Commanders notebook: mock draft, secret superstar, vet departure?

Notebook on the Washington Commanders, including updated mock drafts with several defensive needs, the team's secret superstar and a projected veteran departure.

Secret superstar?...in a season where the offensive line was highlighted by the arrival of Laremy Tunsil and emergence of Chris Paul, PFF pointed to Sam Cosmi as Washington's 'secret superstar' in 2025 after bouncing back from a season-ending injury in 2024. "Cosmi returned to form as one of Washington’s most consistent players in 2025. He finished as the team’s third-highest-graded offensive player (76.4), posting 72.0-plus grades in both pass blocking and run blocking," PFF wrote. "Cosmi allowed just 11 pressures and two sacks on the season and closed the year with six consecutive games without allowing a pressure." Cosmi is expected to be a big part of the Commanders' offensive line in 2026 with all eyes on a Laremy Tunsil extension. While the front office will also look for an offseason jump from former first-round selection Josh Conerly, the bigger question might be whether they opt to re-sign Chris Paul, who is ranked the 193rd-best free agent this offseason per PFF.

Updated mock drafts...with the offseason inching closer to full swing across the league with now two weeks until the Super Bowl, updated 2026 mock draft released on Monday pointed to a split between a pair of Buckeye defenders. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com projected linebacker Sonny Styles to land in DC, while PFF remained steady and maintained its pick of safety Caleb Downs to the Commanders. Downs' fit on the backline is clear where the Commanders need upgrades across the secondary, but with Bobby Wagner potentially departing (more on that next), Styles could fit a need...unless it's Jordan Magee time.

Projected veteran departure...PFF also points to the Buffalo Bills as the best fit for veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner. The future Hall of Fame linebacker set a career mark in the season finale by reaching 2,000 career tackles, joining London Fletcher and Ray Lewis as the only players to do so in NFL history. Wagner comfortably led the team and ranked fifth in the NFL with 162 tackles in 2025, but whether a third season with the organization materializes is a question mark? General manager Adam Peters noted the need to get younger on defense in his end of season press conference, though whether the Commanders opt to turn in-house and give Jordan Magee that title is a question mark after head coach Dan Quinn repeatedly sung his praises through the 2025 season.

"In fact it was a cool moment tonight that I asked London [Fletcher] to be in the locker room as well. So for only three players in the history of our game to have over 2,000 tackles with Ray and London and [Bobby Wagner] now part of it, it's fitting," Quinn said after the regular season finale. "He's the best tackler I've coached and so to have that happen, you can see how important we were with the stat line at the half like okay, let's blitz him, let's get him some more tackles. But in true Wags fashion, he will find a way. He's remarkable in so many ways. I showed the team yesterday, [he] just got his MBA from Howard, 4.0. Like of course he did, why would he get a B in anything? That'd be so un-Wags like in so many ways."