The views and opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of the team.
In anticipation of the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held April 23 - 25 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, here's a compilation of various league experts' predictions about what the Washington Commanders will do with the No. 7 overall pick. Check back weekly until the draft for more updates.
Expert: Nate Tice and Charles MacDonald, Yahoo Sports
Selection: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (Feb. 10)
Analysis: This one is a pretty easy pairing. The Commanders are starved for edge rushers, especially ones who can win one-on-one and get after the quarterback. That's exactly what Bailey brings to the table. He's a dynamo off the edge and brings the heat play after play. Bailey's lack of size can give him issues against the run, but he improved in that area during his lone season in Lubbock. He'll immediately inject some juice into a front that needs it under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Expert: Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Selection: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (Feb. 9)
Analysis: The Commanders take the best player on the board to be a long-term pillar of their defense. Downs can lead the squad from the back end and insert himself into plays around the box, thanks to his elite instincts.
Expert: Connor Rogers, NBC Sports
Selection: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (Feb. 9)
Analysis: With his size, range and three-down ability, Styles has some of the best tape of any prospect in this draft. The speed he would bring to the middle of the field would help get Dan Quinn's unit back on track.
Expert: Mark Morales-Smith, Sports Illustrated
Selection: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (Feb. 9)
Analysis: Many people believe that Downs is the best defensive player in this draft. Washington desperately needs help in their secondary and this is a great start.
Expert: Joel Klatt, FOX Sports
Selection: Manoor Delane, CB, LSU (Feb. 9)
Analysis: The Commanders gave up the most passing yards in the league last season, so they have to address that side of the ball. Delane's my top corner in this draft. So, a natural fit here.
Expert: Cynthia, Frelund, NFL.com
Selection: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (Feb. 6)
Analysis: Dan Quinn is a defensive-minded head coach and pairing him with Bailey is a win-win for both parties in terms of coaching and raw-skills fit.
Expert: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today
Selection: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (Feb. 9)
Analysis: N/A
Expert: Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus
Selection: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (Feb. 8)
Analysis: The Commanders have fielded one of the NFL's six lowest-graded defenses in each of the past three seasons. Washington addresses that by drafting Bailey, college football's highest-graded defender this past season (93.3). He led college football in PFF pass-rush grade in each of the past two seasons at Texas Tech and Stanford.
Expert: Mike Renner, CBS Sports
Selection: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (Feb. 9)
Analysis: The Commanders need an injection of youth into their aging receiving corps. We saw how much their downfield passing attack suffered when Terry McLaurin was out of the lineup last season. Tate is the best big-play threat in the class with the kind of ball skills that pair perfectly with Jayden Daniels' elite deep ball.
