Brandon Aiyuk may be slipping out of Washington’s reach, and if that door is closing, the Commanders still have a veteran fallback worth serious thought.
The most obvious name floating around is Stefon Diggs, whose connection to the area has kept him in the conversation. He has at least considered coming home to Washington, though it remains unclear whether general manager Adam Peters feels the same way.
Deebo Samuel Sr. is another possibility, and he’s still out there after a solid, if not spectacular, season last year. But if Washington wants a safer, lower-drama option, DeAndre Hopkins deserves a hard look.
Hopkins remains a free agent, and the five-time Pro Bowler could fit as a short-term answer at receiver for a team that still needs dependable help. He doesn’t match the Commanders’ offseason push to get younger and faster, and nobody should expect him to be the Houston Texans version of himself. That’s not the point.
What Hopkins can still offer is real value as a reliable target who can work in the right spots without getting in the way of the young receivers’ growth. His contested-catch ability is still a calling card, and he showed last season with the Baltimore Ravens that he can still produce chunk plays, averaging 15 yards on his 22 receptions.
Since his peak in Houston, Hopkins has moved from the Arizona Cardinals to the Tennessee Titans, then to the Kansas City Chiefs and Ravens. He has said he wants to play for a contender, though in July, nobody really knows who that will be.
Washington can at least sell him on Jayden Daniels at quarterback, and there’s reason to think the Commanders could get back to playoff form if health cooperates and the defensive upgrades live up to expectations.
Hopkins could also serve as a useful mentor for the younger pass catchers in the room, including fellow Clemson product Antonio Williams. He’s a different kind of receiver, but having a future Pro Football Hall of Famer around could help the group. And compared with Aiyuk or Diggs, Hopkins comes without the baggage.
He may not be the flashy choice, but if the Commanders still need help at wideout, Hopkins is a strong option. Peters should at least consider making the move as training camp gets closer, because Hopkins may not stay available for long.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Made A Quiet Move Their Secondary Desperately Needed
The Commanders have been looking for ways to shore up a secondary that needed more reliable depth, and they found a veteran answer in Rasul Douglas. Washington added the cornerback on a one-year deal as it starts building toward the 2026 season, a quiet move that fits a team trying to add experience without making a splashy overhaul.
Douglas brings a long track record and plenty of recent movement, having played for three different teams over the last three seasons. He also arrives with a reputation for steady production, giving Washington another proven option as it sorts out the back end of its defense and waits to see how the rest of the market shakes out. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Finally Put That Cornerback Rumor To Rest
Washington spent the offseason sorting through its cornerback options, and the answer it landed on was a familiar kind of veteran stability. Rather than chase a reunion with Trevon Diggs, the Commanders added Rasul Douglas on a one-year deal and moved forward with a group they believe better fits their plans on the back end.
Diggs is still on the market, but the bigger point for Washington is that Adam Peters and Dan Quinn clearly did not see him as the right swing to take right now. After leaving Dallas, he has not recaptured the same impact that once made him such an intriguing name, and the Commanders chose to address the position without waiting around for that version to reappear. [Read more 🡒]