It stands to motive that the Washington Commanders will use their first-round choose on a defensive participant in April’s 2026 NFL Draft. Even if Washington spends huge in free company, it wants younger, quick defenders everywhere in the protection. The Commanders‘ major want is a game-changing edge rusher.
Most mock drafts have Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. heading to Washington at No. 7 general. However, Lance Zierlein has a unique thought in his first mock draft. Zierlein has Auburn defensive finish Keldric Faulk going to the Commanders.
Faulk has spectacular measurement, can play in odd and even fronts and remains to be filling out his body. The upside trumps the unremarkable 2025 manufacturing.
In this mock, Bailey went No. 4 to Tennessee, whereas Washington bypasses Bain, who lands with the Chiefs at No. 9 general. That’s an attention-grabbing choice.
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There’s lots to love about Faulk. He is 6-foot-6 and 270 kilos. He’s solely 20 years outdated. His size and athleticism are off the charts. However, in 37 video games at Auburn, Faulk completed with 109 tackles, together with 19.5 for loss and 10 sacks. In 2025, Faulk performed in 12 video games and had 29 tackles, 5 for loss and two sacks.
If he is the choose, Washington could be betting huge on potential. Faulk could possibly be a celebrity on the subsequent degree. Based on expertise alone, he is simply a top-10 choose. It’s not as if he did not play effectively at Auburn; folks see his measurement and ability and assume he ought to’ve had double-digit sacks each season.
The Commanders might like Faulk’s versatility and his skill to play in odd and even fronts, or kick inside to sort out. Regardless of what Washington does, it could actually’t afford to get this choose unsuitable. Faulk’s ceiling could possibly be larger than any edge rusher in this draft. With their teaching choices already this choice, the Commanders have proven they’re unafraid to guess on potential.
This article initially appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders take Auburn EDGE in new NFL mock draft