Should defense be the focus across the Washington Commanders' first two draft picks? That's what one outlet projects in their three-round mock draft.
While cap space isn't a concern for the Washington Commanders this offseason, draft capital is.
General manager Adam Peters enters April's draft with six selections, though only two are top-100 selections including the seventh overall selection. One question is whether the Commanders would evaluate that route let entertain it as a serious possibility, though there has been speculation that not many teams are looking to move up which may put a pause on those possibilities. But more importantly, Washington needs to add difference makers on both sides of the ball and a top ten selection provides a chance to add exactly that.
NFL.com pointed to Ohio State safety Caleb Downs as the team's top overall pick in Washington, while also projecting both edge rusher David Bailey from Texas Tech and cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU to land inside the top five.
Downs has remained a frequent projection for Washington after both Quan Martin and Will Harris struggled in 2025 while the pass defense ranked among the worst in the NFL, but the Ohio State product would add a major upgrade in the room.
Downs ranks as the fifth-best draft prospect and best safety in ESPN's rankings, while NFL.com ranked him just behind his Buckeye teammate as the tenth player overall. Safeties don't normally go inside the top ten with a prime example being All-Pro Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who went 14th overall in 2022. Downs will look to become the first safety drafted inside the top ten since Jamal Adams went sixth overall to the New York Jets in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Maybe as equally - and tougher - projection is what direction Washington goes on day two. After shipping both its second and fourth round pick to Houston in exchange for Laremy Tunsil, the Commanders have a lone third round pick to work with as NFL.com pointed to defense as their likely pick.
That projection landed on Utah edge rusher Logan Fano, who showed promise through his three seasons with the program. After arriving from BYU, Fano posted four TFLs and 3.5 sacks in five games his first season, along with a pair of forced fumbles, but the encouraging sign is the increased production through his career. Fano posted 6.5 TFLs in 2024 before resetting his season high with 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in his final season. Brother of former Utah and current NFL Draft prospect Spencer Fano, Logan also ended his college career as a team captain as he'd fill another key position for the Commanders in efforts to rebuild a horrendous defense in 2025.
Washington also reportedly met with Fano at the Senior Bowl, who turned heads during the week of practice with his explosion and pursuit. And with a need to upgrade the defensive line, Fano could be a prime candidate while others like Derrick Moore, who dazzled the same week as Fano, out of Michigan have drawn buzz as potential day two fits.
ESPN, meanwhile, went a complete different direction with Washington projected to select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. While Washington needs to find its answer at receiver opposite of Terry McLaurin, all eyes will be on the defensive side of the ball with the biggest question if targets like David Bailey will be available at seven.