The Commanders may have a rookie who is getting harder and harder to stash away.
While the spotlight in Washington has largely followed Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, third-round pick Antonio Williams made enough noise in the preseason loss to the Detroit Lions to remind everyone there’s another receiver worth watching. The Commanders expect plenty from their veteran duo, but Williams flashed enough to suggest he can be part of the answer, too.
Williams entered the league with plenty of buzz before his final season at Clemson went off track, a setback that pushed him out of first-round territory. Washington still believed in the talent, taking him with the No. 71 overall pick. And after what he’s shown over the summer, that decision is starting to look like it could pay off in a big way.
Against Detroit, Williams showed the kind of polish that jumps out fast. His route-running looked sharp, and he appeared far more settled than he did early in camp. Even if the competition came from second- and third-string defenders, the performance still stood out.
He caught all three of his targets for 41 receiving yards, and the best moment came on a jaw-dropping 21-yard grab in the air that showed off both his concentration and his strength. With competition still wide open behind McLaurin and Diggs, Williams is making a case for real opportunities in David Blough’s offense.
Nobody is handing him superstar comparisons. He’s not being billed as the next Randy Moss or Art Monk. But the skill set is there for him to make an impact quickly, especially in a system that seems built to bring out his best traits.
The presence of McLaurin and Diggs should help him in more ways than one. Williams gets to learn from two elite receivers, and he should also see plenty of favorable matchups with defenses forced to focus so heavily on the Pro Bowl pair. That opens the door for one-on-one chances, and Williams has the ability to separate at every level of the field.
There will be rookie growing pains, as there always are. Still, it would be a surprise if Williams doesn’t produce. The Commanders have the kind of support around him that could make his third-round draft slot look like a bargain before long.
His showing against the Lions gave fans a real taste of what he can do. It also looked like another hurdle cleared.
And there’s more coming.
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