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The Commanders have shown strong interest in DB Jalon Kilgore
Kilgore has been a fast riser throughout the draft process. He may not make it to pick No. 71 overall, but if he is, he might be the pick. NFL Draft analyst Aaron Wilson says Kilgore has a visit with many teams, including the Washington Commanders.
[Defensive coordinator Daronte] Jones wants experience, versatility, speed, and high IQ, and Kilgore can do it all.
Kilgore is just turning 21 years old, and one of the most versatile defenders in the NFL Draft. He played primarily as a nickel CB at South Carolina, but he also has over 300 snaps at safety over the last two season. Some teams see him as a safety at the next level, but he can play both at 6-1, 211 pounds.
Kilgore is an athletic freak who ran a 4.40 40-yard dash with a 37″ vertical. He put up a 9.66 Relative Athletic Score, which the Commanders always love as well. He flashed his ball skills with seven interceptions over the last two seasons. Kilgore’s speed helps him cover a lot of ground in coverage along with his instincts.
Kilgore is also one of the best run-stopping defensive backs in the draft this year, which has been a weakness for Washington as well. He’s up there with Keionte Scott as options for the Washington Commanders at pick No. 71.
2026 NFL draft: Latest Washington Commanders updates, intel, buzz
Commanders to host multiple WRs
Friday, April 10: The Commanders clearly want to add another receiver opposite Terry McLaurin -- whether that comes with the seventh pick or lower remains uncertain.
They have hosted, or will host, receivers such as Carnell Tate (OSU) and Makai Lemon (USC) and Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana). Because Washington doesn’t pick again until the 71st selection, there’s a good chance Cooper will be gone by that point.
They have met multiple times with Ted Hurst (Georgia State), whom one NFC assistant predicted would be gone by the third round. Analysts and teams consider this a deep receiver draft; the question for the Commanders becomes when do they take one? But while they’ve added more depth at the position, they need someone who can become a strong No. 2 at the very least.
Commanders.com
Fred Smoot’s ‘guaranteed ballers’ of 2026 draft class
Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon
“I love him. I think he is a faster version of Brock Bowers. I think he’s a game breaker. There are some guys who are better in the pros than they are in college, and I think he’ll be featured more as a pro because of his skill set. Just polish up his route running but as long as he has that speed, the quickness, and agility, I think he might be different.”
Branden Thompson | WR | Mississippi State
“You know he ran a 4.3 at the combine? He is a late-round steal who will provide big-time special teams play. He will be someone’s #3 WR and a legit one at that.”
Riggo’s Rag
Unusual trade back prediction for the Commanders in next week’s draft
The Commanders are without a second or fourth round pick in 2026 after their trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil last offseason. While there is no doubt Peters would do that deal again in a heartbeat, it leaves him sort of premium capital. He could stand pat, but the front-office leader will also keep the phones open in case an offer to move back arrives.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz believes that scenario may come to fruition. Based on his conversations with several executives, there could be a flurry of activity in the top half of the first round. He also heard that teams are looking to acquire extra picks later in the draft, given the lack of blue-chip prospects at the top.
”The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources. Several executives I’ve spoken with believe we’re likely to see a flurry of activity in the first half of Round 1.
“Additionally, because this specific draft lacks depth in the later rounds, many teams plan to pursue extra Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, per league sources.”
It’s a wait-and-see scenario. Peters acknowledged how unpredictable this year’s draft is after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. He’ll be ready for anything, but it would have to be a pretty decent offer to move off a prospect high on their board.
Podcasts & videos
Post-Signing 1-on-1: DB Amik Robertson | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
NFC East links
Crossing Broad
Delusional Charles Omenihu Thinks 2023 49ers Were Better than 2024 Eagles
Objectively speaking, that 49ers team went 12-5 in the regular season with losses to Cleveland, Minnesota, Cincy, Baltimore, and then the backups lost to the Rams, so that’s a N/A. They got past the Packers and Lions in the playoffs by a field goal in each game. The Birds’ Super Bowl team went 14-3, lost a fugazi game with Kenny Pickett in there, then hammered the Commanders and Chiefs in the playoffs while beating their other two playoff opponents by 12 points and 6 points.
BTW, Omenihu is a Washington Commander now. This guy is gonna get throttled by the Birds AGAIN.
Bleeding Green Nation
Dontayvion Wicks trade: Eagles acquire Packers wide receiver in exchange for draft picks
The Eagles are adding another wide receiver to the roster, as A.J. Brown trade speculation continues
EAGLES RECEIVE — Dontayvion Wicks
PACKERS RECEIVE — 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick
In addition, the Eagles are reportedly signing Wicks to a one-year, $12.5 million extension that will put him under contract through 2027.
Wicks is heading into his fourth year in the NFL and has 46 games of experience — and saw about 50 percent of the offensive snaps in those games. At 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, the 24-year-old receiver recorded 108 receptions for 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns through his three seasons with the Packers.
He is just the latest addition to the Eagles’ WR room, joining Hollywood Brown, and this move will only fan the flames of [expectations for] a future A.J. Brown trade. The move could also signal that the team is not planning to use a high draft pick on a rookie wide receiver, as some were speculating just weeks ahead of the event.
Bringing in Wicks gives the Eagles some added depth and experience. Plus he has familiarity with new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent the last two seasons on the Packers’ coaching staff.
Big Blue View
Roseman steals Wicks while the Giants sleep
All they gave up is a low 5th and a 6th. Once again Roseman shows that you can use the trade market while the giants have dinosaur logic.
SB Nation/Blogging the Boys
SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: With the 12th pick the Dallas Cowboys select…
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
The Cowboys big needs coming into the draft are cornerback, edge rusher and linebacker. The run on top defensive talent early in this mock left only one blue-chip defender at pick 12, CB Jermod McCoy, but he certainly isn’t a consolation prize.
McCoy and Mansoor Delane (taken earlier) are considered the best corners in the draft. McCoy’s ACL recovery was the big red flag, but a stellar workout at his Pro Day shows he is in full recovery mode. By the time he plays his first NFL game, he will be 20 months removed from the injury, close to two years. Rumors are the Cowboys might be out on taking him, but they shouldn’t be. They need a dominant corner, and McCoy looks like he fits the bill.
NFL league links
Falcons pick up fifth-year option for RB Bijan Robinson
Robinson was fourth in the league in rushing yards (1,478) and led the league in scrimmage yards (2,298) this past season. The latter total was a Falcons franchise record. Robinson’s 2025 performance earned him a first-team All-Pro honor.
The Falcons picking up the option was a formality. Schefter reported last month that there is an expectation that Robinson will get a contract extension this offseason.
Sources: Colts agree to seek new team for CB Kenny Moore II
The Colts this offseason have already traded core players like wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (Steelers) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (Packers). Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, has also been granted permission to seek a trade, though he remains on the roster.
Indianapolis owes Moore $10 million in base salary and per-game bonuses this season, which it would save if he is traded. But that sum likely complicates efforts to trade him as a team would have to take on that salary. A pre-June 1 trade would save the Colts more than $7 million in salary cap space.
With fellow cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward already on huge contracts, the Colts lead the NFL in salary cap spending at the position in 2026. Ward said in January that he was contemplating retirement after suffering three concussions last season but told Holder in February that he was reconsidering that position.
If Moore is traded, second-year cornerback Justin Walley would likely be asked to step up in the slot.
Last season, Moore was a part-time starter who missed three games due to an Achilles strain. He had one interception, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks and six passes defended in 2026.
Moore has spent the past nine seasons in Indianapolis, where he recorded 649 tackles, 21 interceptions and six forced fumbles. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021.
Slow news day section
Pro Football Talk
Three days after The Athletic, owned and operated by the Times, issued a statement of unequivocal support in connection with photos obtained by the New York Post of Russini and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, the Post now reports that Russini “will not be reporting” while an internal investigation unfolds.
An unnamed source with knowledge of the situation told the Post that “new details from the Page Six report and information from the investigation raised additional concerns that are now being reviewed further. The investigation is ongoing.”
Added the source, to the Post: “Her coverage is being reviewed. That process is expected to take time. She will not be reporting in the interim.”
Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Friday afternoon the existence of an internal investigation. He noted a prior FOS report that Russini’s contract expires in August 2026.
United Football League
Pro Football Talk
In the NFL, a penalty on the defense on a two-point conversion attempt would result in the ball being moved half the distance to the goal line and another attempt being granted. But UFL overtime has different rules.
Orlando and Louisville were tied 27-27 at the end of the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime. In UFL overtime, teams take turns trying two-point conversions to determine a winner. Neither team scored — but Louisville committed two defensive penalties, and under UFL rules, the second defensive penalty is considered a successful two-point conversion attempt. That gave Orlando the winning 29-27 score.
Dean Blandino, who both oversees the UFL officiating department and serves as an officiating analyst for Fox, said on the Fox broadcast that the rule was put in place to stop defenses from committing penalty after penalty to prevent an offense from ever scoring a two-point conversion.
“We wanted to make sure we had a winner and we got the game over with. we didn’t want the team to continue to foul to prevent scores, so the second live ball foul by the same team during overtime results in the score being good,” Blandino said.
Blandino said the rule is a fair way to make sure overtime doesn’t go on too long.
“You think about player safety and extra snaps, we’ve already been playing for over three hours,” Blandino said. “The second live ball foul during overtime by the same team results in a successful try.”
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