The Washington Commanders had to find a dynamic offensive playmaker at some stage during the 2026 NFL Draft. Taking linebacker Sonny Styles was a no-brainer at No. 7, but it still left quarterback Jayden Daniels short of reliability outside of Terry McLaurin in the wide receiver room.
Peters had something in mind, taking Antonio Williams at No. 71 overall. He was touted as a first-round pick before his final college campaign at Clemson. Things didn't go quite according to plan after that, but the Commanders see plenty of untapped potential for the incoming rookie to thrive within David Blough's schematic concepts.
Unfortunately, that puts other wideouts on edge. And one NFL analyst highlighted Treylon Burks as someone who faces a real fight to retain his depth chart status this summer.
Treylon Burks faces a fight to cement Commanders role amid growing competition
Douglas Fritz of ClutchPoints tabbed Burks as the WR3 for now. But if Williams picks things up quicker than expected, those plans could change in a hurry.
"Before the draft, [Treylon] Burks stood in the role of WR3. And the former first-round pick could still have that role in Week 1. However, there’s also a chance he could lose the starting spot on [Antonio] Williams.
"Williams will rise or fall on separation. He doesn’t have blazing speed, so he needs to be able to beat man coverage. Also, he needs to be superb against zone coverages. That’s a lot to put on a rookie. But if he is going to push Burks out of the starting lineup, it’s something he must do."
Burks signed a one-year deal this offseason that could be worth up to $4 million. His flashes after joining the club last season warranted further investigation, but the hard work is just getting started.
A clear run of luck on the injury front is crucial. The former Arkansas standout needs a full preparation period to hone his craft. And he opted to stay in Washington after hearing what Blough had planned for him, which indicates confidence in Burks within the building.
The Commanders were never going to stand still. Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson Jr. joined in free agency to improve depth. Williams has the tools to secure his fair share of targets immediately. With the prospect of another veteran wideout also coming into the fold, the urgency is high for Burks and everyone else.
Last season will have been a big confidence boost for Burks. Everyone wrote him off after things fell flat with the Tennessee Titans. Joining the Commanders gave him a new lease of life, but the next part will be even more challenging.
Washington has no room for passengers. Either Burks displays growth and firmly establishes himself, or the Commanders will turn to others.
And the gauntlet has been laid down.
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