Commanders 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Washington loads up on talent to revamp roster and support Jayden Daniels
The Commanders make the most of their limited draft capital and take David Bailey at No. 7 overall, and load up with talent.
The Washington Commanders finished the season 5-12 and made multiple changes by moving on from both coordinators.
The roster needs a lot of work as well, and general manager Adam Peters has a lot of decisions to make in free agency. Those decisions will have a major impact on their plans for the 2026 NFL Draft and what they do with the No. 7 overall pick. The Commanders need to support quarterback Jayden Daniels by adding more talent on both sides of the ball this offseason.
Here’s my latest mock draft on what I believe the Commanders will do with their six picks in April, with names you might not have seen yet, but need to know.
Washington Commanders 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 7: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Commanders need to fix their defense, and it starts up front in the trenches. We’ve seen what a playmaker at EDGE can do for a defense, and it’s a position the Commanders weren’t aggressive enough at upgrading last offseason. This year, they spend the No. 7 overall pick by taking David Bailey out of Texas Tech, who is the best pure pass-rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Bailey is 6-3, 250 pounds, and one of the most productive pass rushers over the last few draft classes. He has a 22.1% pressure rate in the last three seasons, which is higher than Abdul Carter, Jared Verse, and Will Anderson Jr. Bailey has a unique pass-rush skill set to win in a variety of ways, and still has a 9% run stop, which is well above average for his size. His 15 sacks in 2025 should translate day one for the Commanders, while the rest of the defense looks to improve behind him.
Round 3, Pick 71: Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
Omar Cooper Jr. is one of the more underrated prospects this cycle who could shoot up the boards as we get closer to April. David Blough is the new offensive coordinator, and I believe he will run a system very similar to what he played in for the majority of his career, which is what Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson run. Cooper Jr. would be the perfect fit as a bigger slot WR at 6-0 and 204 pounds, but can also line up outside. That slot WR position is significant in that system, just look at Amon-Ra St.Brown and Luther Burden III.
Cooper Jr. had a drop rate of only 4% and a contest catch rate of 56% in his career. He can gash defenses in the short game and is also a serious vertical threat who can stretch the field. Cooper Jr. is the type of weapon Jayden Daniels is missing and would fit the new offense perfectly, and as reliable a target as it gets.
Round 5, Pick 145: Bishop Fitzgerald, Safety, USC
The Commanders continue to rebuild their defense and address one of the biggest weaknesses. Washington has one of the worst safety rooms in the NFL, and they select USC safety Bishop Fitzgerald with the No. 145 overall pick in the fifth round. Fitzgerald is a 5-11, 205-pound safety who has 14 interceptions since 2023. He has great instincts to read and react to plays, which helps him show his ball-hawking skills.
He’s played in multiple defensive schemes with different coordinators, so he’s very experienced and has seen it all. His only limitations are in the run game, but he’s still very physical, especially at the catch point against receivers. Whoever the Commanders hire as defensive coordinator would love a player like Fitzgerald, who can play deep and in the box.
Round 6, Pick 185: Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
Treydan Stukes is easily one of the most underrated players in the entire draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he goes Day Two after the Senior Bowl. Stukes is a big nickel at 6-2, 200 pounds, but he’s so fluid in his movement and his hips. He had four interceptions and six pass breakups in 2025 without committing a single penalty or allowing a touchdown in coverage. Stukes showed he can follow anyone with his long speed and stick hip-to-hip in coverage to frustrate receivers with his bigger frame.
He also gets active at the line of scrimmage with his size to stop the run, and blow up screens in the backfield. Stukes is the type of player missing in the secondary for the Commanders. He played the majority of his snaps in the slot, but he can also play safety and be a true versatile piece depending on the package.
Round 6, Pick 196 (via Minnesota via San Francisco): Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
Jack Kelly is a high-motor linebacker who brings that old school feel to a defense, and really set the tone for BYU. He can do it all at 6-2, 242 pounds, but is probably at his best when he’s rushing the quarterback and filling up the gaps up front by running downhill. Kelly had the most pressures by a LB in the Power Four with 29, and nine sacks to go with it. He also had 23.5 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons, and just makes play after play in the backfield.
The Commanders need pass rush help even after adding Bailey, and having Jordan Magee in coverage could help Kelly blitz and play to his strengths. Kelly also had 18 coverage stops, which was 21st in the country, so he’s not a complete liability in coverage by any means.
Round 7, Pick 223: Joshua Braun, OG, Kentucky
The Commanders’ offensive line was much improved after trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round last NFL Draft. They should re-sign Chris Paul, who surprisingly became a solid starter at left guard, but they still need to add depth. Joshua Braun is a mauler at 6-6, 342 pounds, who has played at left guard and right guard in the SEC.
He’s only allowed four sacks in the last two seasons with 936 passing snaps in that time span. Braun would also fit the new offensive scheme with a ton of experience in a gap and inside zone blocking scheme. He can move people in the run game and help open up those lanes for a big play by the running backs.