Perfect Picks 2026: Washington Commanders
By Jack Brentnall
After reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024, the 2025 season proved to be one Washington would rather forget. Jayden Daniels missed most of the year with an elbow injury, and the Commanders slumped to a 5–12 finish as injuries and an aging roster caught up with them.
This Perfect Picks article explores what an ideal draft could look like if the board breaks the right way. Rather than predicting draft weekend outcomes, the focus is on fit, value, and long-term roster construction, identifying prospects who align with the team’s needs at each stage of the draft.
The selections below account for scheme, roster holes, and realistic draft ranges, moving from early-round building blocks to mid-round value and late-round upside.
Round 1 - David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
The Commanders are in dire need of more juice along their defensive line. In 2025, they did not have a single player eclipse 45 total pressures, and their two leading edge rushers, Jacob Martin and Von Miller, are both set to hit free agency.
Bailey would be an instant upgrade and give Washington a true difference-maker off the edge. After spending much of his college career as a designated pass rusher at Stanford, he blossomed into a full-time starter at Texas Tech in 2025, racking up 81 pressures and posting an elite 38.6% win rate on true pass sets.
His burst off the snap consistently stresses opposing tackles, and he shows a varied pass rush plan, winning around the arc, through the chest, or countering inside when tackles overset. There is still room for growth as a run defender, but his tape showed clear improvement in 2025, backed up by a 9% run stop rate that ranks in the 91st percentile among edge prospects.
Round 3 - Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas)
Cornerback is another clear point of investment for Washington. Neither Marshon Lattimore nor Trey Amos played particularly well last season, and the Commanders ranked 31st in EPA allowed per dropback. The depth behind those two starters is also dangerously thin.
Neal feels like an ideal target for Dan Quinn, who has consistently valued long, physical corners capable of winning in press coverage. Neal brings a strong frame and play strength, pairing it with a violent punch that disrupts releases at the line of scrimmage.
He also shows the hip fluidity to turn and run with receivers down the field, holding up well in man coverage. When asked to support the run, Neal brings a physical edge that shows up consistently on tape. He may not be a universal scheme fit, but he is particularly well-suited to Washington’s defensive identity and would provide a much-needed boost to the secondary.
Mid Round Gem - Aiden Fisher (LB, Indiana)
With Bobby Wagner turning 36 and set to hit free agency, linebacker is an obvious need this offseason. Washington could address the position earlier in the draft, but if they opt to go elsewhere, there is still strong value available in the middle rounds.
Fisher was a lynchpin of Indiana’s national championship-winning defense, bringing smooth athleticism and strong processing skills to the second level. He finished the season with 50 splash plays and allowed a passer rating of just 79.6 when targeted.
He is not the biggest or most explosive linebacker, but Fisher compensates with experience and instincts. His ability to contribute on all four core special teams units further strengthens his case as a mid-round target.
Late Round Sleeper - Daequan Wright (TE, Ole Miss)
Zach Ertz is set to hit free agency, and the Commanders could do far worse than investing another pick at tight end. Ben Sinnott has had a slow start to his NFL career, while John Bates remains a useful but blocking-first option.
Wright offers the upside of a true three-down tight end. During his time at Ole Miss, he showed the ability to play inline and execute traditional tight end blocking assignments, giving him a functional floor at the position.
As a pass catcher, Wright brings a genuinely explosive element, averaging 16.3 yards per reception in 2025 while showing creativity and balance after the catch. There is still developmental work to be done, but the ceiling here is intriguing, particularly for a late-round investment.
Draft in full
7 (R1) – David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
71 (R3) – Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas)
145 (R5) – Aiden Fisher (LB, Indiana)
186 (R6) – Daequan Wright (TE, Ole Miss)
223 (R7) – VJ Payne (S, Kansas State)
