Washington
Washington Commanders Positional Review: Wide Receiver
The Washington Commanders enter the offseason with a league-average wide receiver room. Terry McLaurin just completed his fourth straight 1,000-yard season and remains the team’s leader in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, Jahan Dotson regressed in his second year, and Curtis Samuel is headed for unrestricted free agency. As mentioned in the Running Back Review, Washington is well-positioned with both cap space and draft capital to upgrade across the roster. The Commanders will acquire another starting wide receiver this offseason.
Commanders Wide Receiver Review
Current Depth Chart
Terry McLaurin
Washington’s top two receivers are locked in for 2024, at minimum. The 28-year-old McLaurin signed a 3-year, $68.3 million deal through 2025 and has been well worth his money. He’s a pillar of consistency for a franchise mired in inconsistency. 2023 marks McLaurin’s third consecutive season in which he’s played all 17 games and recorded at least 77 catches, 1,000 yards, and four touchdowns. He’s a no-brainer WR1 and will likely be playing with his tenth different starting NFL quarterback next season.
Jahan Dotson
2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson didn’t live up to the hype after a promising rookie season. Despite playing in five more games as a sophomore, he decreased both his yardage total and touchdown total from his rookie year. Additionally, the team passed for almost 400 more yards in 2023 than in 2022, demonstrating that Dotson commanded a smaller piece of a larger pie in his second year. But it gets worse. Reception Perception founder Matt Harmon expressed legitimate concerns regarding Dotson’s route-running regression and long-term upside. He enters a make-or-break season in 2024.
The Others
In addition to McLaurin and Dotson, Washington currently has five other receivers on the roster: Dyami Brown, Dax Milne, Mitchell Tinsley, Bryce Tremayne, and Davion Davis. Of these, only Tinsley is signed beyond 2024, and only Brown holds a dead cap hit of more than $20,000. To summarize, none are guarantees to make the active roster next season. Brown could resume his role as a serviceable fourth receiver but shouldn’t be trusted as a full-time player. The most interesting prospect of the group could be Tinsley, who made a splash in the preseason and could be ready for a bigger role. Milne, Tremayne, and Davis belong on the practice squad.
Free Agent Options
Tee Higgins, CIN
Given his age (25) and perceived upside, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins could land one of the biggest contracts in free agency this offseason. It would only make sense for the team with the most cap space in the NFL to sign him. Joe Burrow has been outspoken about his desire to re-sign his talented 6’4″ 219 lbs receiver, but Higgins isn’t the only Bengals receiver who expects to be paid. Superstar Ja’Marr Chase will be a free agent next offseason and will likely jump to the top of Cincy’s list of priorities. Washington could swoop in and outbid the Bengals.
Gabriel Davis, BUF
Gabe Davis fits the big-bodied field-stretcher archetype that would theoretically complement McLaurin and Dotson well. Davis has been unpredictable on a game-by-game basis but consistent on a season-long basis. Through four seasons, he’s played in at least 15 games, averaged at least 15.7 yards per catch, and scored at least six touchdowns every year. For perspective, McLaurin hasn’t exceeded 15.7 yards per catch since his rookie season, and Dotson averaged 10.6 YPC this year. At an expected $13.6 million annual price tag, Davis could be worth the investment.
Draft Options
Devontez Walker, UNC
The 2024 rookie wide receiver class looks incredible. According to a compilation of 107 big boards, there are 13 wide receivers listed in the top 56 NFL prospects. The Commanders could turn to the receiver position with picks 67, 101, or 103. If so, Tez Walker is one of the most interesting options. He’s listed at 6’3″ 200 lbs and can take the top off the defense with his long speed. After transferring from Kent State, Walker teamed with potential #2 pick Drake Maye to average 17.0 yards per catch and score 7 touchdowns in 2023. Maye and Walker could form the UNC-to-D.C. connection that Sam Howell and Dyami Brown never could.
Brenden Rice, USC
You might have heard of his father. And, like Tez Walker, Brenden Rice had the luxury of catching passes from a pretty good college quarterback too. But Rice is a solid prospect in his own right. He scored 12 touchdowns on 17.6 yards per catch at 6’2″ and 210 lbs, fitting the mold that the Commanders should be looking for. While Walker wins with speed, however, Rice wins with superior route-running and physicality. With McLaurin and Rice on the boundaries, Dotson in the slot, and an upgraded tight end, Washington’s skill group would be ready-made for a rookie quarterback.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Washington
Iran warns Washington it will retaliate against any attack
DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Iran warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel and regional U.S. military bases as “legitimate targets”, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told parliament.
Sign up here.
Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Washington
Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics
The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.
“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.
The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”
A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”
Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”
Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.
The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.
“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.
Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”
“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.
The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.
Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.
The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.
American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”
The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.
The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
Washington
Andre Washington’s 20 points help Eastern Illinois take down Tennessee Tech 71-61
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Andre Washington had 20 points in Eastern Illinois’ 71-61 victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
Washington shot 8 for 13, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Panthers (5-10, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference). Meechie White added 13 points and four steals. Kooper Jacobi finished with 11 points and added seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (6-10, 1-4) were led in scoring by Jah’Kim Payne, who finished with 11 points. Tennessee Tech also got 10 points from Mekhi Turner.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology5 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Delaware2 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska4 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska