Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders played in the NFC Championship game in 2024. Big things were expected in 2025, but injuries had other ideas. Now 3-6, the Commanders are on the outside looking in on the NFC playoff picture, and it’s been a lost season for Daniels due to injuries, including a dislocated elbow last week.

The biggest storyline of Washington’s offseason was wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s contract standoff. While McLaurin and the Commanders eventually settled on a three-year extension two weeks before the season opener, it took him missing OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Unsurprisingly, McLaurin injured his quad in Week 3, returned in Week 8, and will be out for his sixth game on Sunday when Washington hosts the Detroit Lions.

It’s been that type of season for the Commanders. And Washington’s lack of depth at wide receiver is more glaring than ever. While we are still months away from the 2026 NFL draft, the Commanders look like a contender for a top-10 pick, which could land them one of the draft’s top receiver prospects.

In a new mock draft for The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner has Washington selecting Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson with the No. 9 overall pick.

The Commanders could go with an edge in Round 1, but Jayden Daniels still needs a big-time, future No. 1 receiver who can help set a tone for the rest of the offense. And Tyson is the most complete WR in this draft. He blocks, and wins both in the air and underneath. Tyson does everything — and does it well.

Baumgardner is correct. The Commanders badly need an edge rusher and a wide receiver. However, the smart move is to give your franchise quarterback a future No. 1 receiver to grow with over the next several years. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Tyson can do a little bit of everything. What Washington lacks now is receivers who can separate vs. man coverage on the outside. That’s not a problem for Tyson.

If the Commanders landed Tyson, they could have a receiver group of McLaurin, Tyson, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane next season. Deebo Samuel is a free agent at season’s end.