C
Washington Commanders
The phones sank the Commanders this weekend: C.
by Maddmax ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
You can fall in love with a player. You are not supposed to marry him in the wrong round. The Commanders did exactly that with VJ Payne in pick 143. A mixed bag that lands at C.
They lost the exchange badly enough to drag the whole class down. They punted on tight end, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. That is a wide receiver worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly.
Bottom line, the swing picks will decide whether this ages well.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 21st overall pick they get a load in the middle at fair value.
A linebacker of that caliber at Round 2, Pick 24 is the definition of value, full stop. It adds depth where they could use a little.
The board had cheaper options than Connor Lew at the 71st pick, and it noticed. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The board fumbled Zachariah Branch all the way to No. 84, and they scooped it up. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Tacario Davis slid further than he should have, and pick 116 is lovely value for the cornerback. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Value said wait; VJ Payne in slot 143 says they were not listening. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Ephesians Prysock in slot 183 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Adam Randall at Round 7, Pick 7 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.