The Washington Commanders 2026 NFL Draft was a pivotal one for the franchise. Coming off an underwhelming season where Jayden Daniels missed a number of games due to injury, the team needed to close the talent gap between them, Dallas, and Philadelphia. With the unknowns surrounding the Cowboys’ George Pickens and the Eagles’ A.J. Brown, the Commanders have an opportunity to be contenders in the division this season (the Cowboys did get significantly better with the addition of Caleb Downs). They needed a good draft to fully take advantage of that opportunity.
Washington had several positions that needed to be addressed. More talent on the offensive side of the ball was necessary, with Daniels coming off an injury-plagued season. Defensively, the front seven needed upgrades after a surprising lack of production in 2025. The 2026 NFL Draft addressed those needs, but some head-scratching selections in later rounds didn’t do the Commanders any favors. These are Washington’s selections from this year’s draft.
Round 1, Pick 7: Sonny Styles, Linebacker, Ohio State
The Commanders needed to get younger at ILB. Frankie Luvu saw a decline in production in 2025, and Nick Bellore will be entering his 16th season in the league. Signing Leo Chenal in free agency was a win for Washington, but the franchise needed another playmaker in the middle of the defense. Sonny Styles is that playmaker, and can make an immediate impact for the organization.
Styles was initially a safety for the Buckeyes, but converted to linebacker for his junior season. During the last two years, he tallied 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, eight pass breakups, and an interception. He is elite at shedding blocks, and his athleticism is an asset in both run defense and pass coverage. He needs to improve at the finer points of the position, such as recognizing different run blocks. Styles might not start immediately, but he’ll be leading the Commander defense in short order.
Round 3, Pick 71: Antonio Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson
Washington has talent at the starting wide receiver positions, but the franchise had to improve its depth. Terry McLaurin was a staple in the passing game for a long time, but 2025 marked the first time he recorded under 1,000 yards receiving since his rookie year in 2019. Luke McCaffrey is a solid option, and the addition of Van Jefferson should make things easier for Daniels. The Commanders need to groom an heir apparent to McLaurin, and Antonio Williams fits the bill.
Williams is an interesting prospect at the receiver position. More slippery than fast, he can be a tough match-up as a route runner and can do some damage after the catch. He has rare versatility, since he can throw, catch, run, and return kicks, which opens up possibilities as a gadget player. He doesn’t possess elite speed, so he’ll have to hone his skills in creating separation. Williams should see snaps in the slot and elevate Washington’s passing game in the process.
Round 5, Pick 147: Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
The edge of the defense needs more production for the Commanders. Charles Omenihu is coming to Washington after three seasons in Kansas City, where he accumulated 11.5 sacks in a rotational role. Despite only playing seven games in 2025, Dorance Armstrong recorded seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Joshua Josephs brings stability to the position and can develop into a starter on the edge.
Scouts have raved about Josephs’s wingspan, which is equivalent to an NBA small forward, thanks to a 34″ arm length. He is light on college production, with six TFLs and four sacks in 2025 being the high-water mark of his career. He is slight (242 pounds), and lacks finesse on his pass rush, so adding muscle and moves will be a priority in the NFL. Josephs won’t contend for a starting job right away, but he has value as a rotational pass rusher with the potential to blossom into an every-down player.
Round 6, Pick 187: Kaytron Allen, Running Back, Penn State
The Commanders have a deep RB stable with Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but that didn’t stop them from taking Kaytron Allen in the sixth round. While he lacks the explosiveness to be an every-down back in the NFL, he can be a contributor in a rotation and in short-yardage situations. He led the Nittany Lions with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, so the production should translate well to the league. Allen is unlikely to make Washington’s roster as a special teamer, and he’ll have his work cut out for him as deep as the RB room is.
Round 6, Pick 209: Matt Gulbin, Center, Michigan State
With the release of Tyler Biadasz, Washington is thin at center with only Nick Allegretti on the roster. The selection of Matt Gulbin solidifies the interior, as the three-year starter will likely see action in 2026. He has shorter-than-average arms and isn’t consistent in pass protection, but has value as a blocker in zone-running schemes. Gulbin and Allegretti will be fighting for the center job in the preseason, so Commanders fans will need to pay close attention to the trenches in the late summer.
Round 7, Pick 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, Quarterback, Rutgers
The Commanders made an odd selection to round out their draft class. Athan Kaliakmanis didn’t post remarkable numbers in college, passing for 3,124 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2025. His accuracy is a question mark (his completion percentage was 62.2% last season), and he didn’t even have a draft grade on him prior to his selection. With three other QBs on the roster, it’s highly unlikely that Kaliakmanis will make the team.
Washington Commanders 2026 NFL Draft Grade: C
With only six picks in 2026, the Commanders needed to get value on all of them to close the gap between them and the top of the division. The selections of Allen and Kaliakmanis feel like wasted picks, given how the roster is currently constructed. Despite this, Washington has four potential starters with the other prospects it took, so it wasn’t a bad draft by any means. Styles and Williams could have an immediate impact in 2026, and that should excite Commanders fans.
