The defensive line gets the reinforcements it badly needs: Texas Tech’s David Bailey was the highest-graded pass rusher in college football in 2025, making him an obvious early-round target, while Texas’ Cole Brevard offers strong run-stopping ability that could make him a value selection on Day 3.

Washington’s secondary also needs reinforcements: USC’s Kamari Ramsey profiles as a strong Day 2 target. A productive ballhawk, Ramsey would bring much-needed playmaking ability to the Commanders’ defensive backfield.

After a fairytale 2024 season that saw the Washington Commanders reach the NFC championship game behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, everything unraveled for Washington in 2025. Daniels missed significant time and ultimately saw his season end early due to multiple injuries, while the defense ranked among the league’s most porous units.

Facing one of the oldest rosters in the NFL, the Commanders must now lean heavily on the draft to rebuild the team from the ground up, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Given the volume of needs and the limited draft capital at the team’s disposal — Washington currently does not own a second- or fourth-round pick — the team could be a candidate to trade down from its early position at No. 7 overall.

For this exercise, however, we’ll keep all current selections intact and take an early look at the prospects the Commanders could target at those slots.

Round 1, Pick 7: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Bailey was one of the most productive and dominant players in college football in 2025 and would be an immediate upgrade on the edge for Washington. He tallied 79 total pressures, including 15 sacks and 23 quarterback hits, and led the nation in pass-rush grade (93.8).

Round 3, Pick 71: S Kamari Ramsey, USC

Ramsey was a reliable presence on the back end for USC in 2025. On 34 targets into his primary coverage, he allowed just 19 receptions for 160 yards while forcing four incompletions.

Round 5, Pick 145: DI Cole Brevard, Texas

Brevard would add much-needed youth to Washington’s interior defensive line. He graded positively on 18.1% of run plays at Texas last season, and while his pass-rush skills still need development, his ability to occupy blockers inside makes him an intriguing value option at this stage of the draft.

Round 6, Pick 186: WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri

Coleman showcased an impressive all-around skill set from the slot for Missouri in 2025. He generated 375 of his 732 receiving yards after the catch, aided by 19 forced missed tackles. When he wasn’t creating separation with speed and quickness, he consistently won at the catch point, securing nine of the 11 contested targets thrown his way.

Round 7, Pick 223: G Joshua Braun, Kentucky

Braun transferred to Kentucky from Arkansas last season, and across the past two years, he has allowed just four sacks and three quarterback hits on 888 pass-blocking snaps.