ESPN reported the Washington Commanders are expected to prioritize a pair of positions of need with the first two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
Another day, another draft rumor with the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft exactly two weeks away. Yet this time, it's a sensible takeaway as the Washington Commanders navigate through their six selections, including a pair in the top 100.
Of course, those first two picks are the ones drawing all the debate with several options poised to be available when it comes time for general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn to make the call. With a handful of prospects capable of filling remaining roster needs, along with a potential impact piece in Jeremiyah Love to round out the running back room, the Commanders could be prioritizing one on each side of the ball.
Jordan Reid of ESPN pointed to wide receiver and cornerback as the two positions the Commanders are expected to address its top two picks. John Keim of ESPN added that the best case scenario, of course, is the Commanders are able to find a trade partner to move back in the first round while recouping an additional top 100 selection, filling a void after the Commanders sent multiple draft picks to the Houston Texans in exchange for veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil last offseason. Yet how far back the Commanders would move in the first round would drastically impact the perception of a draft night move among the fanbase with a chance to add a difference maker with the team's second top ten pick in three years.
That leaves a handful of candidates in the mix with the seventh overall pick including Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and maybe even Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, though he's slid in mock drafts in recent weeks. Though not a cornerback, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has remained a selection in recent mock drafts for the Commanders though some outlets have pointed to him landing inside the top five.
While the debate could soon turn to which position should become the pick first selection, the pair of mentioned positions make the most sense for the Commanders to address. The void between Terry McLaurin and the rest of the wide receiver room leaves a question mark on the weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels, while the veteran experience adding through free agency rounds out the cornerback's rotation with a need for more top end talent.
The question mark could be what the Commanders plan is at running back with the makeup of the current 2026 room pointing to a committee approach with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White looking to lead the way. Yet with just two prime draft picks, it's a chance for general manager Adam Peters to strike gold in the next stage of the acquisition period.