David Harrison · Apr 8, 2026
Harrison unveils his top-10 'vertical Z receiver' big board for the Commanders in the 2026 draft class, led by Cincinnati's Jeff Caldwell, and attaches draft-range projections to the prospects (Caldwell early Day 3, Bryce Lance mid-Day 3, Chris Brasel early Day 2, Malik Benson mid-Day 3/seventh round, Stribling late Day 3, Jordan Tyson Day 1). He also lays out Washington's projected receiver depth chart and 53-man group, with Dyami Brown as the starting Z.
“Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati wide receiver, our number one, number one lid lifting z target in the NFL draft for the Washington commanders because he fits the mold the most clearly.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Commanders (podcast) · read the original →
20 checkable claims from this
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksCarnell TateApr 8, 2026
Carnell Tate to be picked “first round pick” (picks 1–32)
“You see guys like Carnell Tate, who's a first round pick”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Carnell Tate
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 4
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- first round pick (picks 1–32)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Mock Draft PicksMalik BensonApr 8, 2026
Malik Benson to be picked “number two twenty three in the seventh round” (picks 193–236)
“which leaves Malik Benson potentially there at two twenty three in the seventh round”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Malik Benson
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 195
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- number two twenty three in the seventh round (picks 193–236)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Mock Draft PicksJordyn TysonApr 8, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to be picked “day one, potentially could slide to day two”
“I still think he's gonna go day one, potentially could slide to day two.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Luke McCaffrey to be 1st on the depth chart
“Luke McCaffrey is that power slot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Justin Jefferson to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Dyami Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“The starting z. I think right now, I would put De'Ami Brown in that in that spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Terry McLaurin to be 1st on the depth chart
“Terry McLaren's a starting x. Jalen Lane is your gadget.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Luke McCaffrey to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jaylin Lane to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Terry McLaurin to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jeff Caldwell to be picked “Early day three”
“Early day three prospects, six foot five, so he's well over that six foot one threshold.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jeff Caldwell to be picked “from one forty seven to one eighty seven”
“Jeff Caldwell from one forty seven to one eighty seven is likely to come off.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksBryce LanceApr 8, 2026
Bryce Lance to be picked “Midday three picks”
“Our second unicorn fits the athletic profile to a t... Midday, three picks, six three, 204 pounds”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksMalik BensonApr 8, 2026
Malik Benson to be picked “midday three pick”
“Malik Benson is a midday three pick projection out of Oregon.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Chris Brazzell to be picked “early day two”
“He's an early day two guy. You know, the commanders don't have an early day two pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Top Player ListsApr 8, 2026
“The top guy in this year's NFL draft class that fits that profile, Cincinnati wide receiver, Jeff Caldwell coming in second. North Dakota state receiver, Bryce Lance... Georgia State's Ted Hurst is tenth. ... Mckay Lemon actually ended up coming in eleventh overall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Treylon Burks to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksDe'Zhaun StriblingApr 8, 2026
De'Zhaun Stribling to be picked “late day three”
“He is also projected to be a late day three guy, although you see some mocks with him going earlier.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Marquise Brown to make the roster
“The top six receivers today, the guys that I would put on the initial 53, McLaren, McCaffrey, Lane, Jefferson, Brown, Traylen Burks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksZavion ThomasApr 8, 2026
Zavion Thomas to be picked “from one eighty seven to 209”
“Zavian Thomas from one eighty seven to 209 is likely to come off.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.