With defensive lineman and linebackers set to participate on day one of workouts at the NFL combine, five prospects to watch for the Washington Commanders.
Free agency may be here in a few weeks, but before then, NFL prospects get their chance to show off their skills at this year’s NFL Combine. Defensive line, edge, and linebacker will be the first group on the field starting today. With the Washington Commanders potentially needing all three positions and interviewing several who will participate on Thursday, here are a few players to watch on day one of the NFL Combine.
Rueben Bain Jr, Edge, Miami
One of the top prospects in the entire draft, Bain was part of a Miami team that reached the National Championship in 2025. He finished as ACC Defensive Player of the Year, a Consensus All-American, and the winner of the Ted Hendricks Award after posting 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Bain could go as high as second overall, so if he falls to Washington at seven, this prospect will be hard to pass up. For the combine, what he runs at 6’3”, 270 pounds could be what pushes him over the top.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
If Bain doesn’t get to the Commanders, Bailey would be a wonderful consolation prize. A transfer from Stanford, he went off in his lone season with the Red Raiders, helping them win the Big 12 Championship and earn a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Bailey recorded 38 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 16 tackles for loss. His efforts earned him a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, the Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Lineman of the Year, and a Unanimous All-American. He and Bain will be compared throughout the combine as it will factor into who will hear their name called first. With Washington’s pass rush needing work this offseason, getting one of these players would be big for them. Bailey has been a popular mock draft selection for Washington over the last two months.
Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The last potential top ten talent on this list, Woods has been one of the best defensive tackles in all of College Football the past two years. The soon to be 21-year-old earned a First-Team All-ACC selection after posting 30 tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss last year. Woods could become a huge riser in this draft with a monster combine performance. He offers high upside for a position that Washington will look to improve on for 2026.
Harold Perkins Jr, LB, LSU
Bobby Wagner is a free agent and will be 36 at the start of 2026. Even if he is back in a Commander uniform, the team should look toward the future at the position. Perkins wasn’t as good as his performances in 2022 and 2023, coming off a torn ACL suffered in 2024. However, he still earned Third-Team All-SEC honors and could be an intriguing pick for the Commanders with their third-round pick. A strong combine performance would go a long way in guaranteeing a day two spot. Perkins also interviewed with the Commanders on Wednesday.
Zxavian Harris, DL, Ole Miss
With only two picks in the first three rounds of the Draft, the Commanders need to find some diamonds in the rough. Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore is a prime target to address a position of need, but so is another who was one of the best players on a team that reached the semifinal of the College Football Playoff this year. A three-year starter for the Rebels, Harris finished his best for last, finishing with 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks. What he measures at the combine will be a talking point, as the school had him at 6’8”, 330 pounds. Also, pay attention to his 40 time and performance in the drills. If Harris can turn that size and college production, we could be looking at one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NFL Draft.