3 overreactions to the Commanders’ 2026 draft class: Washington will only go as far as Jayden Daniels can take it
The 2026 NFL Draft is over, so of course that means it’s time to overreact to the Commanders’ efforts in both positive and negative fashion.
Alright. The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone. We’re less than a day out from the finish line, so takes and opinions are still as hot as ever.
Therefore, let’s have a little fun and overreact to the Washington Commanders’ 2026 draft class.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
3 overreactions to the Washington Commanders’ 2026 draft class
1. Jayden Daniels will have to carry the team like he did in 2024
If Daniels goes down or doesn’t play like he did in 2024, where on the Commanders’ roster can you point to when it comes to a player or players saving the season?
The Commanders made improvements in free agency, but outside of Sonny Styles, the draft class likely won’t make much of an impact in 2026. Except for Styles, the Commanders drafted limited players that will join crowded position groups, decreasing their chances of seeing the field.
It’s a fallacy to think one of the NFL’s worst defenses from last year will flip the switch in one offseason, especially when the cornerback and safety positions are huge question marks. The second level of the defense is the only area without question marks, but even then, the unit has something to prove. It’s not like the Commanders can just go into the season expecting it to live up to its potential.
Daniels is the only player and position the Commanders can rely on going in 2026 and the amount of success they have strictly rides on his shoulders.
2. The Commanders are way too dependent on value
Instead of taking a guy like Ted Hurst at 71 –a big, fast, vertical threat that is raw, but can give the Commanders a skillset they currently don’t have– Peters chose to go with Antonio Williams.
A big reason why was because of the value. Many analysts had a second-round grade on Williams and Adam Peters said he was the highest guy on their board at the time of the pick, so it all tracks.
But value doesn’t always translate to success in the NFL and adding a bigger, more dynamic player like a Hust, Bryce Lance, or even moving into the cornerback territory with a Tacario Davis or Daylen Everette, can be the spark a team needs.
Sure, Williams is a steady player (with an injury history on top of it), but the Commanders need firepower, right now. They don’t need guys who will simply maintain the status quo.
Don’t get me started on the Athan Kaliakmanis pick, either. Again, the Commanders went value, there. And while it’s a seventh-round selection in a lower-tier draft, the Commanders are far off better getting a guy who will, you know, actually have a chance at seeing the football field in the near future.
3. The Commanders secondary will be bad, once again
It honestly blew my mind the Commanders ignored needs at cornerback and safety in the draft. As a result, they still don’t know where to line Mike Sainristil up, Amik Robertson is coming in after a down year, Trey Amos looked just OK before his season-ending injury in Week 10, and Akhello Witherspoon is coming off an injury, himself, and is yet another former 49er brought in by Peters.
Again, maintaining status quo. Why does that group deserve the benefit of the doubt when it comes to improving? Yes, Joe Whitt Jr. was not a good defensive coordinator and maybe Daronte Jones can turn it around. At the same time, all of those guys just didn’t look good, period.
Then there’s the fact the Commanders don’t have an effective, rangy safety to rely on. That’s not Nick Cross’s, Jeremy Reaves’, nor Will Harris’ strength. Sure, Quan Martin is a rangy guy, but he’s not effective, especially after last year’s step back.
The secondary better hope the pass rush/front seven are world beaters. Because the group is going to have another rough year, if not.