Commanders NFL Draft rumor details ‘mandate’ for Round 1

Throughout the pre-draft process, many have wondered if the Washington Commanders will go offense or defense in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Commanders have significant needs on both sides of the ball the team must address if it wants to rebound in 2026.

But Commanders fans shouldn’t be holding their breath for an offensive pick with the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft guru Todd McShay is hearing the Commanders have a “mandate” to make a defensive pick to fix that side of the ball.

“The last conversation I had was very authoritative and that was this pick will be defense,” he said. “(Head coach Dan)Quinn has got it — priority is too light a word. It’s a mandate that we get that defense fixed.”

Not exactly a surprising mandate. Washington was awful on defense last season.

What Commanders need on offense

Two of the biggest weaknesses the Washington Commanders have on offense come at running back and wide receiver.

Washington doesn’t have a surefire starter at running back with a room that includes the unproven Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veterans Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols, all of whom were backups in 2025.

There was some hope among Commanders fans that the team might be able to snag , but rumors point to him being picked in the top five.