The Washington Commanders are staring down one of their most pivotal draft moments in recent memory. Holding the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft - and without selections in the second or fourth rounds - new general manager Adam Peters has a razor-thin margin for error.
This pick has to hit. No room for a whiff, not when the roster is in flux and the rebuild is in full swing.
The expectation around the league is that Washington will lean defense with this pick - and for good reason. The Commanders are desperate for help off the edge.
That puts names like David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. front and center in the conversation. Both bring the kind of raw power and burst that could immediately upgrade a pass rush that struggled to generate pressure consistently last season.
But it’s not just about the edge. The linebacker room could use an injection of speed and versatility, which makes someone like Sonny Styles an intriguing option. And if Peters wants to bolster the secondary, Mansoor Delane could be a strong complement to Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos at cornerback.
Still, there’s one name that looms large over this draft board: Caleb Downs.
If new head coach Daronte Jones is looking for a tone-setter in the back end of his defense - a player who can lead, hit, and cover - Downs checks every box. The Ohio State standout has been electric.
He plays with the kind of instincts and physicality that make you think you’re watching a future All-Pro. But here’s the catch: he might not be there at No.
Because just two spots ahead, at No. 5, the New York Giants are lurking. And John Harbaugh, now running the show in the Meadowlands, made it crystal clear where he stands on Downs.
Appearing on the Mike Francesca Podcast, Harbaugh didn’t mince words:
“Big fan. Big fan.
We value Hall of Fame safeties, so if we have the chance to potentially draft a future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me. We'll take the best player.
When you draft that high, you take the best player. It's not a need pick; it's the best player pick.
That guy would be just fine with me. I'd take him in a second.”
That’s a pretty loud endorsement. And it carries weight - Harbaugh’s coached some of the best to ever do it at the safety position.
Brian Dawkins. Ed Reed.
Kyle Hamilton. He knows what greatness looks like on the back end of a defense, and he clearly sees that same potential in Downs.
If Harbaugh pulls the trigger at five, that’s a gut punch for Washington. Not just because they’d miss out on a top-tier talent, but because they’d have to face him twice a year in the NFC East.
Imagine trying to retool your offense while a player like Downs is lurking on the other side - diagnosing plays, flying downhill, and making life miserable for your young quarterback. That’s not the kind of chess piece you want in your division if you can help it.
Still, this is where Adam Peters earns his paycheck. He managed to squeeze value out of his first draft class in 2025 despite less-than-ideal circumstances. Now he’s got a top-10 pick and a chance to land a blue-chip building block - the kind of player who can change the trajectory of a franchise.
This isn’t shaping up to be a particularly deep draft, at least not in terms of elite talent. But there are three or four guys who could be legitimate Pro Bowlers - maybe more. And Downs is firmly in that mix.
If he’s there at No. 7, the Commanders might sprint the card in. If he’s not? Well, then it’s back to the board - and back to finding a different kind of difference-maker.
Either way, Washington can’t afford to miss. Not this year. Not with the stakes this high.