Can WR Treylon Burks Prove Himself with Washington Commanders?

If there is a chance to pose a question about the Washington Commanders heading into 2026, it likely won't take long until the wide receiver room becomes the topic of conversation given all the attention has been whether quarterback Jayden Daniels has enough weapons available ahead of his third season with the organization.

While the absence of Deebo Samuel is one difference between 2025 and 2026, the Commanders have also gone through offseason workouts this year with much less noise about the players currently in the building after veteran Terry McLaurin resolved his contract saga that ended with a new three year deal. Now with questions about stability in the room resolved, the speculation is centered on whether Washington has the pieces in place for offensive coordinator David Blough to be successful. Treylon Burks will be the key piece in answering that question this fall.

After re-signing with Washington, 2026 might be the closest to a 'prove it' season that Burks has faced in the NFL.

A former first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, injuries were the theme of Burks' tenure in Tennessee where he totaled 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown in 27 games over three seasons. That includes just five games in 2024 where he battled a knee injury then torn ACL, putting his status ahead of 2025 in the air.

The chance to prove himself in a limited role presented itself in Washington after first signing to the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster ahead of the week nine loss against the Seattle Seahawks.

His ten catches for 130 yards would do enough to provide flashes over the second half of a difficult season, while his one-handed touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos made him a household name among Commander fans.

Now? Burks could be the primary name to fill the much-debated WR2 role in the offense with Dyami Brown and potentially Van Jefferson challenging him, but fall camp will provide a chance for Burks to showcase the expectations can materialize into production.

Burks stuck out during OTAs where the 6-foot-2 outside threat showcased his tough hands along the sidelines, while preseason including a pair of joint practices gives him a chance to prove himself as a downfield threat against both Miami and Baltimore in live drills. Yet for a receiver like McLaurin who has already showcased that, Burks can prove himself as the physical receiver capitalizing across the middle of the field after flashing as an outside receiver capable of creating separation.

Even with those flashes, Burks returns on a one year deal with the biggest question how he fares in a possible expanded role over a 17 game season. With a contract worth up to $4 million, proving himself as a consistent and dependable target will be what determines his long-term future into 2027 and beyond.

Commanders Roundtable also offers a fan community. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Commanders. Create an account, click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our free community and follow for all of our coverage, analysis and more!