The Washington Commanders will meet with two more 2026 NFL Draft prospects this week - one DMV native and another who ended his college career locally
The Washington Commanders will get a look at two intriguing NFL Draft prospects with local ties this week.
Grant Paulsen of 106.7 reported that former USC safety Bishop Fitzgerald is expected to meet with the Commanders on Wednesday, while Mike Jones of The Athletic added former Maryland right tackle Alan Herron is expected during the week.
For Herron, the news comes one week after he took a top-30 visit to the New Orleans Saints as he enters the draft with upside as a high potential offensive lineman.
Herron got a late start to his football career after transitioning from soccer, eventually going to play in college where he spent his first two seasons at DII Shorter University where he started every game at either right or left tackle through his first two seasons. The Jamaican lineman then hit the transfer portal where he materialized into an intriguing target for several Power Four teams, initially committing to Penn State before flipping his commitment to Maryland during the early signing period.
It did not take long for Herron to draw buzz as a potential NFL prospect with two years of eligibility ahead of him as he materialized into a staple in the trenches for the Terps. Herron ended his college career tied for the team lead with 24 consecutive starts at right tackle. Herron joined safety Jalen Huskey, who has been projected to Washington in recent mock drafts, as the only Terps to draw invites to the NFL Scouting Combine while he also competed in both the Panini Senior Bowl and American Bowl All Star Game.
He offers intrigue as a potential swing guard with a potential to address the offensive line on day three.
Fitzgerald, meanwhile, would mark a return to the DMV as the Woodbridge, Virginia native would get a chance to return to the area to resume his playing career for the first time since his days as a recruit at Gar-Field Senior High School. After taking the junior college route, Fitzgerald spent two seasons at NC State before transferring to USC for 2025 where he solidified himself as a draft prospect.
Fitzgerald finished with 34 total tackles, five interceptions and eight pass deflections in 2025 en route to being named a First Team All-American by both Walter Camp and the AP. There are multiple safeties who could be a fit should the Commanders go that route with their third round pick as Fitzgerald becomes the latest to fit the profile after being named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The USC safety also played under D'Anton Lynn, son of current Commanders assistant Anthony Lynn, during his season with the Trojans.