2026 NFL mock draft has Washington Commanders getting insane steal with elite defender in the first round

The Commanders are sitting at 3-6, and don't seem poised to get many more wins this season with Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin out, and an awful defense. They should be a lock to get a top-10 pick, and they're currently projected to get the ninth overall pick. The latest A to Z Sports 2026 NFL mock draft has the Commanders getting an instant upgrade on defense with Rueben Bain Jr. coming to Washington.

"Washington would love this scenario, most likely. Bain Jr. has often gone in the first three picks of mock drafts, but the board fell differently here. Now, they get to grab one of the elite talents of the defensive prospect pool in Bain Jr, who can dramatically shift their future when it comes to both getting after the passer and stopping the run. He’s got legitimate versatility in his future." - Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL Draft

This would be a homerun pick for the Commanders, getting the best player available, considering he's a top-5 caliber player, and the biggest need of the team. The number of teams that need a quarterback, and also top players like Arvell Reese, Jordyn Tyson, and Caleb Downs going early, could make Bain Jr. fall to the Commanders.

Rueben Bain Jr. is an elite talent

Bain Jr. is a lethal pass rusher who has already put up insane stats this season. PFF has him as the highest graded player in the country among all positions, and rightfully so. He has a 94.3 overall grade with 39 pressures, 33 hurries, and three sacks. Bain Jr. isn't just a pass rusher, though; he's an elite run stopper as well, with the third-highest run defending grade among all edge players in the country.

His 6-foot-3, 275lbs frame is very surprising on film because his twitch and speed look like a smaller outside linebacker that breezes past offensive tackles with ease. The strength he possesses matches his frame, though, and he knows when to flip the switch from speed to power.

The Commanders need elite talent and a revamped defense, and Bain Jr. would be an instant playmaker who would produce as a pass rusher while stopping the run at a high level. He has the makings of an All-Pro defender who would fix a multitude of problems for the Commanders' defense.