B-
Washington Commanders
The Commanders let McAlister fall and pounced. Final grade: B-.
by Maddmax ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
Call it larceny. Eric McAlister sat on the board until the 223rd overall pick, and the Commanders did not need to be asked twice.
They are betting Claiborne proves the room right and everyone else wrong. That tight end hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 4 of 8 of the wish list covered.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but tight end.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 7 they get a three-down second-level presence at fair value. More want than need.
They did well to land Deion Burks in pick No. 91, just ahead of his grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A cornerback of that caliber at the 120th pick is the definition of value, full stop. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Nothing to complain about; Billy Schrauth went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A reach on Demond Claiborne in Round 5, Pick 7; the board had better options right there. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A conviction pick on VJ Payne at the 187th overall pick that the board grades a round light. It adds depth where they could use a little.
No edge and no loss on Jadon Canady in slot 209; it is a wash and a sensible one. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A top-tier wide receiver at a bargain, Eric McAlister in the Round 7 slot, plain and simple. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.