The Washington Commanders enter the 2026 offseason with a secondary that looks, in many ways, like a work in progress. While the addition of Nick Cross in free agency provides a necessary anchor, the remaining depth at safety consists largely of unproven talent and players struggling to locate a permanent role. For a team aiming to solidify its defensive identity, the upcoming draft represents a critical opportunity to move beyond a “stop-gap” mentality.
The urgency of this upgrade is tied directly to the philosophy of incoming defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Coming from a background in Brian Flores’ hyper-aggressive and exotic schemes, Jones isn’t looking for traditional specialists. Instead, he has expressed a desire for a “position agnostic” secondary—a group of athletes capable of shifting between the box, the slot, and deep coverage without a drop-off in efficiency.
While Jones has spoken positively about the versatility of current players like Quan Martin, the gap between “functional” and “elite” is wide. To build a truly versatile defense, the Commanders will likely appear for safeties who possess plus athleticism and the ability to impact the game in all three phases: run support, coverage, and pass rushing. Fortunately, the 2026 prospect pool is deep, offering several archetypes that fit this specific mold.
To determine which safeties the Commanders should consider in the 2026 draft class, it is necessary to look past traditional tackle counts. In a position-agnostic system, the most valuable metrics are Rate of Yardage Allowed (Y/Cov Snap)—which measures how well a defender contains receiving yardage—and the Run Stop Rate, a PFF signature statistic that identifies defenders who consistently stop the ballcarrier for a failure. When these are combined with Pressure Rate for blitzing efficiency, a clear picture emerges of who can actually survive in an aggressive NFL scheme.
The Blue-Chip Target: Caleb Downs
If Washington holds or acquires a top-10 pick, Caleb Downs of Ohio State is the definitive target. Widely regarded by analysts as one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, Downs is the rare safety who excels in every conceivable alignment. He is not merely a versatile player; he is a high-impact producer whether he is playing in the box, covering the slot, or acting as the deep safety.
Downs’ value lies in his elite processing speed and instincts. He split his 2025 snaps almost equally between box and free safety alignments, while spending roughly 23% of his time in the slot. Most impressively, his Run Stop Rate ranked 9th out of 213 eligible safeties, making him one of the most efficient run defenders in the country. While his pass-rush pressure rate is currently average, his ability to diagnose plays and avoid misdirection makes him a Day 1 starter who could fundamentally change how Washington plays defense.
The Mid-Round Chess Pieces
If the Commanders trade back or look toward the middle rounds, the focus shifts to “specialists with range”—players who can perform a specific role at an elite level but have the athleticism to be moved around the formation. This represents where players like Dillon Thieneman and Keionte Scott become intriguing.
Thieneman, out of Oregon, is a speedster with high-end recognition. He is particularly effective in zone coverage and has shown a consistent ability to produce turnovers, recording 8 interceptions over three seasons. For a coordinator like Jones, Thieneman represents a high-ceiling athlete who can be deployed as an interchangeable piece across the secondary.
Keionte Scott of Miami FL presents a different, perhaps more tailored, fit. Though often labeled as a nickel corner, Scott’s advanced metrics reveal a player who is far more impactful in the box than a typical cornerback. His Run Stop Rate is in the 94th percentile for safeties, and he was a prolific blitzer in 2025, recording 5 sacks and 20 total QB pressures. Having already hosted Scott for a Top 30 visit, Washington has clearly identified him as a hybrid weapon who can cover the slot and slide inside to play like a linebacker.
For those seeking pure coverage upgrades, Bud Clark from TCU is a notable option. Clark is a versatile coverage safety who thrives when manned up on slot receivers or playing single-high. With 15 interceptions and 21 pass deflections over the last four seasons, he provides the kind of ball-hawking ability that is currently lacking in the Commanders’ depth chart.
Sleeper Picks and UDFA Value
The late rounds and Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) market are where the Commanders can find “profile” players—those whose raw tools are elite even if their college production was inconsistent or interrupted.
Fred Perry of West Virginia is the ultimate outlier in this category. Despite lacking prototypical size, Perry is an exceptional run defender, posting a Run Stop Rate of 11.3%—the highest in the draft class. His aggression and toughness make him a prime candidate for a UDFA deal, offering a high-reward gamble for a team that needs a physical presence in the middle of the field.
Similarly, Xavion Alford of Arizona State represents a high-risk, high-reward scenario. After back surgery cut his 2025 season short, Alford’s recent Pro Day performance—including a 37.5-inch vertical—suggests he has recovered his explosiveness. In 2024, his Rate of Yardage Allowed was in the top 10% of free safeties, suggesting that if he is healthy, he could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Other late-round targets include Zakee Wheatley (Penn State), who offers a massive tackle radius and high-end coverage metrics, and Skyler Thomas (Oregon State), a “do-it-all” safety with a Run Stop Rate in the 93rd percentile. Both players provide the kind of depth and versatility that allows a defensive coordinator to be aggressive without fearing a catastrophic failure in the secondary.
Draft Prospect Comparison: Key Metrics
| Prospect | Primary Strength | Run Stop Rank | Versatility Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Downs | All-Around Impact | 9th | Box/Slot/Deep |
| Keionte Scott | Hybrid/Pass Rush | 12th | Slot/Box |
| Fred Perry | Elite Run Defense | 1st | Box/Slot/Deep |
| Dillon Thieneman | Speed/Recognition | 32nd | Box/Deep |
The path forward for Adam Peters and Daronte Jones is clear: the more “position agnostic” the roster, the more difficult the defense is to solve. Whether they spend a premium pick on a generational talent like Caleb Downs or scour the UDFA list for a run-stopping anomaly like Fred Perry, the goal remains the same—building a secondary that can adapt in real-time to the offense’s movements.
The next major checkpoint for the Commanders’ draft strategy will be the NFL Combine, where the athletic testing of these prospects will either confirm their ceiling or force a pivot in priority. Following the Combine, the team will enter the final phase of their pre-draft visits to determine which of these athletes best fits the culture and scheme in Washington.
Do you think the Commanders should prioritize a top-tier versatile safety or build through mid-round hybrid players? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
