The Washington Commanders are expected to make major changes to their defense this offseason. After firing defensive coordinator Joe Whitt and parting ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, the Commanders brought in Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator and David Blough as offensive coordinator. With their revamped coaching staff, we’re likely to see some player movement during free agency, and given that Dan Quinn is a defensive guy, expect major improvements on that side of the ball.

One way the Commanders can improve their secondary is through the 2026 NFL Draft. The Commanders have the 7th overall pick in the draft, and several analysts have predicted that they will select defensive back Caleb Downs out of Ohio State.

“The next match that I’m gonna go to is out in Washington with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who I think is one of the best players in this year’s draft class,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid said. “You’re going to hear ‘positional value’ a lot with him, but if we’re stacking the talent in this year’s draft, Caleb Downs arguably is the best one in this year’s class. And a big problem that Washington had last year was explosive plays given up in the secondary, so Caleb Downs would go a long way to improving Daronte Jones’ defense.”

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During his two seasons at Ohio State, Downs recorded 150 tackles (94 solo), 12.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, seven interceptions, eight pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. He was an integral part of the 2024 National Championship team, and his skillset will easily translate to the NFL.

Reid isn’t the first analyst to suggest the Commanders will pick Downs; others have suggested an edge rusher like David Bailey or Rueben Bain, but the Commanders’ secondary also needs plenty of attention this offseason. Even if they don’t draft Downs (which they should, and he is likely to be available based on the team’s needs that draft 1-6), the Commanders have to address the secondary this offseason. They need depth, but more than that, they need impact players who can make plays.

General manager Adam Peters has his work cut out for him in 2026, but it’s not an impossible task. He must be aggressive in free agency, so he can position the Commanders to take the best available player in April’s draft. In all likelihood, that will be Downs.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: OSU safety Caleb Downs could fix secondary