All-SEC safety to visit Commanders ahead of NFL draft
The Commanders will host an All-SEC defender with a history of creating turnovers.
The Washington Commanders have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins in just over two weeks. Washington is without picks in the second and fourth rounds, due to its trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil one year ago. The Commanders are first on the clock at No.
7 overall and go back on the clock at No. 71 overall. While Washington was aggressive in free agency, filling multiple needs, it could go a number of ways in the draft.
One player Washington has been linked to at No. 7 is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. There are some who think he's the best overall talent in the draft, but positional value could push him a little lower than it should.
So, while Downs is an option for the Commanders, they could use the seventh pick on another position, perhaps on offense, and look to address safety later. One player Washington has shown considerable interest in ahead of the draft is South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore. NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline noted that the Commanders were showing Kilgore " a lot of love " at South Carolina's pro day.