NFL free agency doesn't officially begin until Wednesday, but players have already been agreeing to deals with teams.
The Washington Commanders are one team that's already made a couple of big moves. The team reportedly agreed to a deal with edge rusher Odafe Oweh, which should immediately improve the team's pass rush.
However, the Commanders need more than just one player. As a result, USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz believes the team could still draft an edge rusher with their top pick in the 2026 draft.
Middlehurst-Schwartz has the Commanders selecting Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain. Bain racked up 20.5 sacks in 38 college games and is one of the most explosive pass rushers in this class.
Regarding this pick, Middlehurst-Schwartz offered the following:
The Commanders made a significant commitment to jump-starting their pass rush by securing Odafe Oweh on a four-year, $100 million deal. But Washingon might not be able to afford to stop there. Dan Quinn might not have the kind of qualms with Bain's arm length that others possess, as he'll take a difference-maker off the edge in whatever form one might come in.
As Middlehurst-Schwartz mentioned, the Commanders can't just be satisfied with Oweh.
This is a team who was led in sacks by Von Miller in 2025. Dorance Armstrong finished with the second-most sacks on the team and he only played in half the team's games.
Bain has elite size and speed off the edge and also holds up well as a run defender. Pro Football Focus gave the Miami product an elite 92.5 grade, which ranked third out of 853 qualified edge rushers.
In 2025, Bain collected 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and earned First-team All-American honors, while helping the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
In Dan Quinn's defensive scheme, Bain could be an immediate star, especially with Oweh on the opposite side. It will be interesting to see if the team chooses to double dip at edge rusher, or perhaps add an off-ball linebacker like Sonny Styles or defensive back like Caleb Downs.
Be sure to go here to keep up with the latest free agency news surrounding the Commanders.
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