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The Debate at Seven: Why Adam Peters Can’t Afford a Gamble in the 2026 Draft
Because Peters has no second or fourth-round picks to fall back on, the margin for error has diminished. He has to make this one count.
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Throwback to Champ Bailey
The last time Washington held the No. 7 pick was 1999. The team selected a generational prospect in Champ Bailey, who eventually became a first-ballot Hall of Famer. While he was later traded for Clinton Portis, Bailey was a plug-and-play superstar from Day 1 and remains one of the greatest defensive players of his generation.
When you consider the longevity and impact of a player like Bailey, you realize the caliber of talent available at this spot. At pick seven, Washington will have an array of “clean” options who offer both a high floor and an elite physical profile.
While Washington desperately needs offensive firepower, Jordyn Tyson may be a risk they simply can’t afford. The former Sun Devil has the most appealing film in the class, boasting a staggering 31.8% targets-per-route-run rate per PFF.
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However, the “Injury Gods” haven’t been kind. For a team that saw its 2025 season derailed by health issues, Tyson’s medical history is a glaring red flag:
– 2022: A multi-ligament knee tear (ACL/MCL/PCL).
– 2024: A broken collarbone.
– 2025/2026: Lingering hamstring issues that forced him to opt out of testing at both the Combine and his Pro Day.
In a draft where availability is the ultimate currency, can the Commanders justify spending their only top-70 asset on a player who hasn’t been able to run for scouts all spring? I have the same sentiment for Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, who missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL. Washington needs “sure-thing” building blocks.
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The Verdict
With a top-10 selection, Adam Peters has to ensure this pick hits. Last year, the Commanders were the oldest team in the league—averaging 28.1 years of age—and it showed. Beyond Jayden Daniels and Laremy Tunsil, the roster still lacks the young, blue-chip talent that is the envy of the league.
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL beat writer 2026 mock draft 2.0
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
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6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Commanders still need a true No. 2 receiver to complement Terry McLaurin, and they could use a more explosive running back alongside Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt. But struggles on defense, especially in the secondary, cost them games the past two seasons. Plus, GM Adam Peters addressed many holes in free agency, giving him the flexibility to choose the top talent available and not simply for positional need. Washington is revamping its defense under first-time coordinator and play caller Daronte Jones, who has spent most of his career coaching defensive backs. Downs would give him a potential star-in-the-making to mold. — Nicki Jhabvala
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Commanders Roundtable
Three Free Agents Who Fill Washington Commanders Remaining Needs
Cornerback Tre’Davious White
A former first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, White became a two-time Pro-Bowler and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2019 with the team that drafted him. After that, injuries got to White, and it looked like his career was finished after time with the Rams and Ravens in 2024. However, he returned to Buffalo last year and showed he’s still got something left in the tank.
While he will never regain the All-Pro form he once had, White is still a starting-caliber corner that will help out a Commander that could potentially have some new NFL faces in it.
Heavy.com
Logan Paulsen asserts that Okonkwo is a better blocker than he’s usually given credit for
Ex-Washington tight end Logan Paulsen explained to “Locked on Commanders” host David Harrison why Okonkwo actually has more talent as a blocker than he’s often credited with possessing.
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Paulsen revealed, “the thing that kept me watching play after play, after play, with him is how aggressive he was in the run game. People saying ‘Oh, you can’t block.’ An important part of run-blocking is matchup, but when you’re looking at, like, the fundamentals of blocking, like hand placement, hat placement, footwork, Chig’s pretty good in these areas.”
To underline his point, Paulsen went on to recount a game where then-Tennessee Titans starter Okonkwo “absolutely” dominated his blocking assignment against the Jacksonville Jaguars late last season.
This game film and Paulsen’s endorsement may shock some of those who believe 6-foot-3, 238-pound Okonkwo is more big-bodied wide receiver than true tight end.
If Okonkwo does bring more muscle to bear in the trenches it will be a mere bonus for the Commanders. Especially when holdovers John Bates and Ben Sinnott are already formidable blockers.
ESPN
2026 NFL free agency grades
Commanders signing edge Odafe Oweh
Terms: Four years, $100 million
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Grade: B
The Commanders needed to add pass rush juice at edge. And they ideally needed to do it with a player in his prime, rather than an aging veteran like Von Miller a year ago. Oweh checks both boxes. The former Ravens and Chargers edge rusher was one of the top free agents in this year’s class — and he got paid like it.
Oweh failed to record a sack while he was with Baltimore last season, then notched 7.5 after being traded to the Chargers. That split is mostly noise because his underlying numbers were good all year. He ranked in the 80th percentile in pass rush win rate among edge rushers and in the 82nd percentile in pressure rate. Plus, he recorded 10 sacks with the Ravens the year before. He’s good — he just took time to develop.
This price ($25 million per year) seems right in line with where Oweh’s market should be. If we translate past contracts for edge rushers to the 2026 cap environment, it’s comparable in average per year to Harold Landry III’s deal with the Titans in 2022 ($25.3 million in 2026 dollars) or Carl Lawson’s 2021 deal with the Jets ($24.8 million), per OverTheCap.com. It’s cheaper than Bud Dupree’s 2021 contract with the Titans ($27.3 million) or Nik Bonitto’s 2025 extension with the Broncos ($28.6 million).
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As poor as last season went for Washington, the team should absolutely be maximizing its current window. With a healthy Jayden Daniels on a rookie contract and lots of cap room entering free agency, the Commanders might as well build up their roster and see how far they can go. Oweh will lead an edge-rushing group that includes Deatrich Wise Jr. — who missed most of last season with a quadriceps injury — and Dorance Armstrong, who tore an ACL last October.
Commanders sign Edge K’Lavon Chaisson
Terms: One year, $11 million
Grade: B+
Two days after signing Odafe Oweh to a big-money contract, the Commanders have agreed to terms with a second edge rusher at a much more moderate price.
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After managing only 10 total sacks over the first five seasons of his career, Chaisson broke out with 7.5 sacks last season with the Patriots. His pass rush win rate at edge was in the 61st percentile, while his pressure rate was a bit lower (39th percentile). He doesn’t offer that much in the run game, so the Commanders are betting that his 2025 pass-rush performance continues.
They’re making that bet at a reasonable price, as Chaisson got a smaller contract than I was expecting. In Washington, he’ll join not only Oweh but also Dorance Armstrong, who tore his ACL last October, and Deatrich Wise Jr., who missed almost all of 2025 with a quadriceps injury.
Chaisson isn’t a game wrecker, but he had an affordable contract. Instead of bringing back Chaisson, the Patriots opted to sign Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $39.5 million deal (with $23.1 million fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.com). Washington got the better deal.
Chargers sign C Tyler Biadasz
The deal: Three years, $30 million
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Grade: B
It was a bit of a surprise when the Commanders cut Biadasz in late February. He had been a good player for them and was slated to make only $8.3 million. It turns out the market thought he was worth a little more than that.
Our metrics indicate that Biadasz was solid last season, ranking in the 57th and 52nd percentile in pass block win rate and run block win rate, respectively. But that was down from the season before, when he was in the 57th (PBWR) and 77th (RBWR) percentiles.
Biadasz fills a clear need for the Chargers. Their previous center, Bradley Bozeman, recently announced his retirement but even if he hadn’t, Los Angeles was going to need to find a replacement after Bozeman ranked second-to-last in pass block win rate at the position.
Podcasts & videos
Post-Signing 1-on-1: S Jeremy Reaves | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
NFC East links
Big Blue View
Cam Skattebo apologizes for remarks about CTE, asthma
Young running back tries to clean up a mess he made
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Skattebo’s insensitive remarks certainly did not come off as a joke. This should be a lesson for Skattebo, and a reminder to all athletes to be careful about what platforms they appear on and what topics they delve into.
If those are things Skattebo truly believes, perhaps he should spend some time with families who have suffered with former players who have dealt with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and with people live with conditions like asthma.
NFL league links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
Bears’ Caleb Williams pursuing trademark for ‘Iceman’ moniker
Williams filed four new trademark applications on Monday with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including for both the name “Iceman” and a new logo using the nickname, according to USPTO records. The other applications are for silhouettes of Williams mid-throw during his famous fourth-and-8 completion that helped lift the Bears over the Packers in their January wild-card game.
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After big plays, Williams would often hug his arms around himself and make a “brrr” motion.
According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, the trademark process usually takes between 14 and 18 months. The USPTO must review the requests and, if approved, publish them for a 30-day window during which a third party can oppose the registrations.
The nickname “Iceman” in sports is most notably tagged to basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin, though the former [Virginia Squires] star does not have a trademark on the name.
Flag Football
ESPN
Tom Brady shines, but Team USA dominates flag football
Brady fired a perfect touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone on his first play in a competitive football game in more than 1,000 days.
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The 48-year-old, seven-time Super Bowl champion even showed unusual elusive skills by evading a sack on a free rush, stepped up and delivered a strike for the TD after replacing Jalen Hurts on fourth-and-goal on the opening drive of the game.
Brady followed up with another beautiful pass to his longtime buddy and former teammate Rob Gronkowski for the 2-point conversion, giving his team an 8-0 lead over the USA squad in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
It was all downhill from there as Gronk went down with a hamstring injury, and Brady and his team of current and former NFL players coached by Sean Payton couldn’t keep up.
Team USA crushed Brady’s Founders FFC 43-16 after dismantling Joe Burrow’s Wildcats FFC squad 39-16. Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Saquon Barkley and the Wildcats then eliminated Brady, Hurts and the Founders from the round-robin tournament with a 34-26 victory.
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The Founders kept it closer in the championship game, but Team USA pulled away 24-14. The national team couldn’t be stopped on offense in three games, scoring on every possession except a kneel-down at the end of one victory.
It was clear NFL players and coaches were learning the game and the rules on the fly after holding just a couple of practices before the 5-on-5 tournament.
They nearly had more penalties called against them than flags pulled. Team USA’s mastery of the sport, sophistication on offense and overall speed overwhelmed a group of players who barely practiced together.
Brady was penalized for tossing one of his flags to the ground because he couldn’t quickly insert it into place before taking a snap during a hurry-up situation.
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Payton was angry an official told him it was third down on the sideline and then switched to fourth down before the snap.
Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Nico Casares and the USA squad aren’t about to give up their spots. Nor should they have to. They proved they’re the kings of flag football.
Pro Football Talk
Odell Beckham Jr. hopes flag event will be “starting point” for NFL return
Odell Beckham Jr. last played in an NFL game on December 8, 2024. He’s still hoping to return.
In advance of Saturday’s inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Beckham said he hopes the event will be the springboard for another NFL opportunity.
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“Looking forward to hopefully getting an opportunity to play this year, and hopefully, this is kinda just a starting point,” Beckham told Kay Adams in an interview, via USA Today.
Beckham added that he’d welcome the possibility to return to the Giants.
aBit o’Twitter
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