2026 NFL mock draft has Washington Commanders rebuilding their defense with top-10 pick in the first round
The Commanders add a playmaker on defense in the first round of 2026 NFL mock draft.
The Washington Commanders are well out of playoff contention with a 3-7 record and four straight blowout losses, but there’s still plenty of season left and a lot to watch for.
A lot of people are already looking forward to the offseason, and rightfully so, with so many roster holes needing to be fixed. The main focus for the rest of the season will be on how this team can rebuild and fix the defense, and how they finish out the season with their order in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mock drafts are at full force right now, and A to Z Sports’ recent mock has the Commanders taking a high-end defensive lineman in the top-10.
Pick 8: Commanders: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Commanders’ defense needs a major overhaul this offseason, especially when they get a new defensive coordinator now that head coach Dan Quinn is taking over for the rest of the season. Landing a top defensive talent like Keldric Faulk in the first round would be a huge step in the right direction for whoever takes over.
“This choice was tough because Washington’s defense is such a far cry from what it was at times a season ago. Cornerback and pass rusher were both needs that jumped off the page to me, and Faulk is a phenomenal run defender who can mold into a legit pass rusher in the pros as well. His blend of power and speed at his stature is really fun to watch.” – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL Draft
Keldrick Faulk is very underrated
There are a lot of options when it comes to defense in the draft, and pass rushers will be plentiful in the top-15, so you have to get the right one. Faulk is one of the players who will go under the radar until the draft gets closer because of others like Rueben Bain Jr. and Cashius Howell, but he’s honestly right there in that group. NFL draft expert Dan Brugler actually has Faulk listed above Bain Jr, who is a popular top-5 pick, and it’s easy to see why. Faulk is 6-foot-6, 285lbs, and can line up anywhere up front on defense, and will be a playmaker at the next level.
He lacks the bend that Howell has, but he’s an elite run defender with freakish upside at rushing the quarterback. Faulk uses his size and strength to work through blocks and get into the backfield with ease. Don’t mistake his size for weakness, though, because he still brings a lot of surprising speed on plays and bursts into plays every game.
The Commanders taking a defender in the first round will be a very popular take over the next few months, and even more so when the season ends, and the draft order and big board will adjust between now and April. Faulk will be one of the players to watch who could become a hot name during the draft process.
Washington Commanders News
2026 NFL mock draft has the Washington Commanders selecting defensive superstar in the first round
The Commanders get an All-Pro caliber player in the first round of the draft.
