2026 NFL Draft: Names to know if Commanders trade back in first round

If the Washington Commanders were to trade down in the 2026 NFL Draft, who might be some of their prime prospects to draft?

The Commanders do have the No. 7 draft pick right now, but they also do not own selections in the second or fourth rounds. This means, if the phone rings on draft night, and someone wants that No. 7 selection bad enough, they may offer the Washington GM Adam Peters something he may feel like he can't reject. Such an offer might help Peters build the roster more than a single player at No. 7.

If they trade down with Tampa Bay to No. 15, then the Bucs would have to offer something like pick No. 46 in the second round and perhaps another pick as well, like a fourth rounder. What if the Panthers call and they want to trade up from No. 19 up to No. 7? Then the Panthers would perhaps need to give the Commanders their picks at No. 51 and 119.

It's been suggested the Rams having two first-round choices might be wanting to move up to No. 7 if Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is still available, giving Rams QB Matthew Stafford a big-time back, helping the Rams go for another Super Bowl before Stafford retires. To move up from No. 13 to No. 7, the Rams would likely have to also provide the Commanders their pick at No. 61 and another pick either this year or next.

So, who might the Commanders be looking to draft if they ended up selecting in one of these options: Rams (No. 13), Bucs (No. 15), or Panthers (No. 19)? Don't laugh, these are real possibilities. Why else did the Commanders recently bring in Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr? Well, Cooper has not been mocked by anyone to be drafted near the top 10. So, the Commanders are certainly not drafting Cooper at No. 7.

Consequently, Peters is going to interview a few players he likes who are projected to be drafted later. Why? Because Peters thinks he will probably receive an offer or two on draft night to move back. Peters is doing his due diligence to prepare for a possible trade down by the Commanders.

The spots we've illustrated (No. 13, 15, and 19) suggest USC receiver Makai Lemon, Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, and Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. are all very capable candidates if Peters wants to go best receiver available. Other possibilities could be Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, if Peters wants to go best defensive player available.

So, over the next 10 days, be looking at players mocked to be drafted anywhere from around 11-25. Become more familiar with those names, because Peters had Cooper in this week for a good reason.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Names to know in NFL draft if they trade back