Best remaining players for Commanders on Day 2 of the draft include playmakers that can make Jayden Daniels’ life easier
The draft’s best players were taken in Round 1, but there are still plenty of remaining players for the Commanders that make sense. Several of them are guys who can help Jayden Daniels.
The Washington Commanders hit a home run by taking Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the draft. Now, they’re hoping they can do the same with one of the best remaining players on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s important to remember the Commanders will be very limited when it comes to who they can choose, however, as they’re without a second-round pick. The pool of best remaining players will look a lot different once the Commanders finally pick at No. 71 in Round 3.
Therefore, I’m only scouting the best remaining players that will be around for the Commanders at 71. It wouldn’t make any sense to put someone like Louisville WR Chris Bell or Oklahoma Sooners EDGE R Mason Thomas on this lists because they’ll be long gone by then.
It’s also important to remember the Commanders don’t have a fourth-round pick, so they could either trade back in hopes of gaining an extra Day 3 pick, or they could reach on a guy knowing he’ll be gone by the time they pick on Day 3. In other words: Adam Peters and Co. are in a very interesting spot.
So, let’s dive in. We’ll also use A to Z Sports’ updated mock draft simulator as a tool to help guide us along the way.
Best remaining players for the Commanders entering Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft
Offense
Quarterback
There isn’t anything to glean, here, because the Commanders aren’t going to take a quarterback with their lone Day 2 pick. They have Jayden Daniels, obviously, and Marcus Mariota has proven to be an effective backup. It’d be a waste of a pick to go QB at 71.
Running back
Arkansas Razorbacks RB Mike Washington Jr.: The odds are slim Washington Jr. is available at 71, but there’s a small chance. He’s a big back at 6-foot-1 and 220+ pounds, but he can fly, evidenced by his 4.33 40-yard dash. He’d add even more physicality to an already physical RB room, but also a home run threat the Commanders don’t really have.
Wide Receiver
North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance: Personally, this would be my pick if I were Peters and Co. Lance’s stock has improved dramatically over the last couple of weeks and it’s due to his elite combination of size and speed. The Commanders still don’t have an efficient, big-bodied receiver to help elevate the passing attack. Lance would not only solve that, but add more explosiveness to the room.
Georgia Tech WR Ted Hurst: Like Lance, Hurst is a big target who has the speed to make plays downfield. He’ll have a learning curve to get over vs. press coverage in the NFL and he needs to work on his drops, but he has all the tools to be a playmaker.
Tight end
Like quarterback, it’s hard to see the Commanders taking a tight end with this pick. They signed Chigoziem Okwonko in free agency and they really like Jon Bates. I think the Commanders pass, here.
Offensive line
Kansas State Wildcats C Sam Hecht: He’s a solid athlete who’s strong and smart. Hecht also has a killer work ethic as a former walk-on, which Dan Quinn will love. He could come in and compete with Nick Allegretti for the starting job or develop behind him for a year before jumping into the fray.
I don’t think guard or tackle are Day 3 targets when it comes to the best remaining players for the Commanders.
Defensive line
Syracuse Orange DT Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange: He’s a strong, violent run defender that could immediately step in and anchor the middle of a Commanders run defense that’s struggled the last two years. Washington likely won’t get any pass rush juice out of him (pun intended), but Orange provides plenty as an immovable run defender.
Defensive line is another tricky position for the Commanders. They signed Tim Settle to a three-year, $24 million deal and Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw are still in the fold. However, it’s the last year of Payne’s deal and Settle isn’t a true nose guard. Therefore, it won’t be a surprise if Washington takes a big guy to man the middle of the defensive line.
Linebacker
The selection of Styles firmly takes linebacker off the board when it comes to the best remaining players for the Commanders. Frankie Luvu, Leo Chenal, and Styles should form quite the trio in 2026.
Cornerback
Arkansas Razorbacks CB Julian Neal: A big, physical corner at close to 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Neal lacks elite speed, but has the length and versatility to play man or zone coverage. He’s also willing to take on blockers in the run game and he does a good job of winning in those areas, for the most part.
His biggest issues are ball tracking and penalties, but that can be coached up. Either way, Neal is a good fit and could come in and challenge for the starting job opposite Trey Amos.
Florida Gators CB Devin Moore: Moore has it all – size, length, speed, and ball production. His injury is the biggest concern and considering what the Commanders went through with Marshon Lattimore, they could pass. Still, Moore is easily one of the best remaining players for the Commanders, he’s just a bigger gamble than the others.
Georgia Bulldogs CB Daylen Everette: Everette shines best in man coverage, which every NFL team covets. He’s got the traits needed to have success at the next level and he honestly has a bit more range than the two guys above him. He also dominates them in the experience category – he started 41 games over the past three seasons and rarely missed time.
It’s looking more and more like the Commanders take a cornerback, simply because there are plenty of options to choose from and they definitely need another guy to help boost the secondary.
Safety
South Carolina Gamecocks S Jalon Kilgore: Wanna talk about traits? Kilgore looks like he was built in a defensive back lab. His size, speed, and athleticism are nearly unrivaled in this year’s safety class and the aforementioned traits, plus his ball-hawking abilities, have him in line to play field position at the next level.
He’s raw in a few areas, like transitioning out of breaks and back pedals, but that can all be coached up. Most importantly, he adds coverage ability to a safety room that lacks it, for the most part.
TCU Horned Frogs S Bud Clark: If you’re looking for a rangy safety that can play over the top, then Clark is your man. His production is even more impressive than Kilgore’s, as he racked up 15 interceptions and 35 pass break-ups over the course of his career.
Clark is a bit smaller than your average safety, but makes up for it in length and IQ. Don’t be surprised if this is the name called at 71.
