The Commanders missed out on top prospect Mansoor Delane but selected Sonny Styles in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Several strong prospects remain for Day 2, including CB Avieon Terrell and WR Denzel Boston.
Key points
Commanders selected Sonny Styles in the first round
Mansoor Delane was picked by the Chiefs before the Commanders' turn
Top remaining prospects include Avieon Terrell and Denzel Boston
DraftBot rates several players above consensus for Day 2
Sonny Styles is a fit for the Commanders' new defense
Washington Commanders
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Keionte Scott #0 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts during the second quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Keionte Scott #0 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts during the second quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the scenarios that the DraftBot had worried about came to pass on the opening night of the draft, as the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to 6th overall to get ahead of the Commanders and take LSU CB Mansoor Delane. However, its disappointment at missing out on its top-rated prospect was short-lived, as its second rated player, Sonny Styles, was still available.
Styles is a perfect fit to the defense that it expects Daronte Jones to implement. He posted elite figures in run defense in 2025, and was near the top of the LB class in coverage containment in just his second season at the position. At just 21 years old, he is an ascending player with elite physical tools, who profiles as an impact player in the Commandersâ new look defense.
The selection of Styles also marked a milestone for its EVP of Personnel, Matt in Bris Vegas, as it was the first time a primary Little Board player was drafted by in the first round. Another Little Boarder, Keylan Rutledge, was a surprise first-round pick by the Texans.
With the first round of the 2026 draft in the books, there are still plenty of players remaining on the board who would make great Commanders. Unless something highly unexpected happens, Commanders fans will have to wait until the third round to find out who becomes the next player to don the burgundy and gold.
Following are the best remaining players with Day 1 or Day 2 grades on the DraftBotâs board. The DraftBotâs board contains 136 players, selected for team fit and impact. To approximate projected draft position, multiply its board ranks by 1.89 (although itâs not linear, because it only had 13 players in the first round, and the numbers of players in other rounds are uneven):
First Round Grades
12. CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
13. WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Second Round Grades
16. DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
18. CB Colton Hood,
19. ED Zion Young, Missouri
20. S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
21. G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
22. G Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
25. ED R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
26. DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
27. DT Christen Miller, Georgia
30. TE , Vanderbilt
32. WR , Alabama
33. CB ,
34. ED , Illinois
35. WR Chris Brazzel, Tennessee
36. CB/S Keionte Scott,
37. ED Romello Height, Texas Tech
38. RB Mike Washington Jr, Arkansas
39. ED Derrick Moore, Michigan
Third Round Grades
40. CB David Igbinosun, Ohio State
41. WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
42. ED , Michigan
43. CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State
45. WR , Notre Dame
46. WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
47. DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
48. C Sam Hecht, Kansas State
49. CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
50. ED Joshua Phelps, Tennessee
51. S , TCU
53. WR Skyler Bell, UConn
54. WR Bryce Lance, NDSU
55. ED Keyron Crawford, Auburn
56. S Zakee Whetley, Penn State
57. WR Malik Benson, Oregon
58. WR DeâZhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
59. C Jake Slaughter, Florida
60. DT Darrell Jackson, Florida State
61. C Logan Jones, Iowa
Q&A
Who did the Commanders select in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Commanders selected Sonny Styles in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What are the top remaining prospects for the Commanders on Day 2 of the draft?
Top remaining prospects include CB Avieon Terrell and WR Denzel Boston, among others.
What position does Sonny Styles play and why is he a good fit for the Commanders?
Sonny Styles plays linebacker and is considered a good fit due to his elite run defense and coverage skills.
Which players did the DraftBot rate above consensus for the Commanders on Day 2?
The DraftBot rated CB David Igbinosun, ED Romello Height, and WR Malik Benson above consensus for the Commanders.
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The DraftBot rates the following Day 2 prospects above consensus:
**CB David Igbinosun**, Ohio State â Ascending lockdown corner, small push to the top of Round 3
**ED Romello Height**, Texas Tech â Good scheme fit, has been for a Top 30 visit. DraftBot rates him about half a round above consensus for the Commanders.
**ED Jaishawn Barham**, Michigan â Looks like a great fit to a Flores-style defense. Moved up from late to early third round.
**WR Malik Benson**, Oregon â MiBVs #1 sleeper pick in the 2026 draft. The DraftBot rates him 4 rounds above consensus. The Commanders have met with him 4 times.
There were also a few notable omissions from the DraftBotâs board, and one adjustment following the selection of Sonny Styles:
**ED Cashius Howell**, Texas A&M â Poor run defense, looks like a pass rush specialist, unsure thatâs a role in Daronteâs defense
**CB Brandon Cisse**, South Carolina â gives up too much yardage in coverage
**WR Chris Bell**, Louisville â Rehabbing late season ACL tear, not a dynamic athlete
**WR Antonio Williams**, Clemson â Just kind of average
**LB Kyle Louis**, Pittsburgh â An early draft cycle man-crush, but whatâs his role?
**ED Dani Dennis-Sutton**, Penn State â I canât see Daronte Jones pounding the table for him
**WR Ted Hurst**, Georgia State â The darling of Commandersâ mock drafts has poor hands. WRs with negative Catch Rate Over Expectation were excluded from the DraftBotâs board.
**S Jalon Kilgore**, South Carolina â The Commanders are all over him, but he allows too much yardage in coverage
**CB Daylen Everette**, Georgia â Ditto
All remaining LBs on Day 2 were either dropped or pushed down to Day 3 following the selection of Styles.
