With just days away until the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, outlets remain split on what the Washington Commanders will do with their first pick in the first round
The week has officially arrived with the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft set to begin at 8 PM on Thursday, April 23. Yet the uncertainty as to what the Commanders will actually do reached a new stage over the weekend after the New York Giants acquired a second top ten selection after agreeing on a trade with former All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Why it matters? The Giants have been linked to several of the same top ten candidates as Washington, and with a fifth overall pick in the fold, what new head coach John Harbaugh and the front office opt to do could have ramifications on the Commanders' plans. Yet the updated mock drafts, for now, may not paint that same picture.
The question heading into the rest of the week will be whether any other trades materialize inside the top ten with both the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys drawing buzz as teams exploring a trade up. For now, we take a look at the updated outlook for Washington:
Updated NFL Mock Drafts
CBS Sports: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
ESPN: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
USA Today: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
PFF: Miami (FL) edge Rueben Bain Jr
The Athletic: LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane
NFL.com: LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane
Carnell Tate remains a popular pick for Washington with the wide receiver room expected to be a focus during the first two selections. Others like Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon have also meet with the Commanders with Lemon drawing intrigue as a realistic candidate if a trade down to the teens does materialize for Washington. Yet Tate has been the wide receiver prospect most frequently and consistently linked to Washington, potentially pairing quarterback Jayden Daniels with a second former Buckeye at the position.
Mansoor Delane, who met with the Commanders, proved to be the only player to be projected to Washington by two outlets with a chance for the Maryland native to become the top cornerback in a room that added veteran experience this offseason. While former Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy missed the 2025 season due to a torn ACL, Delane shined through his senior season where he would ultimately become the biggest challenger as the best prospect at his position. He ended his college career by not allowing a passing touchdown in 2025.
USA Today, meanwhile, was the lone outlet to stick with Styles as the pick after projecting his teammate, safety Caleb Downs, to become the Giants' first pick. For Styles, the fit as the athletic green dot linebacker to anchor the Commanders defense has added intrigue to what it could mean for the defense, especially after adding a versatile piece in former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. Yet this will be the one to hold your breath on until it comes time for the Giants to make their first pick.
Carnell Tate enters the week as the betting favorite to become the seventh overall pick with much more favorable odds compared to both Love and Styles with all eyes on whether that proves to be true.