Commanders Final 2026 Draft Class: Washington hits a home run with Sonny Styles, but the rest of the draft class takes a wait-and-see approach
The Commanders had several needs to fill and not a lot of draft picks to work with, but they still managed to land one of the best players in Styles. Time will tell how the rest of the class shakes out.
The Washington Commanders came into the 2026 NFL Draft with plenty of needs and not enough picks to address them all in an effective manner.
Adam Peters was unable to pull off a significant trade back in Round 1 of the draft, which basically killed any chance of nabbing a second- or fourth-round pick the Commanders desperately needed. The good news is he hit a home run by taking Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick.
It always takes a few years before one can truly measure the success of an NFL draft class and that’s the exact situation with the Commanders. That’s not a bad thing at all, either.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the Commanders’ final 2026 draft class.
Commanders’ final 2026 draft class
Round 1, No. 7: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
It was slightly surprising to see Styles fall to No. 7, but hey Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones will take it, all day.
Styles immediately gives the Commanders an upgrade over Bobby Wagner, as well as a do-it-all linebacker that’s a perfect fit for Jones’ defense. He has it all: size, speed, intelligence, instincts, coverage ability, run defense, and he’s an effective blitzer.
Styles should come in and start from Day 1. If the Commanders keep Frankie Luvu around, they’ll have one of the better linebacker trios in the NFL with Leo Chenal in the mix. Honestly, it won’t be a surprise if Styles makes the Pro Bowl in his first year, either.
Round 3, No. 71: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Williams is best when operating out of the slot, but he can also play outside when the situation allows. He’s a quick-footed glider who operates well in space and his soft hands make him a quarterback’s best friend. He’s not the most explosive receiver in the world (just two games with 70+ receiving yards in 10 games last year, per Dane Brugler), but he’s very reliable and consistently gets open.
He also threw a couple of passing touchdowns and ran for a couple of TDs at Clemson, showcasing an all-around ability to make plays. The biggest knock on Williams is his size and strength – he also doesn’t bring a skillset that Commanders are lacking, for the most part. Either way, Williams should make some impactful plays in 2026 and beyond.
Round 5, No. 147: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
Josephs’ best shot at making an impact in 2026 will be as a designated pass rusher and he has the skillset to fill that role.
He’s a long, fast pass rusher that operated as the LEO in the Vols defense. Meaning, he mainly operated out of a two-point stance, but also put his hand in the dirt every now and then.
Josephs also isn’t afraid to play the run. In fact, he cherishes it. If Dan Quinn can get him to play with more control and maybe add about 10 pounds, Joseph can carve out a solid role in Washington. It’s just going to take a good amount of work to make it happen. Regardless, there’s a vision here, and that’s always good for a late-round pick.
Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
Allen was one of the NCAA’s most productive running backs over the last four seasons. He accrued more than 4,000 yards on the ground and 43 total touchdowns. His yards per carry never dipped below five per, either, which is awfully impressive in its own right.
He also managed to pile up most of the yardage in a timeshare before becoming the Nittany Lions’ top rusher in 2025. Once he took over, he set career-highs in rushing yards (1,303), yards per carry (6.2), and rushing touchdowns (15).
Allen is limited to a power runner and that’s fine. He’s good in pass pro, as well, which will help him make the 53-man roster.
Round 6, No. 209: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State
Gulbin comes into the fold with plenty of starting experience. In fact, he started plenty of games at center and both guard positions, showcasing crucial versatility for an interior offensive lineman.
He’s a smart player and that’s about where it ends in terms of needle-moving traits. He has a good anchor and a solid first strike, but he’s just not athletic enough to hold his own on a consistent basis and he’s not very good when asked to pull.
Gulbin projects as a backup as best and that’s fine for a late sixth-rounder, but the Commanders need someone to come in and compete with Nick Allegretti off the bat and it’s unlikely Gulbin can do that as a rookie.
Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers
Kaliakmanis is coming off the best year of his five-year college career and showed noticeable improvement in both accuracy and decision-making, which were two of his biggest red flags heading into 2025.
He has the tools and size to make an NFL roster. Jayden Daniels is obviously the franchise quarterback, but the Commanders also have reliable backup in Marcus Mariota. Therefore, Kaliakmanis will compete with Sam Hartman for the final roster spot and then we’ll see where things go from there.
- Round 1, No. 7: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Round 3, No. 71: Antoino Williams, WR, Clemson
- Round 5, No. 147: Joshua Jospehs, EDGE, Tennessee
- Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
- Round 6, No. 209: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State
- Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers
Final Word
Styles is a stud and should be a foundational player on the Commanders defense for the next decade.
The rest of the draft remains to be seen when it comes to both a short- and long-term impact.
For starters, all of the Day 3 picks, and even Williams, will be inserted into crowded position rooms and none of them really have any distinct traits or characteristics that set them apart from their teammates. It’s like the Commanders are lumping similar players together instead of finding creative ways to branch out and take guys who can help in different areas. As opposed to doing the same thing.
Time will tell with this draft class and that’s the case with most. However, that really, really applies to the Commanders in 2026 and frankly, it’s a team that really can’t wait and see how things turn out.
