When the Washington Commanders gave wide receiver Treylon Burks a second chance after his abrupt departure from the Tennessee Titans, nobody was expecting too much.
He's never come close to reaching his first-round billing. The injuries that eventually led to Burks' release from the Titans only further tempered expectations.
Burks flashed brief moments of promise, but nothing more. That puts the Commanders in a dilemma with the wideout before he gets the chance to test free agency.
Massive changes are coming to Washington's receiver room this offseason. Only Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane are guaranteed to be on the 53-man roster. Deebo Samuel Sr. could get a new deal if the money works, but nothing is guaranteed. The rest are either aging veterans down on their luck or younger players who aren't quite up to the required standard.
Commanders have a big decision to make with Treylon Burks before free agency
As for Burks? He lies somewhere in the middle.
He's not old enough to have reached his ceiling. He's not young enough to be a development project. His production was decent enough in difficult circumstances, but whether it's enough for another commitment from Washington is another matter.
The Commanders need a dynamic wideout capable of stretching the field. They need someone who can work the middle and be an asset in the red zone. They'll also need some complementary pieces, which Burks looks capable of with another full offseason with the club to build chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels and learn the schematic concepts being installed by new offensive coordinator David Blough.
It would also be a relatively cheap exercise to keep him around, which only sweetens the pot.
The former Arkansas standout is expected to get a one-year, $3.54 million deal, according to Spotrac. This seems pretty manageable given the upside. Burks has always had the athletic attributes to be successful. It never came together fully in Tennessee, but the signs of life displayed by the wideout upon joining the Commanders deserve a second look.
This wouldn't guarantee a role in 2026. Everyone starts with a clean slate, and everything must be earned under Blough. Burks regained his swagger over the second half of 2025, but the hard work is just getting started. Urgency should remain high on a one-year deal. There would also be an opportunity to carve out a decent share of targets if everything goes well.
One could make a strong case for the Commanders letting most of their old free agents leave. Burks still has optimism for the future, so re-signing him couldn't be ruled out.