3 free agent WRs Commanders could target after latest report

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster

Full disclosure: Mike Williams had the No. 2 spot on this list before he signed a three-year extension with the Chargers before Tuesday’s franchise-tag deadline. Alas, we pivot to Steelers free agent JuJu Smith-Schuster.

While he’s a different breed of WR compared to Williams, Smith-Schuster offers plenty of qualities that’ll make him a coveted commodity in free agency.

We know his love affair with TikTok was scorned by Steelers fans, but our opinion of him changed for the better after he returned early from a dislocated shoulder (that was supposed to be a season-ending injury) for Pittsburgh’s wild card game against the Chiefs. Not many players would put their body through that.

Smith-Schuster has come back down to earth after a fantastic first two seasons, but that can be attributed to injuries, a declining Ben Roethlisberger and competing with Antonio Brown, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool for targets.

In Washington, Smith-Schuster would slot in as the starting slot receiver. He’s dominant in the intermediate passing game and his 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame allows him to dominate slot corners, who are typically undersized.

Despite missing 18 games in his career, he ranks in the top 15 in third-down catches (85) among receivers since he was drafted in 2017, per PFF. He’s also younger than McLaurin despite getting drafted two years prior and his shoulder injury could see him land a one-year prove-it deal worth between $7-10 million.

What’s not to like?