Although the 2026 NFL Draft seems like a long way off for Washington Commanders fans right now, those behind the scenes are already devising scouting reports and shortlists before the all-important assessment phase arrives. And when that time comes, fans will have complete faith in Adam Peters.
The general manager has done a remarkable job with the Commanders' roster so far. Peters has been forced to rely on experience after some woeful drafts from the previous head coach, Ron Rivera. It's brought the required improvements, but it wasn't his desired path when he took the job.
Peters can turn this around by stacking good drafts. That's the best way to build a sustainable contender, and the returns from his first two classes are encouraging. Hitting on quarterback Jayden Daniels changed everything for this franchise. However, several others are starting to emerge as potential cornerstones for good measure.
Another strong draft from Peters in 2026 would be the crowning jewel in his master plan. According to the Pro Football and Sports Network, the Commanders could have eight picks at their disposal if their compensatory projections are accurate. Most of these are in the later rounds after some frantic trade activity, but there is no one more qualified than Washington's front-office leader to find diamonds in the rough.
Using the PFSN simulator, we took an early look at how the Commanders could spend these picks in our seven-round mock draft.
Commanders 2026 mock draft could be crowning jewel in Adam Peters' master plan
Commanders draft Arvell Reese
Linebacker | Ohio State Buckeyes
Round No. 1 | Pick No. 17
The Washington Commanders have a strong linebacking tandem in Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. However, the former isn't getting any younger.
Wagner is firmly at the tail-end of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. He remains a supreme organizer and exceptional presence against the run. Even so, Adam Peters would be wise to consider finding his long-term successor from a stacked linebacker class set to take their chances at the next level in 2026.
Arvell Reese is someone who's already surging up draft boards after his sensational second season as a starter at Ohio State thus far. He's got the size, length, and explosiveness that look tailor-made for Dan Quinn's schematic concepts. His strength is defending the run, and the prospect's anticipation regarding play development is coming on encouragingly.
Even if Wagner does return for a third season in Washington, Peters could do far worse than look in Reese's direction. Trading down also couldn't be dismissed entirely, considering the Commanders don't have second or fourth-round picks currently.