The Washington Commanders re-signed wide receiver Treylon Burks to a one-year deal. However, that will not stop general manager Adam Peters from identifying other pass-catching targets for star quarterback Jayden Daniels in the coming weeks.
Free agency is fast approaching. The Commanders have money to spend, and Peters must be aggressive to find the right reinforcements to improve the team's chances of bouncing back. Nothing else will suffice with pressure building.
One respected NFL insider believes Washington could be in the mix for a risky deep threat to complement Terry McLaurin's game when the legal tampering window opens. It won't be cheap, but it's worth considering.
Commanders projected to take risky swing on Rashid Shaheed in free agency
Dan Graziano of ESPN projected the Commanders to land Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed in free agency. The All-Pro didn't make much of a mark as a receiver following his trade to the newly crowned Super Bowl champions, but he's an elite returner. Whether that's worth the projected three-year, $40 million contract, with $20 million guaranteed, is another matter.
"It sounds like [Rashid] Shaheed will have a market outside of Seattle, where he was a vital part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl run as a receiver and a return man. His speed is enticing to a lot of teams, and those that swing and miss on [Alec] Pierce could be very happy signing Shaheed at a lower cost."
Shaheed can take the top of any defense with blazing speed to stretch the field. While the production is sketchy at best, there could be more to come from the player in the right fit. He's also an electrifying threat with the football in his hands, which could be what the Commanders are looking for if Deebo Samuel Sr. departs in free agency.
McLaurin will lead the charge in Washington's wideout room next season, but there are murmurings that 2026 will be his last campaign with the club. Unless Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, or Burks take a seismic leap forward, more is no doubt needed. Shaheed has the athletic upside to be a potential WR2 in the right scheme. But it is a little more dubious than other free-agent wide receivers set to hit the market.
Peters will have a plan of attack. Shaheed could be among the possibilities, but the Commanders might also be thinking bigger.
Much will depend on McLaurin's future beyond 2026 and how much faith Washington actually has in its younger wideouts. But for the money Shaheed is expected to get on the open market, new offensive coordinator David Blough must have a concise idea of how to make more of his skill set.
Time will tell, but it seems as if there are better options available.