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The Washington Commanders hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking their fourth selection at this position. Notably, they previously selected Hall of Famer Champ Bailey at No. 7 in 1999.
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.
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.
Washington selected Champ Bailey with the No. 7 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
Washington previously picked Larry Isbell in 1952, Pat Richter in 1963, and Champ Bailey in 1999.
Champ Bailey made 12 Pro Bowls during his 15-season NFL career.

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Isbell never played in the NFL, instead choosing a professional baseball career. It was short-lived, though, and Isbell played in the Canadian Football League for six seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Richter spent eight seasons in the NFL, all with Washington, where he appeared in 103 games, catching 99 passes for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns. After his playing career ended, Richter eventually returned to Wisconsin, where he served as athletic director for almost 15 years.
Two out of three isn't bad for Washington with the seventh overall pick. Can GM Adam Peters hit it big again on Thursday night?
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Champ Bailey went No. 7 in 1999