Commanders make controversial pick in new mock draft

What will the Washington Commanders do at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft? Entering free agency, the Commanders had several needs, including edge rusher, linebacker, wide receiver, cornerback, and tight end.

General manager Adam Peters did an outstanding job in free agency, filling those needs, but not to the point that you can exclude the Commanders from picking any of those specific positions. Before free agency, almost every mock draft had Washington going edge rusher at No. 7 overall.

That usually meant either Arvell Reese (Ohio State), David Bailey (Texas Tech), or Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) falling to the Commanders. Reese rarely made it out of the top five of mock drafts, but Bailey and Bain did, with one of the two landing in Washington.

Since free agency, those talks have died down, with the Commanders often being linked to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. However, in a new mock draft for CBS Sports, Zachary Pereles is back on the Bain to Washington train at No. 7.