Ranking four worst draft picks from Ron Rivera’s Commanders tenure so far
By Dean Jones
Antonio Gandy-Golden – Former Commanders WR/TE
- Round No. 4 (Pick No. 142)
- 2020 NFL Draft
When the Washington Commanders picked up a physically-imposing wide receiver by the name of Antonio Gandy-Golden in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, it had all the makings of a potential steal. The 6-foot-4 pass-catcher could have been a mismatch nightmare had he put everything together, but nothing seemed to go right despite some encouraging promise.
Gandy-Golden gained just one reception from seven targets as a rookie. This was followed by the Commanders switching the player to the tight end position in the hope he could become more impactful on an offense that was crying out for improved consistency.
Again, this was a challenge too steep for Gandy-Golden. He struggled for much involvement and after being brought back onto the practice squad following his initial release, the former Liberty star opted for an early retirement to focus on his education after just two seasons.
This was an extremely disappointing end to Gandy-Golden’s time with the Commanders. His NFL career will be tinged with what might have been, which was a real shame considering the esteem in which he was held coming out of college.
Thankfully, the Commanders have more than enough at the wide receiver spot to move forward positively. But the fact Gandy-Golden couldn’t adjust well enough to the tight end requirements indicates his heart might not have been in it from the start.