Latest NFL Draft report has top prospect being selected one pick before Commanders, which could change their plans
The Washington Commanders need to hit with their first-round pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, and there’s a high chance that one top prospect could be taken off the board by the Cleveland Browns just before they’re on the clock.
The NFL Draft is one of the most unpredictable sporting events, and the Washington Commanders have to be prepared for anything when they’re on the clock.
The Commanders currently hold the No. 7 overall pick, and their plans for that pick depend on how the board falls to them with the previous selections. The first six picks can drastically shift the Commanders’ approach in the first round and beyond. One recent NFL Draft report has the Cleveland Browns taking a top option for the Washington Commanders one pick before them, which could change their plans.
Cleveland Browns beat writer thinks they will take WR Carnell Tate at No. 6 overall
This is the time of the year when the board starts to settle in with the NFL Draft just a few weeks away. The first two picks seem to be locked in at this point, and the Browns are now being linked to WR Carnell Tate, according to Zac Jackson with The Athletic.
The Browns also have to see how the board falls, but there is a good chance that Tate is still there when they’re on the clock. Tate is likely WR1 in the 2026 NFL Draft with Jordyn Tyson’s growing injury concerns. The Washington Commanders have been heavily linked to Tate as well, and they still need to add a top WR this offseason.
If Tate is off the board, that means someone else will fall to them, and they may have to adjust their plans.
What the Commanders should do if Carnell Tate goes to the Browns
Fernando Mendoza and Arvell Reese are very likely the first two picks of the draft, and Tate would join them just a few picks later. That leaves three other picks to be made with Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr, and Mansoor Delane available.
Bailey and Styles are most likely to be taken, and Love could go to the Titans as well. Even so, this would leave Downs, Delane, and Bain Jr. on the board for the Washington Commanders. They could take Downs, who is one of the best players in the entire draft, and select a WR with the No. 71 overall pick or beyond while adding Brandon Aiyuk before the season.
The Commanders could also trade back a few spots and consider Makai Lemon if they aren’t locked in on Downs, Delane, or Bain Jr. that high. All options are on the table, and the Washington Commanders need to prepare for everything as the board settles in with the draft quickly approaching.
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