Taking a look at six prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft to watch in Monday's college football national championship game between the Miami (FL) Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers.
The Washington Commanders enter the 2026 NFL Draft with just two selections across the first two days, including the seventh overall pick, before four selections on day three. While that's subject to change with roster movement left to sort before then, we take a look at six realistic draft candidates for the Commanders to watch in Monday's national championship game between the Miami (FL) Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers.
Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Set to play in his final game of his college career, Bain ended the regular season by becoming the first 'Cane to win the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, starting all 12 games where he registered 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and 37 tackles to become one of the best defensive players across college football. Bain is also one of ten players nationally credited with at least 50 quarterback pressures and added 21 through the 'Canes playoff run. The biggest question is where Bain projects at the next level with his arm length a continued talking point as reason for concern, pointing to him as a potential defensive tackle in the NFL.
ESPN ranks Bain as the 15th-best overall prospect while his teammate, DL Akheem Mesidor, is another name to know but with the West Virginia transfer projected late 1st/high 2nd round, he might not be as realistic of a draft target unless the Commanders trade down - which all signs point to them as interested in doing, but whether the team can find a trade partner is the biggest question mark.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper
A holdover from the previous Hoosier staff, Cooper made a name for himself on the national stage after his toe-tap touchdown in the final seconds lifted Indiana over Penn State on the road. He's added 866 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 64 catches in 2025 after combining for 861 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 46 catches through his first two seasons. The 6-foot redshirt junior averaged nearly 16 yards per catch through his three seasons where he's proven to be an explosive weapon for the Hoosiers' passing attack, drawing comparisons to Texans WR Christian Kirk.
Miami WR CJ Daniels
A Liberty and LSU transfer, the sixth-year receiver sits third on the team in both catches (46) and receiving yards (495) while ranked second in receiving touchdowns (7) despite failing to notch a 100-yard receiving game in 2025. A possible mid-round or day three selection next April and with a need to upgrade the unit, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound wideout is a candidate to do exactly that. Daniels enters the championship game with a contested catch rate over 80%.
Indiana edge Mikail Kamara
After bypassing the NFL Draft and opting to return to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season, the undersized edge has been one of the Big Ten's best and commanded added attention in the front seven in 2025. How he fares against a 'Canes front featuring likely first round pick Francis Mauigoa could cement himself on draft boards after posting a pair of sacks and 30 tackles so far this season. If Washington elects to go a different route than edge in the first round, could Kamara materialize into a late round target with four day three selections?
Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds
After transferring from James Madison to Indiana to follow head coach Curt Cignetti, Ponds has proven to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country. Though he proved it to not be an issue in college, how his size translates to the league will be the next round of questioning given he measures at 5-foot-9, 173 pounds. Still, the athletic and instinctive cornerback has shown the ball traits as evidenced by his pick-six on the first play of the CFP semifinal win vs. Oregon. Washington needs upgrades all over the secondary and Ponds, like several other NFL teams, becomes a realistic nickel corner with a mid-round projection.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt
At 6-foot-2, 209-pounds, Sarratt's college career has proven to be a success story. After playing at Baltimore powerhouse in St. Frances, he began his college career at Saint Francis before joining Curt Cignetti in his final season at James Madison, then transferring to Indiana the last two seasons. The one-time overlooked high school prospect on a star-studded team is in line to continue his NFL career after proving to be one of the most efficient receivers in the Big Ten in 2025, posting 644 yards and 11 touchdowns on 47 catches and 65 targets. Sarratt's ability to make contested catches as an outside receiver sticks out while just three drops as a senior adds confidence in his ability to become a complementary receiver. With questions in the Commanders' receiver room, Sarratt is an attractive candidate.