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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
The Washington Commanders were a sinking ship in 2025 — they may have figured out a way to plug some of those holes in 2026.
The biggest hole on the roster, according to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, is at wide receiver, where 2026 3rd round pick Antonio Williams could end up being the answer.
If it’s not Williams, it’s hard to see how it would be anyone else currently on the roster.
“There is a collection of players behind Terry McLaurin waiting for someone to break out,” Schatz wrote. “Is Treylon Burks ready to be a starter after three seasons of struggling in Tennessee, followed by a few notable catches in 2025 for Washington? Can Luke McCaffrey expand past the 11 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns that he had in his second season? Or is rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams ready for the big time? The Commanders also have Jaylin Lane, who had 16 receptions for 225 yards as a rookie last season, and veteran Dyami Brown, who had 227 yards in Jacksonville in 2025.”
Betting on Burks, McCaffrey, Lane, or Brown seems like a recipe for disaster — or at least a recipe for another losing season in 2026.
Antonio Williams Predicted to ‘Outplay Draft Value’
Many expect Williams to be able to step in right away and be the WR2 option behind McLaurin — something that the $97 million All-Pro has never really had at any point in his career.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicted that Williams will be 1 of the NFL’s rookie wide receivers who will “outplay his draft value” in 2026.
“The Washington Commanders’ top two pass-catchers in receptions from the previous season are still free agents,” Moton wrote. “Deebo Samuel is one of the top veterans available. Zach Ertz is recovering from a torn ACL. In 2025, Terry McLaurin missed seven games due to injuries. As a result, the Commanders had to rely on Samuel and Ertz in the passing game. Assuming both sign with new teams, Washington filled a major void by taking Antonio Williams in the third round. Williams can take over the primary role out of the slot, though he could also be the No. 2 receiver on the perimeter. The versatile wideout played both roles in college.”
Williams, who led the ACC with 11 touchdown receptions in 2024, has something else in common with McLaurin — both were 3rd round picks.
Rookie WR Could ‘Command Targets’ in 2026
NFL draft expert Ethan Kreager put Williams on his list of the best picks outside of the 1st round, in large part thanks to getting to pair him with 3rd year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
“Awesome landing spot in Washington,” Kreager wrote on his official X account. “Great chance to command targets from day 1.”
The Commanders drafted a wide receiver in the 3rd or 4th round for the 3rd consecutive season in 2026 — every draft of the Dan Quinn era.
Washington drafted McCaffrey in the 3rd round (No. 100 overall) in the 2024 NFL draft. He only has 29 receptions for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns through his 1st 2 seasons.
The Commanders drafted Lane in the 4th round (No. 128 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft, and he fell completely flat as a rookie with 16 receptions for 225 yards and zero touchdowns.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame