The Washington Commanders' 2025 season ended earlier this month with a 24-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. They finished with a 5-12 record -- a dramatic slump compared to the 12-5 run in 2024 -- and they're set to spend the next few months trying to build up and improve the roster to reclaim that success.
Though we don't have any say in how the new front office will mold the team going forward, Commanders.com will look back at how each group performed last season, breaking down top performers and looking ahead at where they could go next. The wide receivers are next up on the list.
On the roster
- Terry McLaurin
- Deebo Samuel*
- Chris Moore*
- Treylon Burks*
- Ja'Corey Brooks (Future)
- Jacoby Jones (Future)
- Nick Nash (Future)
- Noah Brown*
- Jaylin Lane
- Luke McCaffrey
*Moore, Burks, Brown and Samuel are pending free agents
Top performers (per Pro Football Focus)
OVR: Jacoby Jones (92.1)
RECV: Jacoby Jones (88.1)
DROP: Terry McLaurin (81.9)
FUM: Luke McCaffrey (82.6)
Stats to know
- Despite missing seven games -- the most of his professional career in a single season -- McLaurin was still one of the Commanders' most reliable weapons. He ranked second on the team with 582 receiving yards and had the longest catch of the season (56 yards). He also had the best receiving grade from PFF on the team among receivers with at least 10 targets and a grade of 96 on passes of at least 20 yards.
- Samuel was meant to be a complementary piece in the Commanders' offense, but the various injuries to McLaurin and other receivers forced him into a larger role. He had 99 targets -- his most since 2021 -- and added 17 carries for 75 yards. Samuel proved to be a reliable weapon, as his 72.7% catch rate was the second best of his career.
Questions to answer
- What to do at No. 2? Samuel is scheduled to be a free agent in March, and the Commanders do have the ability to keep him. Although Samuel never quite got to be the versatile chess piece he was touted as in the offseason because of the injuries on offense, he was still one of the unit's best options to move the ball downfield. However, there are other receivers set to be available on the open market who could satisfy other needs for the position. The Commanders also have the No. 7 overall pick, which they could use to take one of the top wideouts in the class.
- Who else can stretch the field? McLaurin and Brown's absences left the Commanders without a player who could routinely stretch the field and make explosive plays in the passing game. While McLaurin is here to stay for the foreseeable future, Brown is also set to be a free agent after missing most of the season. Like finding a No. 2 receiver, the Commanders have multiple options in either free agency or the draft, but they could also look at their current players available on the roster. Burks, who the team signed during the season, showed flashes of the talent that convinced the Tennessee Titans to draft him in the first round back in 2022. Burks would also need to be re-signed, although the coaching staff has routinely praised him for his work ethic and skill set.
