Terry McLaurin didn’t exactly leave much room for doubt when he talked about Washington’s receiving room. Asked about the Commanders’ next wave of pass-catchers, the veteran wideout made it clear he expects somebody to seize the moment.
"Somebody's going to step up," the star wideout predicted to ESPN's John Keim. "Most of the guys are going to step up, and I think guys are going to be ready for their opportunities.
We have guys who have played in the league, we have guys who have had success, we have guys who are just waiting for that opportunity to really show what they can do. As a leader, I'm just looking forward to helping push the room, having them push me, as well, and I'm looking forward to seeing who steps up.
Because somebody will."
That belief matters in a receiver group still looking for a little more certainty behind McLaurin. Washington would love another every-down weapon to take some of the load off both him and Jayden Daniels, and the first full-team practice of training camp offered a few names that fit the bill.
The loudest buzz has surrounded rookie Antonio Williams, who has quickly become the young receiver drawing the most attention as a possible full-time starter alongside McLaurin. He brings the kind of quickness and natural hands that can make a rookie pop fast, and Washington appears ready to let him grow into bigger snaps.
Twitchy and sudden in his routes, fast and late hands, then immediately back in to his body. Antonio Williams is going to make an immediate impact on the WR room if he gets clean breaks off the LOS (he will) pic.twitter.com/LwY4tkgh6v
Even if Williams doesn’t immediately become everything a WR2 is supposed to be, Washington has other options to sort through. Chig Okonkwo gives the offense a dependable tight end presence, which should help lighten the burden on the young wideouts. Treylon Burks, who played with Okonkwo for the Tennessee Titans, brings size and athleticism and flashed late in last season while filling in for Luke McCaffrey.
McCaffrey is also part of the mix again, and he figures to get more chances as the Commanders keep sorting out the room.
There are still more familiar faces trying to climb the depth chart. Jaylin Lane, a former fourth-round pick, is coming off a rookie season without a touchdown and still has plenty to prove. Dyami Brown is also in the hunt after returning to his original team in search of more stability.
McLaurin has already been doing his part to bring the younger guys along. He was seen working with undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley during OTAs and minicamp, and that carried into training camp, where the two were back at work together after practice.
For now, Washington has several candidates who can make McLaurin’s prediction come true. The rest of late-summer camp will decide who keeps separating from the pack.
In Other News...
Commanders Receiver Battle Just Opened The Door For An Overlooked Rookie
The Commanders spent the offseason adding pieces in a few spots, but receiver still looks like one of the thinner areas on the roster. After not bringing back Deebo Samuel and making only modest additions in free agency, the room has opened up enough that an undrafted rookie can at least get a real look, and Jaden Bradley is trying to turn that chance into something more than a camp footnote.
Bradley arrives with some college production from UNLV and a profile that gives Washington a different kind of lottery ticket at the position. He is still a long shot, especially with Van Jefferson and Treylon Burks among the names fighting for what could be the last spot, but the path is there if he can stack together a standout summer and make the coaches keep finding reasons to watch him. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Just Fueled Brandon Aiyuk Talk In Washington
Adam Peters didnt exactly shut the door on the kind of roster chatter that always follows a name like Brandon Aiyuk. Asked about whether a players social-media habits can matter in personnel decisions, the Commanders general manager said the team weighs plenty of factors, even if that sort of online footprint is not usually near the top of the list. It was the kind of answer that keeps a rumor alive without feeding it too much oxygen.
Dan Quinn also leaned into the moment, recognizing the tactful way the question was framed as Washington continues to be linked, however loosely, to the 49ers receiver. If the Commanders ever got serious about that kind of move, Jayden Daniels would naturally be part of the conversation, which is why Peters answer landed with a little more weight than a routine offseason comment. For now, the interest is more about how Washington is thinking than what it is actually about to do. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made A WR Move That Raises Bigger Questions
Training camp has barely gotten underway, and the Commanders have already added another name to the receiver room by signing River Cracraft. Hes a familiar face in Washington after a brief stint with the team last season, and the move comes as the club continues to sort through its options behind Terry McLaurin at a position that still feels like it could use more help.
General manager Adam Peters has made it clear the team is looking at more than just talent when it evaluates possible additions, saying the process includes everything from locker-room fit to culture. With receiver speculation still swirling around names like Stefon Diggs, the Cracraft signing feels more like a small roster move than a final answer, leaving the bigger question of how aggressive Washington plans to be at the position. [Read more 🡒]