Washington's last 7th overall pick became a 7-time All Pro and is in the Ring of Fame. The team is preparing for the NFL Draft with several potential prospects.
Key points
Washington's last 7th overall pick was Champ Bailey
Champ Bailey is a 7-time All Pro
He is in the Ring of Fame
Washington has six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
The team is evaluating multiple prospects
Mentioned in this story
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Champ Bailey
Washington CommandersPittsburgh Steelers
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Washington Redskins looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 16, 2000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 24-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Washington Redskins looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 16, 2000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 24-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*The Commanders have four picks over the last four rounds: a fifth-rounder (No. 147), two sixths (187 and 209) and a seventh (223).*
**Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest**
Described by Brugler as âa low-calorie DeâVon Achane,â Claiborne is a smaller back at 5-10, 188 pounds, but he has exceptional speed (4.37 40) and burst, and was a dual threat at Wake Forest. His play needs refinement, but his focus should be on ball security; he lost three fumbles and, according to PFF, had six drops last season.
**Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana**
A two-year starter who served as Indianaâs Mike linebacker after transferring from James Madison, Fisher is athletic and tough and could be a âlow-endâ starter like Drue Tranquill of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Brugler. Fisher totaled 215 tackles as a Hoosier and was the first linebacker in program history to earn All-American honors (he did it in 2024 and â25).
**George Gumbs Jr., Edge, Florida**
Gumbs is tenacious against the run, but needs refinement as a pass rusher. His work ethic will help him get there, though; he began his college career as a walk-on receiver at Northern Illinois, then switched to edge rusher after his first two years.
**Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan**
Benny has the size, length (81 5/8-inch wingspan) and athleticism to intrigue, but he also has a lengthy injury history.
**Collin Wright, CB, Stanford**
Wright started three years at Stanford and checks a lot of boxes: he has the versatility to play inside and outside, is a tough tackler and was a team captain with a lauded work ethic. He also models his game after Byron Murphy, whom new Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones helped develop in Minnesota.
**Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami**
Thomas plays fast and physical (at times getting him into trouble). He has only one year of starting experience at a Power 4 program â he began his career at Middle Tennessee State â but that one season was enough to garner attention from NFL scouts. Thomas had five picks, 11 passes defended, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Hurricanes last year.
**VJ Payne, S, Kansas State**
Payne was a three-and-a-half-year starter with experience at free safety, strong safety and nickel at Kansas State. He has good size (6-3, 206) and length (80 3/4-inch wingspan) with 4.4 speed to boot.
**Commanders.com**
*The opinions expressed in this article are based solely on Logan Paulsenâs opinions and expertise as a draft analyst and do not reflect those of the Commandersâ front office.*
Weâre inching closer to the NFL Draft, and many have finalized their draft boards to rank the top prospects available. However, finding the best players to add to a teamâs roster is more complicated than that.
Earlier this week, Washington Commanders analyst Logan Paulsen provided his top 100 players. Today, heâs going further with his evaluation by breaking down where players land in his tier list. Letâs get to it.
**Hogs Haven**
**So, how does the Draft P3 work?**
Today, two days prior to the draft, Washington has 6 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- 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 â your own âlittle boardâ 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!
**ESPN**
**Donât expect a reach for need at No. 7**
**April 21:** The Commanders have new coordinators in Daronte Jones on defense and David Blough on offense and both have changed the schemes Washington had run the past two years.
But general manager Adam Peters said the players they wonât be trying to fit square pegs into round holes when they draft at 7. Itâs what excites them about this draft.
Thatâs why Washington has been linked to a number of players in the top 10, from linebacker Sonny Styles to corner Mansoor Delane and at times safety Caleb Downs. If an edge rusher fell to them at seven â whether Arvell Reese or David Bailey â they, too, would make sense. And running back Jeremiyah Love falls into the same category.
âThereâs a lot of guys that will possibly be there in different levels of the defense, really every position,â Peters said, âthat can really impact us in a real positive wayâŠnot only in 2026, but beyond. When youâre picking in the top 10 thereâs not too many guys that arenât scheme fits.â
**Commanders Wire**
1999: Georgia CB Champ Bailey
Obviously, one name stands out here: Bailey. An All-American at Georgia, Bailey was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft â the same draft where the New Orleans Saints traded all of their picks to the Redskins (plus a first and third-round pick in 1999). Washington then moved back up to No. 7, in a trade with the Chicago Bears, to select Bailey.
Bailey would spend the first five seasons of his NFL career with Washington, going to four Pro Bowls and earning second-team All-Pro honors twice. However, after a contract dispute with then-owner Daniel Snyder, the Redskins traded Bailey and a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Bailey. The rest is history. Bailey would play 15 NFL seasons, was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro, four-time second-team All-Pro, 52 career interceptions, a spot in the Broncos Ring of Fame, and was also named as one of Washingtonâs 90 greatest players.
**The Athletic** (paywall)
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The Commanders cherry blossom design (by artist Chris Pyrate) didnât make it onto their new uniforms that debuted last week, but this is another example of a Washington sports team taking advantage of the popularity of cherry blossoms on sports memorabilia in the Nationâs Capital.
Slogan inside the hat: âHTTCâ (Hail to the Commanders)
The New York Giants continued on Tuesday to prepare for life after Dexter Lawrence, hosting another veteran defensive tackle for a free-agent vist.
This time it was **Benito Jones**, a 6-foot-1, 335-pound six-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
The Giants previously hosted veteran defensive tackles Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader. They also hosted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this week for a visit that included a physical and a workout.
None of the veteran players have signed. It seems likely at this point that any signings would take place next week after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Two days before the NFL draft, the New York Jetsâ preference with the second overall choice is still shrouded in mystery. Itâs expected to be either Ohio Stateâs Arvell Reese or Texas Techâs David Bailey, whose scheduled top-30 visit last week was canceled by the Jets.
Donât read anything into that, according to general manager Darren Mougey.
âIn regard to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our 30 [visits] and how to use them,â Mougey said Tuesday at a predraft news conference. âI wouldnât look too much into a cancellation because there was other ones that we may have changed as well.â
The cancellation of Baileyâs visit fueled speculation that the Jets had settled on Reese. In fact, they already had enough information on Bailey, with Mougey noting they use the top-30 visits for a variety of reasons â medical checks, recruiting and an opportunity for departments such as sports performance to meet with certain prospects.
**Front Office Sports**
The first $50 million contracts will be signed this year by NFL draftees since the leagueâs rookie wage scale was implemented in 2011.
As the NFLâs annual salary cap continues to experience unprecedented growthâsurpassing $300 million for the first time in 2026ârookies are also benefiting from the influx of cash, especially top draft picks.
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, widely assumed to be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, is projected to sign a four-year, $54.56 million contract. The total contract values of the second and third picks are also projected to top $50 million each.
Last yearâs No. 1 pick, Titans quarterback Cam Ward, signed a four-year, $48.84 million deal.
All 32 first-round picks sign fully guaranteed four-year contracts, with team options for a fifth year. Picks in rounds 2-7 have some, but not all, of their money guaranteed.
The NFL implemented its rookie wage scaleâeffectively a salary cap for drafteesâin 2011, after contract values for top picks had soared to unprecedented levels.
Former Rams quarterbackSam Bradford, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, signed a six-year, $78 million contract, with $50 million fully guaranteed. The next season, with the new wage scale, 2011 No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Panthers.
**Front Office Sports**
NBC Sports is hiring Mike Tomlin as its top NFL studio analyst, sources confirmed to *Front Office Sports*.
The hiring of the former Steelers coach will help fill the void left by Tony Dungy, who NBC let go of earlier this year after 17 seasons on the *Football Night in America* studio show.
Vrabel shared no details about what he called a âpersonal and private matterâ or his relationship with Russini and the photos of the pair spending time together at an adults-only hotel in Arizona. He said he had conversations that were âpositive and productiveâ with Patriots players when they reported for voluntary workouts Monday.
âIâve had some difficult conversations with people I care about â with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,â Vrabel said Tuesday. âThose have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me.
âWe never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. There are comments and questions that Iâve answered for the team and with the team. Weâll keep those private.â
Vrabel said he wanted to make a statement Tuesday so he could address the media before his players were asked questions about the story and to try to minimize distractions heading into the NFL draft this week.
A spokesperson for the Patriots did not respond last week to a question about whether the team would review Vrabelâs relationship with Russini.
**From NFL.com:**
The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabelâs behavior. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.
**Pro Football Talk**
Tuesdayâs press conference from Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was a surprise to everyone. Including the reporters who cover the team.
As explained by Ben Volin of the *Boston Globe*, the notice sent by the Patriots on Monday did not mention Vrabel would be speaking.
Instead, the email sent at 4:35 p.m. ET on Monday said only that, on Tuesday at noon, âtwo playersâ would be available at the end of their workouts.
The approach ensured that the press room wouldnât be swarmed by reporters who donât regularly cover the team â reporters who would have no qualms about attempting to pepper Vrabel with questions after he made a statement that lasted a little longer than two minutes.
Volin explains that, after the statement was delivered, Vrabel was available for a âside sessionâ with the reporters who were present. Per Volin, âreporters were ordered to turn off all cameras, including phones, and were told to ask only football questions.â
The strategy, which Volin dubbed a âsneak attack,â came after a report emerged on Sunday night that the Patriots tried to kill the initial publication of the photos of Vrabel and Russini by the *New York Post*. On Tuesdayâs *PFT Live*, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston questioned whether the Monday morning leak to Adam Schefter of ESPN that a trade by the Patriots for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown is âlikelyâ was aimed at changing the subject from the latest development in the Vrabel-Russini imbroglio to a football topic.
**aBit oâTwitter**
Q&A
Who was Washington's last 7th overall pick and what is his significance?
Washington's last 7th overall pick was Champ Bailey, who became a 7-time All Pro and is honored in the Ring of Fame.
What are the key prospects for Washington in the upcoming NFL Draft?
Washington is considering several prospects, including Demond Claiborne, Aiden Fisher, and Rayshaun Benny, among others.
How many picks does Washington have in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Washington has six selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
What positions are Washington targeting in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Washington is targeting various positions, including running back, linebacker, edge rusher, and defensive tackle.
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