The Washington Commanders have a need at wide receiver still. With Brandon Aiyuk going sideways, should Stefon Diggs finally get the call?
Should Washington wait any longer to sign WR Stefon Diggs?
With the offseason long question about the Washington Commanders' wide receiver room ahead of 2026, coupled with more questions and concerns than answers surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs posed a relevant question.
The veteran receiver made a bold, yet valid claim this weekend after stating "you can't name a No. 2 [wide receiver] better than me." If you're looking at the Commanders' unit, you can make the argument that Diggs would be right. Yet the claim is also notable because it notes the 32 year old acknowledges he might not step into a true WR1 opportunity in 2026.
Whether Diggs would command enough targets in a Commanders' offense expected to feature Terry McLaurin in year eight could have been a question earlier this summer, but the veteran could be more of an ideal fit than before on the field. His path to 2026 was previously complicated due to a legal battle that he has since been cleared both legally and by the NFL.
The case for Diggs upgrading the wide receiver room is clear given the primary competition would be Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks and maybe Van Jefferson, answering a clear question that the local product would indeed be an upgrade in Washington.
Tyreek Hill is coming off a major injury and stint in Miami where he remained in the headlines almost weekly, adding complications to what the actual market for the 32 year old is beyond rumors of a reunion in Kansas City. Keenan Allen, 34, remains available after latching back on with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, while Deebo Samuel is an available name where the fit might be more on-paper than on the field in David Blough's scheme.
Sterling Shepard, Brandin Cooks, Tyler Lockett and Gabe Davis join a pair of former Washington receivers in Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown as the free agents still available heading into mid-July. Yet are any of them true needle movers?
One could make a case for Deandre Hopkins after how he was used the last two seasons.
The 34 year old still has an opportunity to be a contributor as he's prioritized going to a team with title aspirations over the last two seasons. Washington presents itself as a postseason contender with Hopkins one who could possibly upgrade the rotation. Emphasis on rotation, though, given Hopkins played just above half of the Chiefs' offensive snaps to end the 2024 season before appearing in 33% of snaps in Baltimore in 2025.
Hopkins could play a similar type of role where he adds a weapon in redzone snaps. The veteran has historically been dependable with just one drop over his last 27 games, but for a room that also has several young players looking to take the next step, Hopkins could add to the veteran presence alongside McLaurin in the room. One counterargument for Hopkins could be whether the front office opts for a 34 year old after putting an emphasis on getting younger this offseason.
After addressing cornerback earlier this month after adding Rasul Douglas, all eyes will now be on whether anything materializes to address the final major question ahead of Dan Quinn's third season as head coach.
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