2026 NFL mock draft has the Commanders selecting one of the best overall players instead of priority team needs
The Commanders take Jeremiyah Love in NFL mock draft to change the franchise.
The Washington Commanders are on the brink of officially being eliminated from the playoffs with a 3-8 record, and fans are already thinking about the offseason.
Even with the bad record, the team is still fighting with Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels making their way back from injury. The coaching staff and front office need to see what they have on the roster in these last six weeks so they can properly address holes this offseason.
Free agency will be a huge part of the offseason moves, which will lead into a critical draft that Adam Peters needs to nail. The latest A to Z Sports 2026 NFL mock draft has the Commanders adding a weapon on offense that would split the fan base’s opinions.
Commanders select RB Jeremiyah Love in the first round
The Commanders currently hold the seventh overall pick in the draft, and they can either trade back with a trade partner or stay put and take the best talent available. In this mock draft, the Commanders take arguably one of the best players in the entire draft in RB Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame and take advantage of position value. Love is an insane athlete and has a perfect blend of speed and power for a running back.
He should be the front-runner for the Heisman with over 1,300 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns to go with it. His contact balance has allowed him to get 856 yards after contact on the season, which is about 4.6 yards after contact per attempt. Love is the type of player that changes a franchise the day he steps in the locker room, but should the Commanders take a running back in the first round with all of their needs?
Can the Commanders afford to draft a running back in the first?
There’s a good chance Love could be on the board at seven when you think about the run on quarterback and defensive players that always go high, and running backs always slip. Love isn’t just a running back; he’s a blue-chip prospect that you can build around.
Back in 2023, we saw Jahmyr Gibbs slip to 12, and it ended up being a homerun pick for the Detroit Lions. This would be the same type of luxury pick, but are the Commanders in a position to draft a running back that high? This team honestly just needs franchise-changing players, and that’s exactly what Love is. The Commanders need a playmaker and Love has 21 carries of 15+ yards this season, with the long speed to make home-run plays routinely.
The Commanders’ offense has struggled at times with injuries, but the running game has also been very inconsistent. Chris Rodriguez Jr. has shown to be a reliable power back, and Bill Croskey-Merritt has taken a step back, so they still need a legit starter. That trio would be a solid running back room for the Commanders’ offense next season, and they’d have a true top running back threat for the first time in a long time.
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