ASHBURN, VA — Adam Peters isn’t looking to move. One week out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders general manager made it clear Thursday: if the right player is sitting at No. 7, the phone lines are staying closed. Following a disappointing 5-12 campaign in 2025, Washington finds itself back in the top 10, and Peters sounds like a man who has already identified his “non-negotiable” targets.
The Josh Conerly Precedent
Peters provided a rare look behind the curtain when discussing the team’s 2025 strategy. Last year, the Commanders sat at No. 29 and faced a flurry of trade offers. They ignored all of them to snag Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. “We got a lot of offers when we picked Josh,” Peters told reporters. “But we said before the draft that if Josh is there, we’re going to pick him.”
That 2025 decision paid dividends. Conerly started all 17 games as a rookie, providing a much-needed bookend for quarterback Jayden Daniels. Now, sitting at No. 7, the Commanders are looking for that same level of conviction. While the roster still has holes at linebacker and in the backfield, Peters indicated that the “variance” of the lower rounds makes a blue-chip talent at the top of the board too valuable to pass up.
The math is simple for Washington this year. They only have two picks in the top 100—No. 7 and No. 71—following the blockbuster trade for Laremy Tunsil. While trading back could recoup lost draft capital, Peters appears wary of losing out on a franchise-altering defender or playmaker.
“I would say, more likely than not, we’d stay and pick,” Peters said. “You never know, but I would say we’d stay.”
— Adam Peters, Commanders GM
Styles or Love: Who Fits the Profile?
If the Commanders are staying put, the names on the board become the primary focus. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has been the heavy favorite in recent mock drafts. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Styles is the versatile “unicorn” defender that head coach Dan Quinn’s defense currently lacks. His ability to erase tight ends and fly sideline-to-sideline would immediately upgrade a unit that struggled in 2025.
Then there is Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame standout is widely considered the best pure athlete in the 2026 class. While taking a running back at No. 7 is often seen as a reach in the modern NFL, Love’s pass-catching ability makes him a dual-threat weapon that could take the pressure off Daniels. If Peters views either of these players with the same “must-have” lens he applied to Conerly, a trade-down scenario becomes a fantasy for other teams.
Draft Implications / What’s Next
Washington’s lack of mid-round picks is the elephant in the room. By staying at No. 7, Peters is betting that the quality of a single elite prospect outweighs the quantity of multiple Day 2 contributors. This is a high-stakes gamble for a front office that spent over $250 million in free agency to fix the roster.
Expect the phones to ring on Thursday night, especially if a quarterback like Ty Simpson falls or a team gets desperate for a tackle. However, with Peters’ track record of sticking to his board, the Commanders are likely already writing a name on their card. The mission is clear: find the next Conerly, protect the franchise, and get back to the postseason.
