Commanders miss out on good opportunity to give Jayden Daniels a weapon that would’ve made his life a lot easier
Even with Antonio Williams Commanders still need to add to their receiver room in order to get Jayden Daniels another viable target to help him and Terry McLaurin. Washington watched one target get snatched up Thursday night.
The Washington Commanders’ top priorities should always be centered around Jayden Daniels. He’s the face of the franchise and a rare talent that immediately makes Washington a competitive team when he’s on the field.
Adam Peters and Co. have centered building around Daniels over the last couple of years, but the receiver room is still a work in progress.
Yes, Terry McLaurin is a top-12 receiver when healthy and the team just drafted Antonio Williams in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. But in terms of reliable production – those two guys are all the Commanders have. Even then, we don’t know what Williams’ impact will be in 2026, either.
Depth, along with the lack of a trustworthy, big-bodied wideout, are the main factors behind adding another receiver. Everyone is waiting to see what the San Francisco 49ers do with Brandon Aiyuk, but there was another viable target available (and a former 49er at that) the Commanders just missed out on.
Commanders watch Jauan Jennings sign with the Vikings
Jauan Jennings made a lot of sense as a Commander, but that’s no longer an option. He signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings worth up to $13 million on Thursday night.
The Commanders could’ve easily afforded that and Jennings would’ve been a good fit in their offense. He’s best out of the slot, but can play outside, as well. Either way, he would’ve given Jayden Daniels a big target over the middle of the field and he’s a more-than-willing run blocker, as well. That also fits the mold of what David Blough will do in terms of the run game.
What other veteran receivers make sense for the Commanders and Jayden Daniels?
The options are certainly dwindling. Now that Jennings is off the board, the guys who make the most sense are Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, and maybe Keenan Allen.
The best bet is Diggs, who just saw his legal situation clear up in his favor. He snagged 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns during the 2025 regular season. Diggs accomplished that despite playing just 55% of offensive snaps. He also recorded an insane 83.3% catch rate and his 2.42 yards per route run ranked fifth out of 30 qualifying WRs with at least 98 targets.
Those are some pretty impressive stats and they show that Diggs isn’t just a reliable receiver – he’s an efficient one, as well.
And, of course, there’s Aiyuk. He’s obviously a different story right now, as it’d take a trade to acquire his services.
Either way, the pool is drying up. We’ll see if the Commanders eventually bring in a solid wideout to help Jayden Daniels and the offense.