4 WRs the Commanders regrettably passed on to draft Antonio Gandy-Golden

The Washington Commanders experienced two retirements in their first week of training camp. While Ryan Kerrigan’s emotional announcement stole headlines, former fourth-round pick Antonio Gandy-Golden, who made the switch from wide receiver to tight end this offseason, surprisingly retired after two years.

After starring as a receiver for Liberty, Washington drafted Gandy-Golden with the hope he’d become a big-bodied target for the offense. When push came to shove, though, the 6-foot-4 pass-catcher struggled gaining separation from defenders and finished his career with one catch for three years in 10 games.

Fans hoped the position switch would see Gandy-Golden resurrect his career and it started promisingly. However, Ron Rivera noted following the announcement that he sensed AGG lost his passion for the game, which influenced his decision.

It’s sad to see Gandy-Golden walk away at such a young age, but there’s no getting around the fact Washington blew it by drafting him. While only a fourth-round pick, there are multiple WRs they passed on to draft the Liberty product.

4 WRs the Commanders passed on for Antonio Gandy-Golden

4. Tyler Johnson

No, Johnson isn’t a superstar, but neither are any of the players on this list. The bottom line is Johnson has become a serviceable NFL receiver and was drafted in the middle of Round 5; one pick before Washington drafted Khaleke Hudson.

The 23-year-old has unfortunately played behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the Buccaneers, but he gained Tom Brady’s trust last season — not an easy feat for a wideout — to the tune of 36 catches for 360 yards.

At the end of the day, Washington drafted Gandy-Golden for him to become an adequate depth receiver. The Bucs had the same intention with Johnson and he’s been markedly more productive than AGG despite playing for a perennial championship contender and on one of the best WR corps in the league.