2026 NFL Draft Grades: Washington Commanders

The Commanders took a big step back last season. After their surprising run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, they won five games and landed in the top 10 of the draft. Jayden Daniels missed 10 games with various injuries, and the offense tumbled, as you might expect. Washington went from fifth in scoring (28.1 points per game) to 23rd (20.1). Terry McLaurin struggled, and the running backs lacked juice.

Things might have been worse on defense. Washington allowed 6.0 yards per play. Bobby Wagner still did his thing (162 tackles), but he's a 36-year-old free agent, and one of the oldest rosters of the 2025 season needed to get younger.

At No. 7, Jeremiyah Love was suggested as a perfect fit, and he would have been. But he was long gone when Washington was on the clock. I projected Carnell Tate there in my final mock as the other outside receiver opposite McLaurin, but he was gone, too. The Commanders theoretically could have taken Jordyn Tyson, Reuben Bain Jr. or Caleb Downs to check off needs, but they went with the best player still on the board.

Sonny Styles (fourth in my rankings) shows his former-safety self, using 4.46 speed and elite-level explosion to read the play and close in a flash. He doesn't miss tackles and chases down running backs before they can get to the edge. He's a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who is going to make this team better. It was a really good start to the draft.

Antonio Williams and Kaytron Allen will boost the offense. Williams catches a lot of passes and is productive after the catch (331 of his 604 yards last year came after securing the football). He missed a little time last season and wasn't as effective as he was in 2024 (11 touchdowns), but he will be a reliable outlet out of the slot for Daniels while also making an impact as a returner. Allen isn't Love, but he did score 15 touchdowns on the ground last season and broke 30 runs for at least 10 yards. The Commanders brought in Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to join Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the backfield, but Allen will see his share of touches.

Joshua Josephs fell a little bit in the pre-draft process (only four sacks last season), and the Athan Kaliakmanis pick was a little off the wall. He was QB19 on my board. If Washington wanted a backup quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier was still there.

Regardless, Styles will be the centerpiece of this draft class, and he has the chance to be a really effective player for a very long time. I'm excited to see him team up with Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal to shore up the team's struggling defense.

LB Sonny Styles, the seventh overall pick, is the headliner of a light class ... and should be creating quite a few headlines for years into the future as the man in the middle and new face of this defense. A freakish athlete and multi-dimensional weapon who used to play safety, Styles' mind might ultimately be his greatest asset, especially given the likelihood cerebral stud Bobby Wagner likely won't return. Third-round WR Antonio Williams has a chance to crack the rotation early. And don't forget that GM Adam Peters spent a package of picks, including this year's second- and fourth-rounder, in 2025 in order to obtain Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil ... as much good as it did QB Jayden Daniels last season.

Best Pick: It was their first one. Landing linebacker Sonny Styles gives Dan Quinn a young Bobby Wagner for his defense. Styles may end up being the best defensive player in this class.

Worst Pick: Fifth-round EDGE Joshua Josephs has some pop to his game, but he wasn't as productive as you would have expected at Tennessee. He does have pass-rush traits.

The Skinny: Getting Styles will help a defense that needed it in the worst way. Think Fred Warner in terms of his game. I really like third-round receiver Antonio Williams.

With only six draft picks — including just two among the first 146 picks — the Commanders had fewer opportunities than most. Any evaluation of their class should also note the second and fourth-round picks peddled earlier, however, for veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Nevertheless, Washington found a future star at linebacker in Sonny Styles and one of my favorite wideouts in Antonio Williams. Styles' sideline-to-sideline speed will be maximized in Dan Quinn's defense, and I'm also excited to see twitchy edge rusher Joshua Joseph's development in this system.

The Laremy Tunsil trade left the Commanders without significant capital, but they really made the most of their assets in this draft.

After a spending spree on defense in free agency, Sonny Styles is just what the doctor ordered for the middle of this unit. They now have a tough leader with range.

Antonio Williams is a smooth separator from the slot who often makes the first tackler miss after the catch. I think he'll mesh quickly with Jayden Daniels, as will Kaytron Allen in a no-nonsense downhill running role.

Joshua Josephs is only a designated pass rusher right now, but he has an explosive first step and can angle his way into the pocket. He's forced six fumbles over the last two seasons, making a consistent effort to swipe at the quarterback.

Here's why: For years, Dan Quinn has tried to find a new Bobby Wagner to man the middle of his defense and meet the tough asks of running down with receivers in coverage. He even tried an older version of Wagner, albeit with an adjusted role with his advanced age and slower speed. He may have finally found his guy in Sonny Styles, a tremendous talent with length, range and an intelligence that makes him an excellent two-way defender against the run and pass.

While I thought Washington needed to add to its wide receiver room, I thought it would go with a receiver who does more of his work on the outside. Instead, the Commanders went with the smooth moving Antonio Williams. A productive and reliable player who is a great fit for a Commanders receiving corps that doesn't have players with Williams' skills.

Joshua Josephs is also an interesting pass rusher with good hands to add to the collection of edge defenders the Commanders assembled this offseason.

Most interesting pick: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

Washington signed several running backs this offseason and got floated as having interest in Jeremiyah Love. While the Love pick didn't happen, Washington still added to its running back room with the bruising Allen. He is a tough runner between the tackles who doesn't generate explosive plays because of his lack of high-end speed. His vision and strength allow him to get the simple yards blocked for him, which is key for an offense staying on script, but he doesn't really put a ton of plays over the top. I like that Allen has the hammer that can work between the tackles and punish defenses that have too many eyeballs on Jayden Daniels. He's like a baseball player who gets on base a ton without hitting a ton of home runs. Rachaad White and Jerome Ford complement Allen's game nicely, and it's a not a bad room they've assembled, along with Bill, without investing too many resources.

Funnily enough, my predraft comparison for Allen's running style was Rachaad White.

The Commanders seemed to fly under the radar a bit during a wild and wacky first round, but their selection of Sonny Styles at no. 7 was one of my favorite picks. Styles is an extremely rangy, reliable tackler who brings untapped upside as a blitzer and situational pass rusher. He fills a big hole created by the departure of Bobby Wagner, giving the team a playmaker to build around at the second level. I thought the pick of wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round was a smart one: He's a dynamic route runner who catches everything and creates after-the-catch out of the slot, giving Jayden Daniels a potential no. 2 option opposite Terry McLaurin. Edge rusher Joshua Josephs has excellent burst off the edge and gives the team a speed rusher who can contribute to the pass rush rotation right away. And running back Kaytron Allen could see the field early on; he lacks high-end burst, but he's a physical, elusive runner who creates on his own and can grind out hard yards. Washington added multiple early-impact playmakers, and this class could help get the team back on track in 2026.

Analysis: The Commanders had a well-rounded draft, filling critical needs on both sides of the ball. Styles landed in an ideal spot, getting to work with coach Dan Quinn, who has a reputation for unlocking vast skill sets of hybrid players. The Ohio State product can patrol the middle of Quinn's defense before finding his footing as a chess piece. Entering the draft, Washington lacked depth at the skill positions. Now, it has two new weapons for Jayden Daniels: Williams, who can contribute from the slot, and Allen, who can block and make plays with his excellent vision.