The Washington Commanders may have the most flexible pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. After adding 15 new players to their roster and spending nearly $253 million in free agency, the team has addressed most of their pressing needs. General manager Adam Peters’ goal throughout the offseason has been to put the Commanders in a position to select the best player available. With them set to be on the clock in less than 10 days, there have been indications of them going in several different directions with their seventh overall pick. ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter recently provided a glimpse into what direction Washington might go during an appearance on Get Up.
When discussing where Notre Dame running back prospect Jeremiyah Love might land, Schefter stated, “Washington makes the most sense. Washington is sitting there, waiting to see whether one of these other teams makes the plunge on a running back. If they don’t, Washington has been looking to upgrade their backfield for quite some time. To have a player like Love on the board, potentially at number seven, would be a lottery.”
Love is certainly a game-changing player whose presence would boost the Commanders’ backfield. Love posted over 1,100 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons while scoring 20 total touchdowns across his 2024 and 2025 campaigns with the Fighting Irish. However, this move would certainly lean towards drafting the best player available rather than one who could strengthen a weaker area.
The Commanders Have Already Addressed Their Backfield This Offseason
GettyRunning back Rachaad White rushed for 572 yards and four touchdowns while also snagging 40 receptions for 218 yards as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025.
Love wouldn’t be the only newcomer to the backfield if he were selected. The team also previously signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White to a one-year, $2 million contract. Pro Football Focus even listed this move as one of their “Most Favorite” free agent contracts in the 2026 cycle.
White, a former teammate of Jayden Daniels at Arizona State, produced an 87.2 PFF rushing grade in 2025 despite being in a limited role. He was expected to be the new complement to 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Jacory, also known as Bill, won the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award four times during his 2025 campaign.
Merritt notched 175 carries for 805 yards and eight touchdowns under his belt in year one, displaying flashes of being the future bellcow back.
It would be curious how the Commanders would go about splitting their backfield if Love were added to the mix.
The Commanders May Also Lean Towards Defense In The First Round
If Love is off the board before the Commanders’ pick, then the door is truly wide open on where they may lean. Beyond Love or potentially a new receiving option for Jayden Daniels, they would likely look towards the defensive side of the ball.
The Commanders’ defense was the fifth-lowest graded unit in 2025, according to PFF. Eight of the teams’ free agent signings targeted the defense, but with new coordinator Daronte Jones taking the reins, he may be looking for a true centerpiece for his unit.
Potential prospects could include LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, two players the team has expressed interest in. Nine days remain until round one begins, and we get an official answer of who will be joining the red, gold, and white next season.
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