Washington Commanders’ Christmas List: 2026 NFL Draft prospects fans should be wishing for this offseason to fix the roster
The Commanders will be in a great position to select one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr, Carnell Tate, David Bailey, and Jordyn Tyson.
The Washington Commanders are taking on the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, but there aren’t many positives to watch for with Josh Johnson starting at quarterback.
The team is 4-11 and dealing with a list of injuries, and fans are ready to get to the offseason, and understandably so. This upcoming offseason will be the most important since general manager Adam Peters took over, and he has a list of things to fix.
Speaking of a list, the Commanders’ Christmas list this year should be filled with these top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
The Commanders are projected to finish anywhere in the top seven of the NFL Draft, depending on the outcomes of the final two weeks of games, and even if they finish with the No. 7 or No. 8 overall pick, Caleb Downs could be available because of positional value.
Downs is arguably the top player in the draft, but safeties don’t go as high as we say they will every year. The Commanders have one of the league’s worst safety rooms, and Downs would make the defense better in many ways. He can play deep in coverage on an island and play physical at the line of scrimmage. Downs is a blue-chip talent with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. might be the first EDGE off the board in April, and he will be a heavily discussed prospect with his unique body type and shorter arms on a 6-3, 275-pound frame.
The tape doesn’t lie, though; his switch from speed to power is top-tier, and he is a mover at the line of scrimmage. He has a 22.9% pass rush win rate and moves way faster than he should at his size. Bain Jr. has powerful hands with excellent timing and a motor that never stops.
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
On the topic of pass rushers, David Bailey has been the best defender on the best defense in college this season. Bailey is clearly the best pure pass rusher in the class and has 14 sacks this season, while the team is still playing in the College Football Playoff.
He’s on the smaller side at 6-3, 250 pounds, but he’s projected to have much longer arms than Bain Jr., and it shows. He has elite bend and twitch to get around tackles with ease, and that should translate to the NFL pretty seamlessly.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Not every fan will agree, but the Commanders need another elite wide receiver on the outside opposite of Terry McLaurin, as we all saw what happens without him.
Carnell Tate is the type that can complement McLaurin and even take over as the WR1 in the near future. His route-running is savvy; he has zero drops this season, and he can high-point any pass over a defender at 6-3, 195 pounds.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Another hot take will be discussing running back Jeremiyah Love as an option for the Commanders, but he could easily be the best player on the board when they pick.
People judged the Detroit Lions for taking Jahmyr Gibbs early in the draft, and now he’s one of the best in the league. A running back might not be the top priority of the team, but you never turn away elite talent that will take the team to the next level.
The Commanders have a great running game by committee, but they don’t have the one guy in the backfield, and surely not a Love-type caliber of running back. Love is a home-run threat and the best player on the field every game he’s in. He would easily be the best running back Washington has had since Clinton Portis.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
There will be a lot of health questions around Jordyn Tyson leading up to the NFL Draft, but he’s the WR1 when he’s healthy. Tyson is the most explosive wide receiver in the draft, and his routes are sharp and precise, which helps him gain separation with ease.
His body fluidity to contort and adjust in mid-air is top-tier, and he’s just an insane athlete. He has everything it takes to be WR1 on a team as a rookie, while lining up anywhere on the field.
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