The Commanders have a plan at wide receiver. But is it good enough?
In an ideal world, the Washington Commanders would have a pair of proven No. 1 receivers who could be used interchangeably on the right and left sides of the field to give quarterback Jayden Daniels more options in the pass game.
Ideal would be nice. Ideal would be easier.
But ideal hasn’t been Washington’s reality for most of this century (and beyond), and it’s fair to wonder if the team is headed for another season without ample pass-catching help.
The Commanders’ overall talent and depth at receiver have been concerns for much of the last few years and reached a tipping point last season when Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown missed a combined 20 games because of injuries. But after general manager Adam Peters admitted at season’s end that their absences offered “a good lesson for sure,” the team still hasn’t acquired — at least, as of Monday morning — a second proven playmaker in the pass game to complement McLaurin.
The Commanders changed systems and play callers, and overhauled much of their roster this offseason, and yet the biggest storyline facing the team for much of the offseason was whether it would sign one of the top remaining free-agent receivers, such as Stefon Diggs or Brandon Aiyuk, if the San Francisco 49ers
cut him loose.
Three days into training camp, that what-if is as relevant as ever. Will the Commanders add another veteran receiver? Should they?
It’s too early to make any broad judgments about the roster and its fit within first-year offensive coordinator David Blough’s system; the Commanders’ first fully padded practice is Monday, and three practices in the ramp-up portion of camp hardly show much.
But context also matters.
...Injuries tested Washington’s depth across the board last season, and its receivers certainly weren’t the
only reason the team finished 5-12. But finding another pass-catching threat — be it a wideout, tight end or a running back — was a stated priority for Washington going into the offseason, and its moves in free agency and the draft did little to quash any outside concern.
After moving on from receiver Deebo Samuel, who recently
reunited with the San Francisco 49ers, the Commanders signed veteran wideouts Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson and Treylon Burks — all to one-year deals for the veteran’s minimum.
Washington can point to 2024 to support its claim that it can succeed without a proven “No. 2” on the roster. Olamide Zaccheaus, an unheralded offseason signing, proved to be a key contributor throughout that season, and there’s no reason to think any of Washington’s additions this year couldn’t do the same.
But that model also required Daniels having the greatest rookie season of any quarterback and leading the team in rushing yards as well as passing yards,
and for the team to have nearly everything fall in its favor; it won six games (playoffs included) on the last play from scrimmage.
On the other hand, Washington knows first-hand the risk in not having a deep and proven receiving corps. McLaurin, who will be 31 in September, was healthy for all but three games in his career before suffering a quad injury early last season and missing seven games. Should he suffer another injury and miss an extended period this season, Washington would lose its primary playmaker outside of Daniels.
Signing Diggs wouldn’t guarantee Washington a second playmaker. He’ll be 33 in November and has had his share of off-field concerns.
Will the Commanders add another veteran receiver? Should they? Those questions aren't going away as training camp continues.
www.nytimes.com
 }})
