The Washington Commanders have been on a mission this offseason to bolster their wide receiver corps. They made a strong push to sign Colts' wideout Alec Pierce, but he opted to stay put in Indianapolis.
Not deterred, the Commanders also set their sights on Romeo Doubs from the Packers, only to see him head to the New England Patriots instead. However, Washington did land a dynamic playmaker for quarterback Jayden Daniels by signing the explosive Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo to a three-year deal.
With many top receivers snapped up in free agency, the Commanders are eyeing the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to potentially fill that gap. Drafting a receiver doesn't rule out the possibility of adding a seasoned veteran like Brandon Aiyuk, should the 49ers release him.
The leading contenders for Washington at the seventh spot include Ohio State's Carnell Tate and USC's Makai Lemon. The Commanders have been proactive, meeting with top receiver prospects at the 2026 NFL Combine, including Tate, Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State. According to NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline, Lemon is set to visit Ashburn for a top-30 visit.
Lemon is in high demand, with seven official visits lined up, including stops with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Rams.
At his USC pro day, Lemon impressed with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing 192 pounds, Lemon is making a strong case as the top receiver in this draft class. Over his three-year stint at USC, he started the last two seasons, amassing 137 receptions for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Lemon has drawn comparisons to the Lions' star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, another USC alum.
Interestingly, the Commanders' new offensive coordinator, David Blough, is reportedly planning to implement a scheme similar to the one used by the Lions under Ben Johnson, where St. Brown thrived.