Commanders’ first scheduled top-30 visit could signal their answer to an uncertain position after free agency misses

The Commanders were aggressive in free agency, but the 2026 NFL Draft might provide the real answer after their first scheduled top-30 visit.

Josh Taylor — Washington Commanders News Writer
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The Washington Commanders took several big swings in free agency, and they certainly improved the roster, but they missed at one key position.

General manager Adam Peters made it a point to improve the offense and give QB Jayden Daniels new weapons to work with. The Commanders did land TE Chig Okonkwo, but they also missed on big-name wide receivers such as Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs.

Now, they may have to look to the 2026 NFL Draft to find their next WR, and their first scheduled top-30 visit shows just that.

Commanders schedule first top-30 visit with WR Makai Lemon

Yes, it’s technically NFL free agency, but it’s always draft season, and the Commanders are making moves with NFL Draft prospects while signing new free agents to improve the roster. The Commanders desperately need an answer at WR, and they came close several times in free agency.

Their answer might be in the NFL Draft, however, and they’re doing their homework on the top WR prospects. According to NFL Draft Analyst Tony Pauline, the Commanders’ first top-30 visit is scheduled to be with WR Makai Lemon.

Lemon is a popular prospect with several visits set, but he’s also arguably the top WR prospect in the NFL Draft. There will be several debates about who is better between Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Carnell Tate, but each is completely different and special in their own ways. Lemon is the best slot WR in the draft, and his explosiveness will translate to the NFL.

He’s 5-11, 195 pounds, but Lemon plays like a big-body WR with his ability to high-point catches, and finished with a 66.7% contested catch rate. Lemon also had 16 deep catches, which was the fifth-most in the country. He only had two drops on 109 targets and finished the season with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s the kind of player the Commanders need to fix their questionable WR room.

Why the Commanders need WR Makai Lemon

The Commanders are likely to land WR Brandon Aiyuk once the San Francisco 49ers release him, but that won’t be enough. 2026 could likely be Terry McLaurin’s final season in Washington due to his heavily increased salary cap hit in his contract. The Commanders need to get younger and find their WR of the future. Lemon is an early declare and won’t turn 22 until after the NFL Draft.

Looking at David Blough’s new offensive scheme, he needs a dynamic slot WR, just like the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have in the same system. Amon-Ra St.Brown and Luther Burden III are playmakers in the slot who can stretch the field and create explosive plays after the catch. The Commanders don’t have that on their roster, and Lemon would be the perfect fit for the offense.

The biggest question is if the Commanders would draft Lemon at no. 7 overall, or look to somehow trade back and take him in the 10 to 12 range instead. There’s a good chance Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate could be off the board by the No. 7 overall pick, and they already addressed the defense heavily in free agency. Every option should be on the table for Peters and company.

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