The Washington Commanders sit at 2-4-1 ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Sunday’s outcome against the Rams could determine what Washington general manager Adam Peters does at next week’s NFL trade deadline.
While the Commanders could use offensive line help, so could everyone else. Another position where Washington could add an impact player is wide receiver. The Commanders lost their No. 1 wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, in Week 6 to a season-ending knee injury. While Washington is in a much better position this year than last to withstand McLaurin’s loss, it may still need help for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond.
The Commanders have been linked to Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a standout
rookie season in 2024, Thomas seems to have fallen out of favor with Jacksonville’s new staff hired in 2025. Washington’s need for a dynamic young receiver, combined with Thomas’ close relationship with quarterback Jayden Daniels, makes the Commanders a natural fit.
Earlier this week, one NFL insider also linked Washington to Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs. While Downs is young, unlike Thomas, he’s a free agent at season’s end. But he could also make sense for the Commanders.
Another name that could be added to the mix is Brandon Aiyuk.Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement to the NFL and is expected to show up at the 49ers’ headquarters on Friday, with the goal of securing his release. Aiyuk has made it known how much he wants to play for the Commanders. But according to ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano, don’t expect Washington to be interested in Aiyuk.
The Commanders have looked around for wide receiver help at the trade deadline, but I do not expect them to be in the market for Brandon Aiyuk, who recently hired a new agent to help orchestrate his long-overdue exit from San Francisco. Washington was the team many had connected with Aiyuk during last offseason’s drama. He played with Commanders QB Jayden Daniels at Arizona State years ago, and he referenced his desire to play for the Commanders in several social media posts over the summer. But he said a lot of other things in those social media posts that turned teams off, and specifically some things about Daniels and his mother that make it unlikely a reunion ends up happening there.
The 49ers will move on from Aiyuk because they have to. Whether that’s during this season or after the season. Regardless, it doesn’t sound like the Commanders have any plans to reunite Aiyuk with Daniels; he has no one to blame but himself. His preexisting relationships with Daniels and Peters (San Francisco’s former assistant GM) made Aiyuk going to Washington seem like a formality. Not anymore.
The Commanders may choose not to make a move at all. The emergence of Treylon Burks and rookie third-round pick Antonio Williams could lead Peters to stand pat.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders may be interested in wide receivers but you can rule one out
