The Washington Commanders will draft seventh overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the first seventh overall selection since 1999.
Following the 24-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, the draft order is officially set as the Washington Commanders are set to pick seventh overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
This marks the second time in the last three drafts that Washington has picked inside the top ten after selecting quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
This also marks Washington's first time drafting seventh overall since the 1999 NFL Draft when former Georgia cornerback Champ Bailey was drafted by the organization, eventually his first five seasons with the then-Redskins before being part of a blockbuster trade that sent him to Denver and running back Clinton Portis to D.C.
Washington is coming off a 4-13 finish, the second four-win season over the last three years. After a honeymoon season under new leadership, coaching and a franchise quarterback leading the team to the first NFL Championship game appearance since 1991, general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will have a long list of question marks to answer, including who of the over 30 free agents departing the Commanders should return in 2026.
As for where Washington will turn in next April's draft, it has become growingly apparent that the defensive side of the ball will get the attention. Early outlets pointed to a pair of wide receivers - Carnell Tate out of Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State - before shifting to the defensive side of the ball. Edge became the next consensus pick with both Rueben Bain Jr. out of Miami (FL) and David Bailey out of Texas Tech among the projected picks, but now, former Alabama and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs have drawn the bulk of the focus for the Commanders with a chance to add a major upgrade in a secondary that has proven to be one of the worst in the NFL.
Washington enters next draft with only two draft picks across the first two days after including both the second and fourth round picks this year in the trade that sent left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders, now putting the organization in a position to address his looming contract extension. Washington also acquired San Francisco's sixth round pick in the offseason trade that sent running back Brian Robinson to the 49ers, one of four day three picks for general manager Adam Peters.
Commanders' 2026 NFL Draft picks at start of offseason
1st round, 7th overall
3rd round, 71st overall
5th round, 145th overall
6th round, 183rd overall, 49ers pick (TBD due to playoffs)
7th round, 223rd overall
Recent players who went seventh overall:
2025: OT Armand Mambo, Missouri - New York Jets
2024: OT JC Latham, Alabama - Tennessee Titans
2023: Edge Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech - Las Vegas Raiders
2022: OT Evan Neal, Alabama - New York Giants
2021: OT Penei Sewell, OT - Detroit Lions
Recent first round picks by Washington Commanders
2025: OT Josh Conerly, Oregon - 29th
2024: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU - 2nd
2023: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State - 16th
2022: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State - 16th
2021: LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky - 19th
2020: Edge Chase Young, Ohio State - 2nd