The Washington Commanders have the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, putting them in a strong position to land one of this year's blue-chip prospects. As draft day approaches, more details are emerging about what Washington could add in Round 1.
In his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, ESPN.com's Peter Schrager shared his belief that the Commanders will look to add to their defense in the first round. However, just because it doesn't have value doesn't mean it will happen with the seventh overall pick.
That's because Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Washington is one of the teams actively trying to move down from their current spot. The idea, of course, is to land a potential high-end starter from Round 1 as well as gain additional draft capital.
If Washington were to trade down from seventh overall, it's possible a team like the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9 overall pick) or the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10 overall pick) would want to move up from the New Orleans Saints to acquire the lead.
Trading down would likely give the Commanders an additional draft pick on Day 2, potentially giving them a Week 1 starter at defensive back or someone who could eventually play a meaningful role in the season.
The Commander could hypothetically move down from the No. 7 pick to the No. 9-12 range and still land All-American safety Caleb Downs, LSU cornerback Mansur Delaney or potential Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Reuben Benn Jr. However, given the number of teams that want to go down, it will be difficult to complete a deal.
