NFL Draft intel shows Commanders have strong interest in severely underrated prospect who could fix biggest need
The Washington Commanders could take the best player available in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and wait to land a top WR with their remaining picks, including this underrated gem, whom they’ve recently met with.
The Washington Commanders have six picks to work with in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they need to hit on them all.
General manager Adam Peters fixed a lot of weak areas of the roster during free agency, but there are still glaring concerns that need to be addressed. They have a lot of options to choose from with the No. 7 overall pick, including a top WR, which is desperately needed, or they can go another route and take one later on.
The latest NFL Draft intel shows they’re doing their homework on an underrated WR prospect who could be taken on day two.
Commanders are showing a strong interest in WR De’Zhaun Stribling
The Commanders took several big swings at WR during free agency, but unfortunately came up just short. WR Brandon Aiyuk could become an option once he’s actually released, but they still need a long-term answer in the NFL Draft. The Commanders have been linked to several top options, such as Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon, and both would be great first-round options.
Washington could also take Jeremiyah Love or a defensive player in the first round, and wait to take a WR later, including De’Zhaun Stribling, with whom they’ve had many meetings with. Stribling told Justin Melo with NFL Draft on SI that he recently had a virtual meeting with the Commanders, including one of the WR coaches.
Stribling isn’t getting talked about enough, but he’s a starting-caliber WR who could be an immediate impact for the Commanders in his rookie season.
Why the Commanders should take De’Zhaun Stribling
The Commanders don’t have a second or a fourth round pick to take a WR, so pick No. 71 has them at an interesting spot. Stribling is projected to go in the fourth round, but the team could have him much higher than the consensus big board does, and they could take him with their early third-round pick.
I personally like Stribling more than Ted Hurst, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Bryce Lance, who are all projected to go notably higher than him. Stribling is a big-body WR at 6-2, 207 pounds, but he is also much faster than expected after he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. He has strong, reliable hands with just a 1.8% drop rate in 2025, and he can go up and catch any ball.
Stribling has elite body control and brings a competitive toughness to win contested catches or by running over defenders with his blocking skills. He would be the perfect fit for the Commanders on the outside and has the upside as a high-end WR2 in the NFL.
Washington Commanders News
Adam Peters couldn’t hide his admiration for top NFL Draft prospect who should be high on their list at No. 7 overall
The Commanders will strongly consider taking one player that Adam Peters likes if he falls to them in the 2026 NFL Draft.
