Washington Commanders NFL Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

The top cornerback in the draft heads to Washington, which should be making major investments on defense this offseason.

The Commanders' list of roster needs is so extensive that Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane and Jeremiyah Love all would have been upgrades here. But Bain is the clear pick. The Commanders need to rebuild the defense to give Jayden Daniels some support, and it starts up front, where they've lacked an elite pass rusher the last two seasons. Enter Bain, a ferocious and complete pass rusher, who knows how to use his power and leverage to dominate tackles. His 30 3/4-inch arms could be a sticking point for some, but his length didn't appear to be a hindrance; he had an FBS-best 83 pressures to go with 23 run stops in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He's the game-wrecker Washington sorely needs.

David Bailey is just so damn fast off the snap. His first step overwhelmed a lot of his competition at the college level, and while life will be more difficult at the next level -- meaning he'll need to develop more technique -- Bailey will improve your pass rush. Will he help stop the run? I'm not as confident there.

Reese provides Washington some explosiveness and versatility. He might be a tougher projection than some of the other pass rushers in this year's draft, given that he split time between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker for the Buckeyes. Reese has the highest upside of the group, though.

The Commanders have made it clear that they need to get younger on defense, so a pass rusher could be tempting here. But they can't overlook their need for another receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. Tate had a fantastic 2025 season and is one of most pro-ready prospects in the class. He's a terrific route runner who makes difficult catches look routine with his awesome hands and body control. Tate averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2025 and had at least one 40-plus-yard catch in six games. That sort of field-stretching speed and tracking ability could make him an ideal option for quarterback Jayden Daniels.

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.

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.