The Commanders are closer to a top-5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after shutout, which should lead to one must-make move
The Commanders need a top-5 pick so they can trade back for more.
The Washington Commanders didn’t just lose to the Minnesota Vikings; they got blown out in their worst loss of the season.
There are serious questions to ask about this roster and coaching staff, and general manager Adam Peters has a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason. The season has been a nightmare, but they can come out as a better team if they take advantage of a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Commanders’ roster isn’t just one player away from being a winner, and they need to trade back from a top-five pick and rebuild for the long haul.
The Commanders’ odds for a top-5 pick increase after loss to the Vikings
The Commanders should’ve beaten the Vikings, or at least shown up with Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin playing together for the first time since Week 2, but they got shut out. Daniels left the game after falling on his injured arm, and there were zero positive takeaways from the game. The only thing to look forward to is improving their position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Following the loss, the Commanders fell to 3-10 and have the No. 6 overall pick. Their odds of landing a top-five pick went up to 53.5%, according to FTNFantasy.com.
The Commanders play the New York Giants on Sunday, which can drastically shake up the draft order. The Giants hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, but have a higher SOS than the Commanders, so Washington can make a huge leap depending on the outcomes of other games.
Unfortunately, landing a top-five pick is more important than a random win to make this team believe they have a winning roster. The Commanders need to take that top-five pick and trade back for more players and picks that can contribute right away.
The Commanders need to trade back in the 2026 NFL Draft
Taking a player in the top five won’t magically fix the roster, and they need to trade back and still land a top player who can make an impact. There will be plenty of teams that fell just outside of the top-five picks that need a quarterback, offensive lineman, or defender that could move up where the Commanders are.
Let’s say the Commanders finish with the No. 4 overall pick, and the New York Jets have the No. 6 or No. 7 overall pick; they can trade back and still draft a player like Caleb Downs.
The Commanders only have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and that’s not enough to turn this aging roster around. Peters will also have plenty of decisions to make in free agency before the draft. The roster needs to shed most of the expiring contracts and old veterans and bring in new blood, which can be done through the draft.
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