Ben Solak’s choice for the Commanders’ breakout player in 2026 is enough to make you do a double take.
It isn’t Jayden Daniels, who flashed as a rookie before an injury-plagued 2025 season. It isn’t Chig Okonkwo, Trey Amos, Jacory Croskey-Merritt or K’Lavon Chaisson, either. Solak went with Terry McLaurin.
That’s the surprising part: McLaurin is about to turn 31 in September, and he already has five 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowls on his résumé. On paper, he doesn’t fit the usual breakout-player mold at all.
But Solak’s argument is that a breakout doesn’t have to mean a first real arrival. It can mean a player reaching a new peak. In McLaurin’s case, that would be a career year - and specifically, his first season with more than 100 catches.
Solak pointed to the context around McLaurin’s 2025 season, which was dragged down by a prolonged contract battle in camp, a quad injury and overall offensive regression. He also noted that McLaurin is set to play in a David Blough offense in 2026, one that should move him around the formation far more than Kliff Kingsbury’s system did.
The numbers back up the idea that there’s more room for McLaurin to grow. He ranked seventh in yards per route last season at 2.56, but only 18th in targets per route run. And just 16.8% of his yards came after the catch, which ranked 100th in the NFL.
If Blough uses him more like Amon-Ra St. Brown - with motion, slot work and designed looks on third downs and in the red zone - Solak believes McLaurin could set personal bests in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
That idea lines up with what Blough said after becoming offensive coordinator: one of his top priorities is getting McLaurin at least 10 targets per game.
Under Kingsbury, McLaurin, who had a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024, rarely moved around the formation. The fit never seemed to fully maximize what he can do. That should change now.
So maybe breakout is the wrong label. McLaurin is already established.
But a huge 2026 season? That looks very much on the table, especially if he stays healthy and turns last year’s frustration into fuel.
A 100-catch season and another 1,000-yard campaign would not be a stretch.
In Other News...
Commanders May Have Finally Found A Veteran WR Answer
Washingtons receiver room still looks thin behind Terry McLaurin, and the front office has not yet done anything to fully answer that need. The depth chart has been leaning on a group of young or unproven options, which is why the search for a veteran addition has lingered into the stretch before training camp.
One name now in the mix is Brandin Cooks, who has made it clear he wants to land with a team before camp opens and has also said Buffalo is his preferred destination. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: Cooks just showed he can still help a contender in a late-season run, and his brief stint with the Bills gave him a reminder that he can fit into a passing game quickly if the opportunity is right. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Already Have Their Answer Opposite Terry McLaurin
The Commanders spent a premium draft pick on a receiver who could change the look of their passing game almost immediately, and Antonio Williams already has the kind of profile that makes people around the league take notice. With Terry McLaurin still the centerpiece, Washington needed someone who could help lighten the load on the other side, and Williams arrives with enough buzz to make that conversation feel real before training camp even starts.
What happens next will matter just as much as the draft-night decision. If Williams shows he can handle the speed and physicality of the pro game right away, Washington may not feel much urgency to keep shopping for another veteran wideout, but if the transition proves bumpy, the team could be back in the market sooner than expected. For now, the Commanders at least have a promising answer in-house, and the summer will tell them how firm that answer really is. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Front Office Shakeup Just Added A New Twist
The Commanders personnel department is getting another reset, with veteran NFL executive Scott Fitterer leaving after two seasons in Washington. The move comes as the franchise continues to shape the front office around general manager Adam Peters, and it adds another layer to a group that has already been busy trying to build a more stable operation behind the scenes.
In his place, Washington has brought in former Vikings assistant GM Demitrius Washington as a senior personnel executive, giving the organization another experienced evaluator to lean on. The hire also reconnects him with Peters from their time together in San Francisco, a familiar tie that could matter as the Commanders keep refining how they identify and stack talent. [Read more 🡒]