Washington landed a Hall of Famer last time it picked No. 7 overall

The Washington Commanders hold the No. 7 overall pick in this year's 2026 NFL Draft. This will not be the first time that Washington has picked No. 7 in franchise history. Washington has picked in the No. 7 position three times. Let's look at the results.

• 1952: Baylor QB/DB Larry Isbell
• 1963: Wisconsin TE/WR Pat Richter
• 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 — 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 Washington's 90 greatest players.

In 2019, Bailey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After Snyder sold the now-Commanders to Josh Harris in 2023, Bailey reunited with the franchise that drafted him.

So, the last time Washington picked No. 7 overall, it picked a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Could the Commanders find the same luck in 2026? There is a cornerback in the mix at No. 7, LSU's Mansoor Delane, who also happens to be a Maryland native. Washington needs a cornerback and has been linked to Delane.