The Washington Commanders still have some lingering concerns about the wide receiver position. General manager Adam Peters added to the unit with Antonio Williams at No. 71 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but it's still light on productive options behind second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin.
Of course, there is the lingering speculation linking the Commanders to Brandon Aiyuk, who remains in a stand-off with the San Francisco 49ers. Just when that'll be resolved is anyone's guess, but even if he does land in Washington, he is no sure thing by any stretch.
Peters will have a plan in place for every scenario and every situation that might come his way. However, a college football expert believes the Commanders may have a potential difference-maker from their undrafted free agents with a little bit of luck.
College football expert believes Chris Hilton Jr. could make an impact with the Commanders
Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz thought the Commanders might have something in Chris Hilton Jr. He'll need to stay healthy more consistently than he did in college, but the expert expressed confidence in the rookie's immediate impact as a downfield threat while he develops other areas of his game.
"Chris Hilton Jr. never caught a break at LSU as injuries would slow his development anytime he started to build momentum. When healthy, Hilton has a chance to be a deep threat with his speed, but he'll need to continue developing his game in the other areas."
Hilton was a high-priority signing for the Commanders when he didn't hear his name called during the draft. He's got the size, length, and speed to offer something a little different. There is also an existing connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at LSU.
Expecting miracles from Hilton would be unrealistic. As Rome stated, staying on the field was an ongoing frustration in college, denting any momentum that may have been generated. His route tree and concentration when the football comes his way also need to be improved to stand any chance of making it in the pros.
That said, there are more positives than negatives. It isn't costing the Commanders much to find out if Hilton can make an impact in the receiver room. Daniels likes him, and there is chemistry. Turning this into something more is the next challenge, but his arrival in Washington comes with more intrigue than most.
Nobody is expecting Hilton to come in and be the second coming of Art Monk. But if he makes a smooth transition, don't be surprised if he pushes his way up the depth chart quickly.
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