NFL mock draft 2026: Commanders select Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Welcome back to another year of the SB Nation Community Mock Draft!

As we do every draft season, all 32 NFL sites at SB Nation come together to fill out an entire first-round mock draft leading up to the actual event that takes place from April 23-25. One by one, our site managers will make their picks and provide their reasoning behind the selection. From there, I will provide further analysis on top of giving a final opinion on the pick!

Without further ado, let’s keep things rolling!

With the seventh overall pick in the 2026 SB Nation Community Mock Draft, Hogs Haven’s Scott Jennings and the Washington Commanders select Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State!

Jennings’ analysis:

My analysis: The devaluation of the safety position continues and the biggest beneficiary (in this mock specifically) is the Commanders, who land not just the top player at his position, but arguably a top-three defender overall.

Downs is the complete package and gives the Commanders a high-IQ, uber-talented player who can play numerous roles across the defense, all while being a future wearer of the green dot in Dan Quinn’s system. He does not get fooled by window dressing and loves to wreak havoc around the line of scrimmage. I don’t think it would be an insane statement to say Downs may have the highest floor of any prospect, regardless of position, in this entire draft class.