The Washington Commanders hold the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Getting it right can help them regain competitiveness, especially after finishing 5-12 the previous season.
However, if their fans had their way, they would like general manager Adam Peters to improve the running game.
Commanders Fans Want To Draft a Running Back at No. 7
Data generated through the PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator revealed that most users want the Commanders to select running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 7 pick. The former Notre Dame running back received 25.1% of user-generated picks.
It’s a solid option for Washington, considering that running back is one of their glaring needs. While the Commanders finished the 2025 regular season fourth in rushing yards per game (134.7), they have a hole in the backfield after trading Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers before the 2025 season.
With Robinson out of the picture, the Commanders still have serviceable RBs like Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Jeremy McNichols. However, none of them is as forceful as Love.
In his third year with the Fighting Irish, Love tallied 199 carries for 1,372 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Not bad for an athlete who was born premature at 3 pounds, 9 ounces, according to The Athletic’s “The Beast” NFL Draft Guide compiled by Dane Brugler.
Aside from leading the team in rushing yards, his numbers earned him a unanimous All-American selection and the Doak Walker Award. Love was also a Heisman Trophy finalist but lost to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. He concluded the 2025 season by finishing 4th in PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metrics with an Impact score of 92.4.
Drafting Love will help take some pressure off Jayden Daniels, who is returning to action after suffering an elbow injury. If Love dominates from the backfield, the Commanders’ receiving corps of Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, and Luke McCaffrey will benefit from looser coverages.
Other 2026 NFL Draft Prospects Commanders Fans Target at No. 7
Some Commanders fans went on another path, with 14% of user-generated picks opting for Caleb Downs. The former Ohio State safety makes a lot of sense because Washington finished 28th in passing yards allowed per game (242.5). Similarly, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane received 5.7% of user-generated picks for Washington’s first-round selection.
After Love and Downs, the Commanders’ faithful expressed the need to upgrade the team’s pass rush. Hence, they chose Texas Tech’s David Bailey (8.0%), Ohio State’s Sonny Styles (7.1%), and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. (5.8%) as the next three choices.
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Meanwhile, other fans felt the Commanders needed to upgrade their receiving corps. This sentiment translated to wide receivers Carnell Tate (5.3%), Makai Lemon (4.4%), and Jordyn Tyson (3.5%) getting some picks.
Finally, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese got 2% of the Mock Draft Simulator’s picks for No. 7. However, as one of the best overall prospects in this year’s draft, he could be off the board by then.
