The Washington Commanders had limited resources in the 2026 NFL Draft, with only six picks. The biggest one was obviously linebacker Sonny Styles, who will be an unquestioned starter in the middle of the defense.
But third-round wide receiver Antonio Williams is someone else who could have a significant role within this offense and help pay dividends in a room that desperately needs extra help.
The Commanders were able to draft Williams at No. 71 overall. Looking at Washington's depth chart at receiver, you can see the pathway for the rookie to carve out an important role right away.
Antonio Williams could fast-track his way to important Commanders role
Terry McLaurin is the No. 1 receiver of the bunch, but he missed seven games in 2025 due to an ongoing hip flexor/quad injury. Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson Jr., Nick Nash, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, Ja'Corey Brooks, Jaylin Lane, and Jacoby Jones are some other names in the receiver room. None of them has a guaranteed role under David Blough.
When you look at Williams, he's a player who can certainly come in and make a statement, especially in the slot.
During his college career at Clemson, Williams aligned on the inside on 78 percent of his snaps. While he isn't pigeonholed to that spot, that's an area where he could thrive in the pros.
Williams has quick feet with good body control. In 43 games with the Tigers, he finished with 208 receptions, 2,336 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns. He had three campaigns with more than 600 receiving yards and four-plus receiving scores. The Dutch Fork High School graduate can also provide some versatility as a punt returner, though McCaffrey and Lane have excelled in this area.
The Commanders had Deebo Samuel Sr. hit free agency and decided not to bring him back, so far anyway. In his lone season in Washington, he had 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while receiving 99 targets. He also had 433 snaps in the slot, per Pro Football Focus.
Washington needs someone who can fill in those reps and provide a spark in the receiving room. That's why Williams makes a lot of sense.
He's a player who has four years of college football under his belt and could provide quarterback Jayden Daniels with a reliable target underneath and in the middle of the field. Receiver is a position to watch for this group, and with a strong transition, Williams could be someone thrust into the lineup.
Styles is a lock to be a starter in 2026, but when taking a deeper look, Williams can also make an argument for that.
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