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
Chaparro, 26, joins the Nationals after hitting safely in three of his last four games with
Washington
Recap: Washington Spirit Dominates Kansas City Current in 4 – 0 Win in Front of Sold Out Audi Field
Washington, D.C. (04/24/2026) – The Washington Spirit took home its second win of the season on Friday night, defeating the Kansas City Current 4-0. The top two finishers from last season played in front of a sold-out stadium of 19,215 fans at Audi Field.
Washington took charge quickly, cooking up a couple of close opportunities at the top of the highly anticipated matchup. The Current responded to the attacks with attacks of their own, setting the stage for what was sure to be a gritty match. Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made a sliding save in a one-on-one against former Spirit player Croix Bethune after a fumble in Washington’s back.
Soon after, a buildup though the whole squad led to Rosemonde Kouassi grazing the right post with a powerful shot following a fake-out from fellow forward Sofia Cantore.
The scrappy back and forth continued with the Spirit slowly inching toward Kansas City’s goal. In the 25th minute, a cross from Trinity Rodman found the one touch foot of Leicy Santos and then the back of the net, giving the Spirit the early lead. Santos locked in her second goal of the NWSL season, and Rodman her first assist of the season. Kansas City battled back, sending forward Temwa Chawinga streaking through the middle of the field, momentarily untouchable until Spirit keeper MacIver denied the Current once again with another sliding save.
Nearing the end of the first half, Kansas City’s final third became a playground for the Spirit. Kouassi, Cantore and Santos expertly passed around the defense, narrowly missing shots. A goal would finally come, in the third minute of first-half stoppage time after Kansas City keeper Lorena misjudged a corner kick; the ball passed through her hands and landed at the feet of Rodman, who effortlessly secured the Spirit’s 2-0 lead. This was Rodman’s first goal of the NWSL season.
The Spirit brought energy right out of the locker room to start the second half. The high-pressure attack quickly paid off when a ball from Hal Hershfelt sent Cantore flying up the right and sent a cross angled back to a patiently waiting Santos to finish the play, netting her second goal of the game and third of the season.
The Spirit defense started to see some more action after the third goal; Tara Rudd, Esme Morgan, Kate Wiesner and Lucia Di Guglielmo shut down all threats to their net. Claudia Martínez replaced Cantore at the top and immediately made her presence known. Kouassi sprinted from half field, closed in on the visitor’s net before crossing the ball to Martínez, who sliced a rebound shot past the Kansas City keeper, clinching the first goal of her NWSL career to make it 4-0 Spirit.
As the clock counted down the final minutes of the game, Kansas City was rewarded a free kick at the top of the box, and the strike from Ally Sentnor pinged off the crossbar, forcing a full team effort from the Spirit to eventually clear the danger. In the last minute, a successful slide tackle from Tara Rudd, secured the team’s third consecutive clean sheet.
Next up, the Spirit will continue its homestand, hosting Racing Louisville FC on Wednesday, April 29. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. EDT and air on Victory+.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Kansas City Current
Date: Friday, April 24, 2025
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. EDT
Weather: Mostly cloudy, high-60s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 0 | 0 |
WAS – Leicy Santos – 25′ (assisted by Trinity Rodman)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 45+3’
WAS – Leicy Santos – 56’
WAS – Claudia Martínez – 75’
Lineups:
WAS: 18 – Sandy MacIver; 6 – Kate Wiesner; 24 – Esme Morgan; 9 – Tara Rudd; 13 – Lucia Di Guglielmo (5 – Élisabeth Tsé, 78’); 4 – Rebeca Bernal; 10 – Leicy Santos; 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 2 – Trinity Rodman (21 – Gift Monday, 78’); 27 – Sofia Cantore (11 – Claudia Martínez, 65’); 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi (16 – Tamara Bolt, 83’)
Unused Substitutes: 31 – Kaylie Collins; 11 – Claudia Martínez; 14 – Gabrielle Carle; 26 – Paige Metayer; 29 – Emma Gaines-Ramos; 35 – Madison Haugen
KC: 23 – Lorena; 18 – Izzy Rodriguez; 24 – Gabrielle Robinson; 27 – Kayla Sharples; 5 – Ellie Bravo-Young; 8 – Croix Bethune (66 – Kyra Carusa, 75’); 99 – Debinha (11 – Rocky Rodríguez, 46’); 10 – Lo’eau LaBonta (22 – Bayley Feist, 82’); 6 – Temwa Chawinga (13 – Haley Hopkins, 65’); 21 – Ally Sentnor; 17 – Michelle Cooper (3 – Amelia White, 75’)
Unused Substitutes: 1 – Marisa Jordan; 2 – Laney Rouse; 7 – Elizabeth Ball; 55 – Penelope Hocking
Stats Summary: WAS / KC
Shots: 18 / 8
Shots On Goal: 7 / 3
Saves: 3 / 3
Fouls: 17 / 13
Offsides: 2 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
KC – Kayla Sharples – 13′ – Yellow Card
KC – Michelle Cooper – 43′ – Yellow Card
Washington
2026 NFL Draft Grades | Washington applauded for selecting ‘instant alpha’ linebacker Sonny Styles
The views and opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of the team.
The Commanders welcomed new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones earlier this year, and yesterday on Night 1 in Pittsburgh, the DC was gifted one of the best defensive prospects in college football. With the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Washington selected a versatile and supremely athletic young talent in Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
There were many thoughts about what Washington might do at the position over the last several months, but there were no conflicted feelings on Peters end when the Commanders got on the clock and he saw who was there. Styles was the clear pick. “Looking at this, we wanted to get the best player. We didn’t want to draft for need, and we felt the best player staring us in the face was a linebacker,” Peters said.
Styles was evidently a guy Washington was very high on. “I’ve been smiling ear to ear for a while now,” Peters said. “He’s a true Commander, through and through.” There is a lot about the 21-year-old linebacker that has Washington excited. They believe he will be a “great blitzer.” He can cover a lot of ground with his speed and burst, and that, Peters emphasized, is “a big deal in this league.” Styles has also shown he can play in multiple linebacker roles.
The Commanders were looking for more of a spark on defense after a disappointing 2025 season. With his dynamism, freakish athleticism and tackling prowess, it appears Styles has the goods to deliver an immediate boost to the unit.
Here’s how draft pundits graded the move:
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