With the growing question about whether the Washington Commanders will ultimately stick and pick, one outlet projects that Washington adds two top-20 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft
The week of the 2026 NFL Draft has finally arrived for the Washington Commanders with a chance for all the rumors and speculation to finally cease and a chance for the front office to finally make the moves they have been plotting, researching and analyzing for months. Yet the growing question as the days neared the first round was how serious the Commanders could be about moving down in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Adam Peters essentially noted it's a case by case basis, adding how the draft board evolves through the first six picks impacts what direction the Commanders go. Peters also added that it's "more likely than not" the team sticks and picks with the seventh overall pick.
Yet CBS Sports projected what may be the most intriguing draft night trade partner: the Dallas Cowboys.
Peters admitted that intra-division trades has "more scrutiny with that" but shrugged the notion that the front office would avoid it if it materializes as a best fit for both sides.
"We got to beat them on Sundays and Mondays and Wednesdays and Thursdays and Fridays regardless, so to me, that doesn't make it a huge difference," Peters added.
Yet CBS Sports projected the Commanders trade both top-100 picks in exchange for a pair of top-20 selections with the Cowboys entering the first round with both the 12th and 20th overall selections.
While it begs the question whether the seventh and 71st pick in exchange for the 12th and 20th overall picks is one that is actually favorable for the Commanders, both projected selections add impact pieces at positions of need.
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon was the Commanders first pick with the former Biletnikoff Award winner adding a dynamic receiver with big play ability to a room in dire need of that alongside veteran Terry McLaurin.
Eight picks later, former Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was projected to be a Commander, adding maybe the most undervalued first round prospect to the cornerback room. Widely viewed as the top cornerback ahead of the 2025 season, a torn ACL sidelined him for his junior season has put a question mark on his medicals yet he's challenged former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane for the title as the best cornerback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While the trade also allowed the Cowboys to draft former Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, would Commander fans be comfortable making a trade with its bitter rival if Lemon and McCoy prove to be the two picks? Would not just failing to add another top-100 pick, but giving up your lone day two selection be a dealbreaker in a possible draft night trade? It's an intriguing scenario, yet time will tell if this or something similar will materialize once the clock starts on Thursday.