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The Washington Commanders are in a pretty good position with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Several of Washington's needs align well with players expected to be available. The problem is that Washington has no control over what happens in front of them.
We know Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. At some point in the first six picks, Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese and Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey are expected to go off the board, perhaps at No. 2 to the New York Jets.
Beginning at No. 3 overall with the Arizona Cardinals, things become a little cloudier. The same goes at No. 4 (Tennessee Titans), No. 5 (New York Giants) and No. 6 overall (Cleveland Browns. Alongside Reese and Bailey, players discussed in this range are Miami OL Frances Mauigoa, Georgia OT Monroe Freeling, Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State S Caleb Downs, Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. You can probably add Ohio State WR Carnell Tate and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane to that mix, too.
While draft analysts continue to focus on Love, Bailey, Reese, Styles and Bain to Tennessee at No. 4, with the Giants linked to Styles, Downs and Love, the Browns are a real mystery before the Commanders.
Why? They need almost everything. Cleveland does have one of the NFL's top defenses, so that pick will likely be on the offensive side of the ball, specifically at wide receiver or along the offensive line.
Zac Jackson covers the Browns for The Athletic, and he thinks Cleveland will take Tate at No. 6 if it can't find a trade-down partner. Many think the No. 6 pick may be too high for most of the draft's top offensive line prospects.
This would present an interesting scenario for Washington. The Commanders badly need another starting receiver alongside Terry McLaurin. Brandon Aiyuk may come, but that could be a while if the 49ers hold onto him throughout the summer. So, Washington is expected to take a receiver in the NFL draft, with Tate often mentioned as the top potential option.
The Commanders will host Tate on an official pre-draft visit, and will also host USC WR Makai Lemon. So, they have options. If the Browns select Tate, it also means another top prospect Washington likes will probably fall to them.
Tate is considered by many to be the top receiver prospect in this draft. It's not unanimous, though. Some prefer Lemon, others prefer Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State). Tyson's injury history complicates things. While this class is overall considered deep at receiver, it doesn't feature true top-end options like Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, or Malik Nabers.
That shouldn't be too much of a concern, though. While Chase was a top-five pick, Jefferson lasted until No. 22 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. While many knew he would be great, no one expected him to become elite immediately. The same goes for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who lasted until No. 20 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and recently became the NFL's highest-paid receiver.
So, while Tate going to Cleveland at No. 6 pick could complicate things for the Commanders, it shouldn't be considered a big deal. Washington could explore a trade down, or select another position at No. 7 and focus on a wide receiver at No. 71 overall.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Browns reportedly interested in top WR prospect
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We know Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. At some point in the first six picks, Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese and Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey are expected to go off the board, perhaps at No. 2 to the New York Jets.
Beginning at No. 3 overall with the Arizona Cardinals, things become a little cloudier. The same goes at No. 4 (Tennessee Titans), No. 5 (New York Giants) and No. 6 overall (Cleveland Browns. Alongside Reese and Bailey, players discussed in this range are Miami OL Frances Mauigoa, Georgia OT Monroe Freeling, Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State S Caleb Downs, Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. You can probably add Ohio State WR Carnell Tate and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane to that mix, too.
While draft analysts continue to focus on Love, Bailey, Reese, Styles and Bain to Tennessee at No. 4, with the Giants linked to Styles, Downs and Love, the Browns are a real mystery before the Commanders.
Why? They need almost everything. Cleveland does have one of the NFL's top defenses, so that pick will likely be on the offensive side of the ball, specifically at wide receiver or along the offensive line.
Zac Jackson covers the Browns for The Athletic, and he thinks Cleveland will take Tate at No. 6 if it can't find a trade-down partner. Many think the No. 6 pick may be too high for most of the draft's top offensive line prospects.
This would present an interesting scenario for Washington. The Commanders badly need another starting receiver alongside Terry McLaurin. Brandon Aiyuk may come, but that could be a while if the 49ers hold onto him throughout the summer. So, Washington is expected to take a receiver in the NFL draft, with Tate often mentioned as the top potential option.
The Commanders will host Tate on an official pre-draft visit, and will also host USC WR Makai Lemon. So, they have options. If the Browns select Tate, it also means another top prospect Washington likes will probably fall to them.
Tate is considered by many to be the top receiver prospect in this draft. It's not unanimous, though. Some prefer Lemon, others prefer Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State). Tyson's injury history complicates things. While this class is overall considered deep at receiver, it doesn't feature true top-end options like Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, or Malik Nabers.
That shouldn't be too much of a concern, though. While Chase was a top-five pick, Jefferson lasted until No. 22 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. While many knew he would be great, no one expected him to become elite immediately. The same goes for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who lasted until No. 20 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and recently became the NFL's highest-paid receiver.
So, while Tate going to Cleveland at No. 6 pick could complicate things for the Commanders, it shouldn't be considered a big deal. Washington could explore a trade down, or select another position at No. 7 and focus on a wide receiver at No. 71 overall.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Browns reportedly interested in top WR prospect
Continue reading...
