The Washington Commanders are firmly focused on the 2026 season. General manager Adam Peters' scouting department is focused on the college football season as part of its comprehensive assessments before next year's draft.
And there was one player who jumped off the screen in Week 1 to get the Commanders' attention.
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo was nothing short of sensational during the team's dominant opening-day triumph over Texas State. He was comfortably the best pass-catcher on the field, displaying the speed, athleticism, and playmaking prowess that should become a big hit at the next level.
Ryan Wingo should be on Commanders' draft radar after dazzing Week 1 display
Wingo finished with seven catches from eight targets for 121 receiving yards and one touchdown. While the standard he was facing wouldn't exactly be classed as stellar, it was also a sign that the desired improvements have been made this offseason to become more influential.
Simply put, this is a prospect the Commanders should be watching extremely closely from here on.
Washington's wide receiver room looks strong heading into the season. But as for the long term? It's uncertain.
Stefon Diggs, Dyami Brown, and Treylon Burks are all in contract years. Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane have special-teams value but not much else right now. Third-round rookie Antonio Williams and Terry McLaurin are under contract, but the latter is even facing speculation about his future beyond the current campaign.
McLaurin signed a new deal in Washington after a long contract standoff last summer. He got paid eventually, but the deal is team-friendly. It also gives Peters the freedom to get off it starting in 2027, depending on the second-team All-Pro's performance.
That would be a massive call that wouldn't go down well with fans. But either way, the Commanders need another option who could become a primary weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels to depend on.
Ryan Wingo would bring the long-teerm dynamism Commanders are lacking
And even though it's only one game, Wingo should be on the shortlist.
At 6-foot-2 with a wide wingspan and blazing speed, Wingo has all the tools. His route running is sharp, and he is a difference-maker after the catch. His problems have centered on drops and catching the football effectively in traffic, but if this early sign is any indication, those problems are being rectified.
Wingo was being touted as a mid-round selection before the campaign. But a few more performances like this, starting next weekend against the Ohio State Buckeyes, will only see his stock soar.
There is a long way to go and a lot of football left before Wingo's projection is solidified by NFL teams. He also has one year of eligibility left at Texas, and considering the money he'd probably generate in NIL to stick around for his senior year, it's no guarantee he'd declare.
But if he's got the chance to be a high-end pick, and with quarterback Arch Manning also set to leave the Longhorns for the pros, Wingo could decide to strike while the iron is hot.
And the Commanders should be more than willing to examine his credentials in greater detail when the pre-draft process begins.
Add us as a preferred source on Google