Analyzing the polarizing opposites of Commanders UDFA and established WRs
By Jonathan Eig
There are polarizing opposites worth examining when it comes to established Washington Commanders wide receivers and those signed in undrafted free agency.
The Washington Commanders currently list 12 wide receivers on their roster. Half of them were with the team last season. The other half were signed as free agents this off-season.
There is an interesting physical distinction between the two groups. Especially considering the receiving corps that Eric Bieniemy worked with last season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Of the six returning wideouts, five played significant minutes last season. The three starters – Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson are part of the regular offensive set. Two backups – Dyami Brown and Dax Milne – play in some sets and are around in case of injury to a starter.
Milne also served as the Commanders' primary punt returner in 2022. The final returning receiver – Kyric McGowan – spent most of the year on the practice squad.
Of the six newcomers, five were signed as undrafted free agents. The sixth – Marcus Kemp – is a young veteran who played under Bienemy in Kansas City, mostly as a special teamer.
Here’s the physical distinction between the two groups:
Every single one of the returning players stands 5-foot-11 or six feet tall. Their average weight is 195 pounds. McLaurin is a little thicker – Dotson is a little thinner – but they all basically look the same.
The three starters are all lightning-fast. The three backups are more quick and agile, without the same sprinter speed.
Now consider the six newcomers. I’m going to give you their median size because one outlier is very small by NFL standards. But even with him, were I to give you the mean size, it wouldn’t be all that different.
The six newcomers have a median size of 6-foot-2.5 and 203 pounds. Three inches taller and seven pounds heavier than the group from last season. With the exception of that one undersized player, none of these bigger receivers boasts consistent speed.