The Washington Commanders have been hotly rumored to be adding to their wide receiver room, with Stefon Diggs and Brandon Aiyuk both heavily linked by the media. In the meantime, though, they might want to consider who they'll subtract first.
With organized team activities starting this week, NFL fans will get their first look at the (mostly) finalized rosters that will be ultimately competing for 53 slots. For the Commanders, their wideout unit will be one of the primary situations to watch.
Beyond Terry McLaurin, it's a jumbled-up mess. There's no clear No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, or No. 6. We're about to find out who can swim and who's going to sink.
Commanders' wide receiver dynamic will be something to watch at OTAs
Antonio Williams. Treylon Burks. Luke McCaffrey. Jaylin Lane. Dyami Brown. Van Jefferson Jr. They're all here, and with the exception of the first name listed — that being this year's third-round pick — all of their worlds seem to range from earning starter's snaps to only getting on the field on special teams.
As it stands, the Commanders are putting a lot of faith in Williams to be what McCaffrey and Lane have yet to develop into. He was a slot receiver in college at Clemson, but he brings the type of skillset with consistent hands and exceptional route-running that could see him explode into a receiving machine. In the best of universes, Washington could have its new Pierre Garcon.
Of course, there's also the chance of a McCaffrey or Lane breakout.
McCaffrey was making strides last year before he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone, while Lane struggled with drops but has the talent to improve. The same can be said for Burks, who impressed at times in his limited role when he joined the club mid-season and now has a full summer to acclimate to the team.
Don't forget about Brown, either. Last time he was in Washington, he was one of the heroes of the Commanders' NFC Championship game run. Things didn't work out with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, but he does have chemistry with star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Jefferson seems akin to what Michael Gallup was last year, a veteran in his last gasp to stay in the league. There's also the classic camp bodies, such as Ja'Corey Brooks and Jacoby Jones. All are long shots to make the final roster, but we've seen more surprising things happen.
It doesn't matter who it is, but at least a couple of them will need to set themselves apart. Then, general manager Adam Peters' decision regarding the rest will become easier.
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