Commanders Open To Trading Down
APRIL 17: Peters said (via Keim) the Commanders are not actively attempting to move down the board at this time. He remains open to a trade agreement, but Washington can be expected to stay in place at No. 7 – a spot which will provide several interesting options – for now.
APRIL 14: The Commanders currently own six picks in the upcoming draft. Only two of those are within the first 146 selections, however, and Washington is a team in need of rookie additions at several spots.
As such, a move down the board on Day 1 could be something to watch for. As ESPN’s John Keim and Jordan Reid write, the Commanders’ preference would be a small trade down the first-round order to add a Day 2 pick. Washington is positioned to select seventh overall in a draft lacking in star power and high-end quarterback prospects. GM Adam Peters has conceded that will likely make it challenging to generate a market with respect to teams moving up into the top 10.
Nevertheless, the Cowboys could be prepared to execute a trade from No. 12 up the order. The possibility of an intra-divisional swap could make for an interesting storyline as the countdown to the draft continues. In any case, Peters and Co. face the challenge of adding impact rookies to one of the league’s oldest rosters with limited draft capital.
To no surprise, Reid adds receiver and cornerback are positions Washington is likely to target early in the draft. Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson have been added in free agency, but Deebo Samuel remains unsigned and little movement has taken place recently on the Brandon Aiyuk front. That could leave the Commanders with the possibility of selecting Carnell Tate if he is still available at No. 7 and no strong trade-up offers emerge.
Washington has added Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon on the open market at the cornerback spot. Marshon Lattimore is still a free agent, though, while Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene departed in March. Each of the 2026 class’ top CB prospects are likely to be on the board when the Commanders make their first selection. As a result, drafting Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy could receive strong consideration.
The Laremy Tunsil trade deprived Washington of its own selection in the second and fourth rounds in the 2026 draft. The Commanders should still be able to add a few notable rookies to the mix, but efforts on Peters’ part to acquire additional picks are likely to pick up over the coming days.
Commanders High On Jeremiyah Love At No. 7; Team Unlikely To Pick Caleb Downs?
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered one of the Commanders’ top choices for the No. 7 pick in next week’s draft, according to EssentiallySports’ Tony Pauline.
Washington has operated a backfield-by-committee approach for several years without investing much in any one individual running back. In 2025, they traded Brian Robinson – their last player to take more than 200 carries in a season back in 2022 – to the 49ers and split their touches between 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez and 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Commanders added former Buccaneer Rachaad White into their rotation this offseason, too.
Drafting Love would end the committee approach. He would step in as a full-time, three-down RB1 right away who will only need to be rotated out for rest and load management. The Commanders would be able to lean on a more traditional running game without putting Jayden Daniels in as much danger after an injury-riddled 2025 season. And when Washington does use Daniels’ legs, they may find that combining an elite running back with a mobile quarterback can lead to explosive results, as the Ravens showed with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in 2024.
Love was one of several projected top-10 picks to take a top-30 visit to Washington this week. He joined edge rushers Arvell Reese (Ohio State), David Bailey (Texas Tech), and Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), among others, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Any would fill the Commanders’ significant need off the edge, though either Reese or Bailey is expected to be the Jets’ pick at No. 2. The other is unlikely to fall to the seventh pick, but Washington should have a shot at Bain with some teams scared off by his below-average arm length.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was also present for Tuesday’s top-30 gathering, but he is not expected to be the team’s pick at No. 7. The Commanders are returning their top three safeties from last season – Jartavius Martin, Jeremy Reaves, and Will Harris – and signed Nick Cross in free agency. Cross will take up one starting role, and the team is confident that Martin, a 2023 second-rounder, can bounce back after struggling in coverage last year, according to Pauline. Downs has more long-term upside than any currently-rostered Commanders safety, but the front office may value a position with more value or immediate need.
Instead, Pauline adds, one of the aforementioned pass rushers, a wide receiver, or cornerback are “in play” for the seventh overall pick, but that may not matter if Love falls that far. At present, that does not seem especially likely. He has been linked with a number of clubs with top-five picks, and in what is considered a thin draft class in terms of elite prospects, one may be inclined to ignore Love’s position and select him based on his pure talent.
Malachi Lawrence Drawing Major Interest
APRIL 16: The Patriots used a “30” visit on Lawrence, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald relays. In addition to the Pats and the previously reported Colts, 49ers, Seahawks and Texans, Lawrence met with the Cardinals, Chiefs, Falcons, Saints, Chargers, Ravens, Eagles, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Commanders, Raiders, Titans and Jets, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.
APRIL 9: As a potential first- or second-round pick, UCF edge defender Malachi Lawrence is generating significant interest in the lead-up to the NFL draft. Sixteen teams have set up visits with Lawrence, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Colts, 49ers and Seahawks will all meet with him this week.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence’s college career took off as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He registered 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that year. Lawrence’s production dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence picked up 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence further boosted his stock with an off-the-charts performance at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He finished second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump (via PFF College). Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 36) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 46) consider Lawrence a top-50 prospect.
The Colts were a passable 15th in sacks last season, but they ranked an alarming 30th in pass rush win rate. The team made a run at Trey Hendrickson early in free agency, but the Ravens won that sweepstakes. The Colts have settled for modest additions (Arden Key and Micheal Clemons) to replace the departed Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam. They continue to lack needle-moving pass rushers to complement Laiatu Latu. Indianapolis is without a first-round pick, but Lawrence could be on the board when it selects 47th overall in the second round.
The 49ers will pick 27th and 58th in the first two rounds. They totaled the fewest sacks in the league last season, though losing Nick Bosa to a Week 3 ACL tear heavily contributed to their struggles. They should get Bosa and Mykel Williams, who tore his ACL in November, back next season. The rest of their edge rushers – Sam Okuayinonu, Keion White, William Bradley-King, Andrew Farmer and the just-signed Cameron Sample – combined for just five sacks last year. With that in mind, bolstering the pass rush via the draft should be a high priority for the 49ers.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks aren’t exactly teeming with weaknesses, but taking an edge defender early may be on their to-do list. Owners of just four picks, including Nos. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, the Seahawks lost Boye Mafe in free agency. They have not brought in a replacement for Maye, and the clock is ticking on Demarcus Lawrence‘s career. The soon-to-be 34-year-old pondered retirement after the season, which could add to the Seahawks’ urgency to make a notable investment along the edge.
Commanders Host Caleb Downs; S Unlikely To Fall Out Of Top 10?
The clear-cut top safety in this draft class, Caleb Downs looks likely to become the first safety drafted in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. Adams is the only safety to go off the board in the top 10 over the past 15 drafts, but Downs could even beat the former All-Pro’s No. 6 draft slot.
The Giants have been closely connected to Downs at No. 5 for weeks, and a recent report indicated the Cowboys are a team to watch with a trade-up — potentially for a player the Giants are coveting. Downs, who visited Dallas during the pre-draft process, would fit the profile for a team desperate for defensive upgrades.
[RELATED: Cowboys Host Downs On “30” Visit]
Dallas would probably need to trade up for Downs, as ESPN’s Peter Schrager noted during an interview with DLLS Sports that the Ohio State safety falling to No. 12 overall should be considered highly unlikely. Schrager had previously mocked Downs to Dallas, but feedback within the league led the veteran reporter to back off that prediction. Downs’ floor may be the Bengals at No. 10, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds.
Adding Jalen Thompson and retaining Malik Hooker via pay cut, the Cowboys also signed P.J. Locke. They would be bucking NFL draft norms by trading up that far for a safety. Dallas holds the Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks, and moving into the top four would be quite costly. The Bengals have seen safety issues cause trouble ever since Jessie Bates‘ 2023 departure, but they did add Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25MM deal. Starter Jordan Battle is entering a contract year.
Cincinnati also may be a place to monitor with regards to a first-round cornerback investment, Breer adds, while also mentioning Rueben Bain Jr. as a potential option. The Bengals have both Daxton Hill and DJ Turner on expiring contracts at corner. The team has two first-round DEs — Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart — rostered and gave Boye Mafe a three-year, $60MM pact in free agency.
If the Giants pass on Downs at No. 5, Washington may lurk. The Commanders included Downs in a bulk “30” visit at a TopGolf complex, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Washington has proceeded this way in the recent past, as its 2024 QB summit reminds. The Commanders added Nick Cross on a two-year, $13MM deal last month and have Will Harris, Quan Martin and special-teamer Jeremy Reaves rostered at the position. Washington (at No. 7) is viewed as Jeremiyah Love‘s likely floor, but Downs would also be a logical choice. It does not appear likely the standout safety — one of four ex-Buckeyes who could be chosen in the top 10 — will need to wait long to hear his name called.
CB Mansoor Delane To Visit Commanders, Bengals, Ravens
As expected, Mansoor Delane remains one of the busiest prospects on the pre-draft circuit. The LSU corner has a trio of visits lined up for the near future.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Delane will meet with the Commanders, Bengals and Ravens as his final top-30 visits. Tomorrow marks the deadline for such visits to take place around the league before teams finalize their draft board. Each of Washington, Cincinnati and Baltimore are set to select in the top half of the first round.
The Commanders own pick No. 7, although they are among the teams in the top 10 which are open to moving down the board. The Bengals’ top selection is 10th overall, while the Ravens own No. 14. Given Delane’s status as one of the consensus top two cornerback prospects in the 2026 class, he is unlikely to have a long wait before hearing his name called on Day 1.
Delane has met with several other teams near the top of the draft order in recent weeks. The Giants (who own pick No. 5) are looking into their CB options, and that process has included hosting Delane. The three-year Virginia Tech product flashed considerable potential during his time in the ACC. A transfer to LSU produced the desired results and elevated his draft stock even further, though.
Delane notched a pair of interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2025. That production helped him earn first-team All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top prospects for this year’s draft. Jermod McCoy – who missed all of last season to an ACL tear – is viewed as a contender to be the first corner off the board based on his level of play in 2024. Even in that event, Delane will be expected to make an immediate impact at the NFL level for whichever team selects him.
The Commanders and Bengals are seen as being in need of upgrades in the secondary to a greater extent than the Ravens (who may need to trade up to land one of the top CBs). If any of those teams have the opportunity to select Delane, their consideration will be informed in large part by how his upcoming visits play out.
Commanders Eyeing Defense In Round 1?
On the strength of a surprisingly strong rookie Jayden Daniels campaign, the Commanders found themselves a game away from a Super Bowl appearance in 2024. Significant missed time for Daniels and a number of other key contributors led in part to a disappointing 2025 campaign, but another huge factor was a defense that gave up the most yards and the sixth-most points in the NFL. Because of that, ESPN’s Peter Schrager believes Washington will be looking to add to their defense when their pick in the first round arrives.
The Commanders have already done a bit of work to improve things on that side of the ball in free agency, signing outside linebackers Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu, linebacker Leo Chenal, defensive tackle Tim Settle, cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon, and safety Nick Cross. Settle should join Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw on the defensive line.
Chenal should slot in next to Frankie Luvu to replace veteran Bobby Wagner in the starting lineup. Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu should bolster a pass rush that lost Jacob Martin and veteran Von Miller. Alongside a pair of recent high draft picks, Robertson and Witherspoon will attempt to make up for snaps lost with the departures of Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene, while Cross should be an improvement at safety.
Despite the recent struggles of Payne and Kinlaw, the team already has enough salary sunk into the position, and there isn’t really an interior defender worth taking No. 7 overall. It’s probably safe to eliminate cornerback knowing the team added second-rounders in each of the past two drafts. The Commanders are also probably okay with the back end of their secondary being manned by Cross and Quan Martin, while Jeremy Reaves and Will Harris add depth. That leaves the inside and outside linebacker groups as the best areas to attack.
Schrager believes off-ball linebacker will be the play, projecting Ohio State’s Sonny Styles as the pick. Styles certainly could be a strong addition to the linebacking corps; he’s widely projected as the draft’s top option at the position. Wagner and Luvu dominated the snap share available at the linebacker position on Washington’s defense last year. Each player totaled over 1,100 snaps on defense, and the linebacker with the next-highest snap count topped out at 364. Even as a starter in Kansas City, Chenal was more of a rotation piece on the Chiefs defense. He didn’t even see half the snaps his fellow starters did.
Additionally, neither Luvu nor Chenal worked primarily off-ball last year. Both players served in fairly versatile roles by often lining up on the edge. Chenal split his time about 60-40 favoring off-ball work, while Luvu was much closer to 50-50. Because the Commanders lost their veteran, off-ball stalwart, Styles makes a ton of sense here. Installing the Buckeyes’ top inside linebacker prospect in the middle would allow for Luvu and Chenal to continue in their roaming, supportive roles.
The team could also look at edge rusher. Unfortunately, Styles’ fellow linebacker — and projected NFL edge rusher — Arvell Reese is expected to be long gone at this point in the draft. After Reese, there’s an expectation that one of either Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. will also be selected. There’s a strong possibility that the prospect that isn’t selected after Reese could make its way to Washington at the ninth pick.
Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu certainly improve the team’s pass rush over what was left following departures in free agency, but they have only one double-digit sack season between the three of them. If they get an opportunity to add Bailey or Bain in this spot, it may be hard to pass up that kind of value.
This also disregards the offensive side of the ball, where the departures of Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown make wide receiver a potential position of need, as well. Ultimately, several factors will affect the decision the Commanders make 12 days from now, and even those factors could change in the time between then and now. But if Schrager is correct, and the Commanders have defense in mind on Day 1, a linebacker could be an impact move for the franchise and defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn.
Commanders To Host Omar Cooper Jr.; WR’s Stock Rising?
Omar Cooper Jr. has drawn interest from a number of teams as top-30 visits continue around the league. The Indiana receiver’s next meeting has been lined up.
Cooper will visit the Commanders today, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. That will be the fifth team Cooper meets with during the pre-draft process, and Pelissero adds another four visits are scheduled in his case. Cooper has long been mentioned as a first-round prospect in the 2026 class.
Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon are widely seen as locks to be selected on Day 1 at the receiver position. Jordyn Tyson‘s stock may be dropping, but he too could come off the board during the opening round. Denzel Boston is another strong candidate to be selected early, and some teams view him as the second- or third-best WR in this year’s class. Cooper has often been viewed as a similar prospect to Boston in terms of his draft range, and widespread interest from NFL teams certainly points to a brief wait before he hears his name called.
Indeed, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes some teams appear to rank Cooper alongside the best prospects at the receiver spot. Versatility will be key for Cooper, who spent four seasons with the Hoosiers. That included a major role on offense as part of Indiana’s championship-winning 2025 season, during which he set career highs in catches (69), yards (937) and touchdowns (13). An ability to play in the slot but also on the perimeter should help Cooper find a role early in his NFL career and make him an attractive option for numerous teams.
The Commanders could stand to add a starting-caliber WR during this year’s draft. Terry McLaurin remains in place, but Deebo Samuel is unsigned deep into free agency. Washington has long loomed as a logical landing spot in the event of a Brandon Aiyuk trade, although the 49ers may end up retaining him. In any event, the Commanders are waiting until a potential Aiyuk release, something which would allow them to pursue him as a free agent.
Washington owns the seventh overall pick, and taking Cooper at that point would likely be considered a reach. The team’s next selection is No. 71, however, by which point he will surely be off the board. A trade down the first-round order may make Cooper more viable, although the Commanders have looked into a number of other prospects likely to be on the board when they are first on the clock.
NFC Staff Updates: Lions, Rams, Commanders, Seahawks, Cardinals, Eagles
Lions team president Rod Wood is set to retire sometime before the 2026 season, and Detroit is currently in the process of finding his replacement.
The team has only interviewed internal candidates so far. A search firm is working to identify external candidates who will begin interviewing in April, Wood said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). The panel will include Wood, owner Sheila Hamp, and a number of other top executives including former Lions linebacker Chris Spielman. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will also have the opportunity to offer their input.
“In terms of what I’m looking for, I’m looking for the best person to lead the Lions,” Wood continued. “Ideally somebody who’s got the right kind of executive presence and leadership skills, some COO or CEO experience running a big organization. It doesn’t necessarily have to be somebody with football experience but that would be an advantage if it works out.
A number of other NFC teams have also made staffing moves in recent weeks:
- The Rams added former Browns general manager Phil Savage as a consultant in their personnel department, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Savage most recently worked for the Jets, starting in 2019 as a senior personnel advisor. He finished the 2024 season as the interim general manager after Joe Douglas was fired and served as a consultant to the new regime last year.
- The Commanders hired John Glenn as a special teams assistant, per a team announcement. He will work alongside special teams coordinator Larry Izzo and his assistant, Brian Schneider, who is going through cancer treatment, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.
- Former University of Washington offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty has been hired by the Seahawks as an offensive assistant, a NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will become the latest Huskies coach to move to the local NFL team, a pipeline that included his predecessor, Ryan Grubb.
- The Cardinals reunited with Nick Hart as a scouting assistant, according to Inside the League’s Neil Stratton. He previous worked in Arizona as a Nunn-Wooten scouting fellow.
- Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni indicated (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP) that former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland would not return to Philadelphia this year, though he did not rule out the possibility. It was revealed early this offseason Stoutland would not only be off Philly’s staff, after an acclaimed stint as O-line coach, but would not head to another team in 2026. It remains to be seen whether the widely praised staffer will return to the league.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Crosby, Commanders, Aiyuk, Eagles
The Cowboys were aggressive in trade talks for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, submitting multiple offers before ultimately falling short. Las Vegas agreed to send Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks, but the deal fell apart after the five-time Pro Bowler failed the Ravens’ physical. Crosby continues to pop up in trade rumors almost a month later, though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not expect to circle back (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.”
While Jones is not slamming the door on another Crosby pursuit, it is notable that Cowboys physician Dr. Dan Cooper raised concerns over the defender’s surgically repaired meniscus before he failed his physical. The Ravens consulted with the well-respected Cooper during the process. Unless Dallas does a 180 on Crosby, its best hope to upgrade its pass rush could be via the draft. The Cowboys are scheduled to pick 12th and 20th in the first round.
Here’s more on Dallas and a pair of NFC East rivals:
- Washington is considered the most likely destination for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but San Francisco will have to release him first. The Commanders are not going to trade for Aiyuk, according to John Keim of ESPN. The 49ers are in no rush to cut Aiyuk, who is still tied to the four-year, $120MM extension he signed in August 2024. The team has gotten almost nothing from the deal, as Aiyuk has not played since suffering a knee injury that October. The 28-year-old is now coming off a bizarre season in which he distanced himself from the team during his recovery. The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December. Odds are they will eventually cut him, but the Commanders are not going to bank on a release and “bypass other potential options,” Keim writes.
- Having lost Reed Blankenship to the Texans in free agency, the Eagles are down a starting safety to pair with Andrew Mukuba. Nickel cornerback Michael Carter II and safety Marcus Epps, whom the Eagles re-signed on the cheap, are among in-house options to fill the void. To no surprise, general manager Howie Roseman intends to address safety during the draft (via Brooks Kubena of The Athletic). “In some shape or form we will add at that position,” Roseman declared.
- Shifting back to Dallas, the team is in the market for a nickel cornerback, Jon Machota of The Athletic relays. No. 1 corner DaRon Bland has slot experience, including 200 snaps last year, but the Cowboys prefer to keep him on the outside. While Reddy Steward amassed 384 slot snaps in 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a lackluster 99th among 112 qualifiers. Notably, the Cowboys have visited with Miami’s Keionte Scott, one of the highest-rated nickel CBs in this year’s draft class.
- The Cowboys will stage “an open competition” between backup quarterbacks Joe Milton and Sam Howell for the No. 2 job, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Machota). The Cowboys sent a fifth-rounder to the Patriots for Milton and a seventh-rounder a year ago. Starter Dak Prescott went on to enjoy a healthy and productive campaign, which left little playing time for Milton. Howell, who joined the Cowboys on a one-year deal last month, was a 17-game starter in Washington in 2023. The 25-year-old has not made a start since then, and he didn’t even play a snap as a third-stringer in Philadelphia last season.
RB Jeremiyah Love Unlikely To Last Beyond Commanders At No. 7?
Jeremiyah Love is widely understood to be one the most talented prospects in the 2026 class. Gauging where running backs will land in a draft is always difficult, but in this case a drop out of the top 10 order appears unlikely.
[RELATED: Love Could Be Giants’ Top Target]
The Commanders have frequently been mentioned as a logical landing spot for Love. The Heisman finalist would add an impact to any offense, but joining Washington would allow him to immediately contribute on the ground and in the passing game. Multiple personnel who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora believe the Commanders – who own the seventh overall pick – are the floor in Love’s case.
“He’s exactly what that offense needs,” one evaluator said. “The draft is about supply and demand and who really needs a running back. The GM [Adam Peters] comes from San Francisco. They made the trade for [Christian] McCaffrey.”
Peters is indeed familiar with high-end running back acquisitions and the implications of building an offense around an elite player at the position dating back to his 49ers tenure. Washington’s backfield has undergone a number of changes so far this offseason, with Chris Rodriguez departing and the likes of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford being added. Drafting Love would leave the Commanders with other notable roster holes, but it would give the team a long-term offensive pillar if all went according to plan.
During each of his sophomore and junior campaigns at Notre Dame, Love averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. He topped 1,300 scrimmage yards in each season, totaling 40 touchdowns between 2024 and ’25. Love earned first-team All-American honors for his final college campaign and he will be counted on contribute early and often at the NFL level.
Peters’ team went from a surprise trip to the NFC title game to a 5-12 season in 2025. Rebounding will depend on factors such as the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels and the strength of his supporting cast. A receiver move will remain something to watch for, but interest in Love – though a top 30 visit or otherwise – could also develop in the near future.