Penn State. 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. 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. Stocks have already risen or fallen around 2026 NFL Draft prospects just one week into the college football season. The Washington Commanders are a long way off from making their choices just yet, but that doesn't mean those behind the scenes or scouting on the road aren't keeping a close eye on developments. Needs will be determined by Washington's efforts throughout the campaign. Nothing has been decided one way or another as yet, but one draft analyst believes general manager Adam Peters could set his sights on a legitimate three-down running back to put alongside quarterback sensation...

The Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. This leaves them with Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. It's an interesting dynamic, but only Kliff Kingsbury knows how the wealth is going to be shared. Anthony Licciardi from Sporting News doesn't believe Croskey-Merritt's surging summer hype will be enough for the Commanders to ignore reinforcements in 2026. He had Washington picking Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love at No.

24 overall in his latest mock draft, which would provide Kingsbury's offense a home-run threat they might not have right now. Love is a phenomenal talent. He burst onto the scene in 2024 with the Fighting Irish, gaining 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He was restricted to just 33 yards on 10 carries in Notre Dame's first game of the season, but it was a poor afternoon at the office for everybody. With the conclusion of the 2025 NFL draft, all 32 NFL teams will begin the work of preparing for the 2025 season. While they do that, the rest of us are sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, waiting.

Waiting is hard, especially for those of us who love the game of football and write about it. What are we to do while we wait? The 33rd Team had a perfect answer: A way-too-early 2026 mock draft. In this mock, the Washington Commanders select Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton. Washington has been committed to rebuilding the trenches this offseason under Dan Quinn after its 2024 breakout. But playing in the NFC East means your line can't just be "good" — or you may fall off the pace.

Adding the supersized Overton to the Commanders' defensive front gives them the power and depth they'll need to go toe to toe with Philly and Dallas on the line. After selecting just two defensive players in 2025, it stands to reason that the Commanders would need to add some defensive linemen to their roster. Overton provides a boost in size, power, and depth for the Commanders' defense, and with an aging defensive line, bringing in a young guy is a good idea.

Commanders Linked To Interesting Dl Prospect In Early 2026 Mock Draft

People Also Search

The Washington Commanders Just Closed Out A Very Productive 2025

The Washington Commanders And Their Fans Are Gearing Up For

Harris Out Of Penn State. There Is A Long Way

Needs Will Change Depending On How Things Unfold In The

Hill Is A Dynamic Second-level Presence. The Texas Standout Is