The Washington Commanders are heading into a pivotal offseason, and after a rocky 2025 campaign, all signs point to the defense being the top priority. Injuries, especially at quarterback, derailed Dan Quinn’s second season at the helm, but the struggles ran deeper than just bad luck under center. Blown leads, missed assignments, and a lack of consistency on the back end of the defense haunted Washington all year long.
That’s why the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus feels like a logical step forward: they have the Commanders selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. And if that’s the direction Washington goes, it could be a game-changer for a secondary that desperately needs a stabilizing force.
Downs isn’t just a name rising up draft boards-he’s been one of the most consistent and instinctive defensive backs in college football over the past three seasons. He’s earned a PFF grade north of 85.0 every year, which is no small feat considering he did it at both Alabama and Ohio State, two programs that demand excellence and play under the brightest lights. He helped both teams reach the College Football Playoff and was a key piece of the Buckeyes’ 2024 national title run.
What sets Downs apart isn’t just the stat sheet-though his numbers are impressive. Over his college career, he racked up 256 tackles, including 163 solo stops, 10 pass breakups, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and even chipped in with 1.5 sacks.
That’s the kind of production that speaks to his versatility and nose for the football. He’s a safety who can come downhill in the run game, hold his own in coverage, and make plays at every level of the field.
Washington’s secondary could use exactly that kind of presence. Injuries to Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos exposed the group’s lack of depth last season, and the ripple effects were felt week after week. While the Commanders aren’t set to lose any safeties to free agency this offseason, adding a talent like Downs would inject youth, athleticism, and much-needed playmaking into the mix.
There’s a growing consensus among analysts that the Commanders will go defense with their first-round pick-and it’s hard to argue with that logic. The offense has pieces, assuming the quarterback situation stabilizes, but the defense needs help now. Caleb Downs could be the kind of foundational player who helps set the tone for a new era of Commanders football-one where the defense isn’t just holding on, but dictating games.
The Commanders have a lot of work to do this offseason, but if they start by adding a player like Downs, they’ll be taking a big step in the right direction.