Commanders Draft: Pick-3 Contest – 2026

Did you say a contest??!!

Just in case you haven’t heard, the draft is scheduled from 23-25 April, 2026.

Back in 2017, around this time, I decided to create a different kind of draft-prediction contest, which I called the “Draft Pick 3”. That contest has returned annually in one form or another for each of the subsequent seasons.

It’s back for its tenth iteration

I’d love to say that the contest is bigger and better than ever, but, realistically, while the Washington franchise has gone through 3 different names, two owners, and a complete overhaul of the front office and coaching staff, very little about the contest has changed. The rules will be essentially the same as nearly every other year, aside from one minor scoring tweak added for this year.

So, how does the Draft P3 work?

Today, five days prior to the draft, Washington has 9 selections in the 7-round draft, which starts Thursday.

As has been true every year, each entrant in Draft Pick 3 is allowed to nominate three players for each draft pick that the team has at the moment. One change this year is that I have added a BONUS pick that anticipates the possibility of a 2nd-round or 4th round pick acquired by trade. Each entrant will be able to nominate 3 additional players in each of those rounds (6 in total) who will come into play if the Commanders pick in either of those rounds by trading up or down. Your bonus pick players will only be considered if the Commanders a pick in the relevant round. That means that each entrant can identify up to 24 players that he or she thinks might be drafted by the Commanders next week — your own “little board” in effect. If any player on your list gets drafted by the Commanders in the 2026 draft, you get points. The entrant with the most points wins. Simple!

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

Detailed rules:

A. Each entrant can identify 3 candidates for each of the Commanders 6 picks, plus the two “bonus” round picks that anticipate the possibility of trade(s) up or down (24 total candidates):

• Round 1 – pick 7
• Round 2 – “bonus” pick
• Round 3 – pick 71
• Round 4 – “bonus” pick
• Round 5 – pick 147
• Round 6 – picks 187 & 209
• Round 7 – pick 223

B. If a player on the entrant’s list is selected in the round predicted by the entrant, the entrant will earn the following points:

Round 1 = 6 points

Round 2 “bonus” = 9 points

Round 3 = 10 points

Round 4 “bonus” = 15 points

Round 5 = 16 points

Round 6 = 20 points

Round 7 = 25 points

C. If a player on the entrant’s list is selected in a different round than predicted, the entrant will earn 5 points, regardless of which round the player is drafted in, and regardless of the reason for the difference in round.

For clarity, imagine that I’ve predicted WR Zachariah Branch for pick #71 (the Commanders’ 3rd round pick). Also imagine that Washington makes a trade, and in the process, gets pick #61 (in the 2nd round) from the Rams, and chooses Branch with that pick. I will earn 5 points, as Branch was taken in a different round than the one I projected.

However, if Washington selects Branch with pick #71 (in the 3rd round) or any other pick in the 3rd round, then I will still earn the full 10 points for a correct 3rd round pick.

D. There will be no adjustments made for any trades that happen between the time this article is published and the end of the draft (except, as stated for the “bonus” pick). The contest will be based on projecting the 6 current draft picks + two “bonus” pick identified in this article, regardless of any changes in the actual selections the Washington Commanders end up with in the draft.

E. An entrant may list any draft-eligible player as many times as desired, up to a maximum of 7. Specifically, a player may be listed once for every round if the entrant so chooses. However, if the player is actually selected by the Commanders, the entrant will get credit only once. The entrant will get maximum points if one of his predictions is for the correct round; if not, he will receive 5 points for identifying the player, but not the correct round. There is no opportunity to double (or triple, or quintiple) dip by scoring off the same selection multiple times.

F. To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form and fill in the NAMES AND POSITIONS of the 24 players that comprise your entry along with your Hogs Haven username and a contact email address. If anyone posts multiple entries, the LAST entry posted by any individual entrant prior to 7:59 ET, 23 April 2026 will be that entrant’s “official” entry. No entries will be accepted after 7:59 ET, 23 April 2026.

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

G. In case of a tie, the entrant who has received the highest number of points for a single correct projection will be declared the winner. (For clarity, an entrant who earned 16 points for a correct 5th round projection would be declared the winner if no other entrant earned full points beyond round 3). If any entrants remain tied after applying the tie-breaker, then Bill-in-Bangkok will determine the declared winner.

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

THE PRIZE

Any contest is only as good as the value of the prize for winning, so here’s the deal; the winner will be entitled to the same ‘great’ prize as the last seven years. Once you’ve been named the winner, make an appointment with me, show up in Bangkok, and I’ll buy drinks for the two of us all night long at the bar or pub of your choice.

Previous Winners

2024 Panamon28

2023 VinceItaly

2022 Waltdeez

2021 dg28

2020 Rook6980

2019 dcbornskin

2018 Marooook!

2017 SkinsaneAsylum

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE to access the entry form