B+
Washington Commanders
The Commanders worked the phones like thieves and earned a B+.
by Maddmax ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
The Commanders did not so much draft Carver Willis as overpay for him, 42 picks clear of his grade. It sets an uneasy tone for the weekend. A dependable weekend that grades out a B+.
The dealing alone would carry a lesser class. The Lance pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
For all the activity, tight end went untouched, which is hard to explain.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
Mansoor Delane at the 11th pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Dillon Thieneman at Round 2, Pick 11. A minor itch, scratched.
Fair-plus on Connor Lew, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
You do not let a wide receiver like Bryce Lance reach pick No. 123 and blink. They did not. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Demond Claiborne at pick 147 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They took Ephesians Prysock at par in the Round 6 slot, which is nothing to complain about. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Eric McAlister at the 209th pick is money in the bank, a wide receiver taken below his worth. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A big swing on Carver Willis at pick No. 223, well ahead of any board in the building. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.