D
Washington Commanders
The Commanders won the night they stopped Caldwell from sliding. Grade: D.
by The Top Cat ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 6 reaches
Every swap seemed to tilt away from the Commanders, and the value they bled adds up to real damage. A weekend that fought the value and lost, hence the D.
Reaching for Boerkircher left real value on the table behind him. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it. If one pick saves this weekend, it is Caldwell.
The verdict is not kind, and fairly so; this class has a hill to climb.
Pick-by-Pick
A tidy little value on Jeremiyah Love in No. 7, a step better than break-even. It fills a real need, too.
They read the board right and Germie Bernard was the payoff at the Round 3 slot. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Nate Boerkircher at the 143rd pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid a round early for Domani Jackson in pick No. 168, more than the board wanted. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They jumped the gun on Matt Gulbin, taking him earlier than his grade liked. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
VJ Payne at slot 187 is a conviction pick that outran the value. A minor need, but a need all the same.
A conviction pick on Kaelon Black at slot 209 that the board grades a round light. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A top-tier wide receiver at a bargain, Jeff Caldwell in pick No. 223, plain and simple. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Miles Kitselman in Round 7, Pick 11 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Thaddeus Dixon at the 246th pick is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.