The Washington Commanders still have work to do if they want more juice at wide receiver behind Terry McLaurin, but the usual big-name options haven’t exactly lined up. Brandon Aiyuk has effectively priced himself out of the conversation, Stefon Diggs has another legal issue hanging over him, and neither situation has moved Washington’s way so far.
That leaves general manager Adam Peters in a holding pattern, and one team insider thinks a more familiar name could be worth a look.
Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic pointed to Curtis Samuel as a possibility for 2026, noting both the risk and the appeal. Samuel’s recent injury history is the obvious concern, but Jhabvala reported that he is healthy now. She also highlighted how well he already knows the organization and some of the key people around it.
"One player who intrigues me is receiver Curtis Samuel. The gamble may always be health-related with him.
He’s dealt with a string of injuries throughout his career and has been active for only two full seasons in his nine years in the NFL. I’m told he’s fully healthy.
We know he’s very close to McLaurin. He played all three seasons in Washington alongside Dyami Brown, and he’s familiar with receivers coach Bobby Engram."
Samuel’s most recent stop was Buffalo, where he appeared in just six games last season. He is not the kind of addition that comes with certainty, but his versatility gives him a different kind of appeal. He can line up all over the formation and even work out of the backfield, which gives a staff some flexibility.
During his first run in Washington, the former Ohio State standout was useful, if not spectacular. He never quite matched the price tag, but the idea here is less about past expectations and more about whether he could still help raise the level of the receiver room.
Compared with Aiyuk or Diggs, Samuel would bring a lot less noise. The tradeoff is obvious: less upside, but also less baggage. Whether that matters depends on how the Commanders evaluate the group they already have and how those receivers are functioning in David Blough’s system.
Peters does not appear interested in adding veteran help just to say he did it. If Washington is going to make a move, it has to be the right one.
Samuel comes with real questions, and the league’s current hesitation around him says plenty. Still, his athleticism and playmaking ability make him an intriguing gamble if the injuries finally stop getting in the way.
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