C-
Washington Commanders
The Commanders let Lew fall into their laps, and walked away with a C-.
by Maddmax ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The Commanders spent the weekend waiting on one name, and it fell: Connor Lew, the No. 84 name on the board, in Round 4, Pick 23. The good and the questionable cancel out to a C-.
The trade table is where this weekend went wrong. The tight end spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. The cost of the Lance reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Bottom line, the swing picks will decide whether this ages well.
Pick-by-Pick
A reasonable price with a little left over, Sonny Styles in slot 17. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
By-the-book stuff, Christen Miller at pick No. 55 squarely in line with his ranking. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They paid up for Bryce Lance at pick 81 when waiting would have done the job. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Taking Connor Lew in the 123rd overall pick is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They barely believed it either: Chandler Rivers still on the board at the 124th pick. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They will replay Genesis Smith at No. 125 for years; that is how good the value is. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Hezekiah Masses slipping to Round 5, Pick 7 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Noah Whittington in the Round 7 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. The roster fit checks out.