My Seven Round Washington Commanders Mock Draft - With One Trade

The Washington Commanders are set to make their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft in exactly 18 days as general manager Adam Peters navigates through how the top of the draft order shakes out with a chance to add an impact player to the roster. After multiple outlets have dished out their seven round projections, we decided to do our own.

And in this one, we opted to allow just one trade and used NFLmockdraftdatabase.com to give our take on an ideal draft for a Commanders roster looking to round out a handful of positions after an active frenzy through free agency.

The lone trade? That would be the team's first pick, trading away the seventh overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 13th overall pick and the 93rd overall pick in the third round along with a third and fifth round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The rationale was clear: the trade down just six spots kept Washington within range of finding that impact player at a position of need within that range. Adding a third top-100 pick would be a non-starter in any trade and the 93rd pick gives Washington a chance to add one of the top centers in the draft - which is exactly what we did.

Round 1, 13th overall: USC WR Makai Lemon

But the 13th overall pick ended up materializing into USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who might actually be the best current roster fit in a world where veteran Terry McLaurin returns as the alpha in the room while Brandon Aiyuk serves as wide receiver two - whenever that situation eventually settles. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award to end his college career where the dynamic slot receiver proved to be a YAC machine, complementing the room.

Round 3, 71st overall: Miami (FL) CB Keionte Scott

The 71st overall pick, Washington's original third round pick, went to Miami (FL) Cornerback Keionte Scott, who proved to be a playmaker in the 'Canes secondary. Both of his defensive touchdowns on interceptions came during the playoff run, including the quarterfinals upset over Ohio State, while being named a second team All ACC selection as a sixth year senior. Scott upgrades the athleticism in the room after reportedly running a 4.3 in the 40 at Pro Day and 44 inches in the vertical jump. During the playoff run, Scott allowed ten yards per reception on catches on all but four of his 18 targets after coming off turf toe.

Round 3, 93rd overall: Iowa C Logan Jones

How the mock draft simulator would play out here was my biggest question, but the route I was going wasn't in doubt. And it played out with maybe the best center prospect still on the board. Jones ended his college career as the Rimington Trophy winner and a unanimous consensus All-American selection after he became a staple of the Hawkeyes offensive line over the last three seasons. The Commanders have depth questions at the position with the draft offering a route to upgrade that depth. Nick Allegretti seems like the safe bet to materialize as the starter based on the current room, but Jones could challenge him in 2026 while offering optimism to the future of the room.

Round 5, 147th overall: Baylor TE Michael Trigg

This was the biggest head scratcher, partly because of who was available. Washington CB Tacario Davis was intriguing, but opted not to draft a second cornerback while Ole Miss DL Zxavian Harris drew interest, but I opted to go a different route. After beginning his career at USC then transferring to Ole Miss, Trigg finally broke out where he totaled 1,089 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 80 catches during his final two seasons at Baylor. Also a capable blocker, Trigg could upgrade the floor of the room with uncertainty in how impactful John Bates and Ben Sinnott can be in 2026 and beyond.

Round 6, 187th overall: Penn State RB Kaytron Allen

Jeremiyah Love being off the board influenced my decision to pull the trigger on a first round trade, but Kaytron Allen could be a perfect late round complement to a running back room currently set up to enter the 2026 season on a committee approach. Allen is coming off consecutive 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons, including 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging over six yards per carry in 2025. Sharing the backfield with Nick Singleton through his college career, Allen posted at least 210 carries in each of the last two seasons where the Virginia native adds home run hitting yet physicality as a 5-foot-11, 217 pound running back.

Round 7, 209th overall: Indiana IOL Pat Coogan

A seventh round pick in the trenches could be well worth it. And despite turning to a center on day two in Logan Jones, Coogan is also one who has center experience after starting in all 15 games in his lone season with the Hoosiers. That move was made possible after starting the final 13 games of the 2024 season as Notre Dame's starting center, while he started all 13 games at left guard in 2023. Maybe the bigger question is whether he remains available in the seventh round, but Coogan adds versatility to the trenches.

Round 7, 223rd overall: Ohio State edge Caden Curry

The Commanders did well addressing the front seven in free agency, but they've reportedly been interested in adding possibly one more into the mix. Curry serves as that solution here on day three and the final pick for Washington where the 6-foot-3, 257 pound edge rusher is coming off a productive 2025 campaign. The sleeper prospect who played nearly 1,100 career snaps with the Buckeyes registered 46 pressures in 2025 before becoming an All American selection by multiple outlets. Curry will also turn 23 the month after the NFL Draft.