Commanders predicted to draft elite RB after defensive signings
· Yahoo Sports
Free agency has been underway for almost a week now, and plenty of big-name players have signed deals.
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The Washington Commanders entered the offseason with plenty of money to spend and plenty of holes to fill. So far, the team has invested most of its resources in defensive players. Edge rusher Odafe Oweh, linebacker Leo Chenal, and cornerback Amik Robertson are a few of the biggest additions the team has made.
As a result, it's reasonable to predict the team to go offense-heavy in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team owns the seventh pick in the first round, and there are plenty of directions they could go.
ESPN's Field Yates recently published an updated mock draft post-free agency. For the Commanders, Yates has Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love being the pick.
Regarding this pairing, Yates offered the following analysis:
The Commanders landed one of the best free agent pass rushers in Odafe Oweh, which checks the box for their most pressing need and enables general manager Adam Peters to take my No. 2 prospect in this class. We can debate the merits of taking a running back early in perpetuity, but Love is a dynamic, dual-threat player who would instantly supercharge what was a middle-of-road backfield last season.
Teaming up Love with Jayden Daniels could be a lot of fun. They currently have two running backs under contract: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (seventh-round pick in 2025) and Rachaad White (free agency signing).
As Yates mentioned, the Commanders got some help for the defense already, so they may have the luxury of adding an offensive weapon like Love. The team already has Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Jerome Ford, but Love is a truly game-changing talent who would immediately upgrade the offense.
In 2025, Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also catching 27 passes for 280 yards and three more scores. The running back had 1,000+ yards in both 2024 and 2025 and finished third in Heisman voting last season.
Love may seem like a luxury pick, but it's hard not to get excited picturing him in Washington. There's reason to believe the Commanders' defense will already be better in 2026, so they could decide to go all-in on offense.
For what it's worth, Love has already talked about how much he would love to play with Jayden Daniels, so the fit makes sense.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Post-free agency mock draft sends top RB to DC