The Washington Commanders hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and all signs point to one clear priority: defense. After back-to-back seasons of subpar play on that side of the ball, the Commanders need difference-makers-especially in the secondary, where things unraveled in 2025.
The rebuild starts in March with free agency, but the draft is where the foundation gets laid. And at pick No. 7, there’s a name that’s already rising to the top of the board: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Let’s be clear-while you never completely rule out an offensive playmaker at this point in the draft, Washington’s recent hire of Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator shifts the spotlight squarely to the defense. Jones is a defensive backs specialist by trade, and that’s exactly where the Commanders need help.
The 2025 season saw major steps backward from promising young DBs like Mike Sainristil and Quan Martin, both of whom looked like rising stars after strong 2024 campaigns. The hope is that Jones can help get them back on track-but adding a true game-changer to that group could accelerate the turnaround.
Enter Caleb Downs.
Downs isn’t just another safety prospect. He’s the kind of player who forces offensive coordinators to circle his number in red ink on the game plan.
He’s rangy enough to play deep, physical enough to line up in the box, and savvy enough to cover the slot. He doesn’t miss tackles.
He doesn’t freelance. He just makes plays.
And for a Commanders defense that lacked impact players in the secondary last season, that’s exactly what they need.
The knock on safeties in the draft is usually about positional value-teams tend to prioritize cornerbacks, edge rushers, and offensive tackles in the top 10. But Downs is the exception.
He’s not just a safety; he’s a defensive weapon. And if you’re going to use a top-10 pick on a safety, you better have a plan.
Daronte Jones is the kind of coach who builds his defense with a plan for every player.
Jones has a track record of getting the most out of his defensive backs. Just ask Harrison Smith, who credited Jones for extending the prime of his career by sharpening his film study and refining his role.
Jones preaches versatility and physicality. His DBs have to tackle, they have to be able to line up anywhere, and they have to get their hands on the football.
As Jones likes to say: “You’re not getting paid if you don’t touch the ball.”
That mindset fits Downs to a tee. He’s a ballhawk with the instincts to jump routes and the toughness to hold his own in the run game.
And in a defense that figures to lean heavily on pressure-Jones comes from the Brian Flores school of aggressive, blitz-heavy schemes-that kind of versatility is gold. Downs can rotate down into the box on blitzes, cover tight ends and slot receivers in man, or play center field in single-high looks.
He’s not just a fit-he’s a potential centerpiece.
For Washington, the idea of pairing a coach like Jones with a talent like Downs is more than just intriguing-it’s a potential franchise-shifting move. The Commanders don’t just need another body in the secondary.
They need a tone-setter. A leader.
A guy who makes everyone around him better.
Caleb Downs checks every one of those boxes.
So while there’s still plenty of offseason left-free agency, pro days, interviews-the early signs are pointing toward a defensive overhaul in D.C. And if the Commanders want to start that rebuild with a cornerstone, Downs may be the best player available when they’re on the clock.