March 1, 2026, 3:26 a.m. ET

The Washington Commanders are a mystery in the 2026 NFL Draft. With so many needs, Washington could go in several directions with the No. 7 overall pick. Conventional wisdom says the Commanders should go defense, but some of the top potential defensive prospects of interest to Washington could all be gone before pick No. 7.

The Commanders are leaving no stone unturned. This week at the 2026 NFL combine, Washington has interviewed some of the draft’s top receivers, including Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Denzel Boston. Each of these prospects is expected to go in the first round. The Commanders have also been linked to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Love will not make it out of the top 10, it just depends on how early.

Washington needs wide receiver help. The only receivers under contract in 2026 are Terry McLaurin, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey. The Commanders will add help in free agency and could also target a receiver in the draft. However, Washington is without picks in the second and fourth rounds, meaning that the earliest it could land a receiver outside of the first round is at pick No. 71.

A trade down could be an option for the Commanders, but you have to have a trade partner. The lack of top-end quarterback prospects in this draft could mean fewer trades.

We look at five wide receivers the Commanders could target after the first round. This does not take into account that a receiver could go in Round 2. Here are five receivers that Washington could land after the first round.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson

Everyone knew Brenen Thompson would run fast. Most believed he’d be the fastest man at the NFL combine. He did not disappoint. So, his stock didn’t necessarily go up due to his performance at the combine. Thompson is small (5-foot-9, 164) but is a dynamic vertical threat. Washington wants to get faster. Thompson immediately helps in that area. The Commanders could carve out a role for Thompson as a rookie to take advantage of his speed if he’s not quite ready to match up against man coverage in the NFL. He also must work on his route running at the next level.

UConn WR Skyler Bell

Bell measured in at 6-foot-0 and 192 pounds. He crushed every testing metric and drill. He also has production. During his final season for UConn, Bell caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s an explosive and consistent player who can win at every level. He’ll be a steal for anyone after the first round. Saturday’s combine performance helped him.

Cincinnati WR Jeff Caldwell

Here’s a prospect to be excited about. Caldwell is massive (6-foot-5, 216) and really fast (4.31 40). His explosiveness jumped off the charts on Saturday and matched his tape. Caldwell was a member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” highlighting college football’s most impressive athletes each season. After three seasons at Division II Lindenwood, Caldwell transferred to Cincinnati and caught 32 passes for 478 yards and six touchdowns. A prospect on the rise.

Georgia State WR Ted Hurst

Another member of Feldman’s list, Hurst’s name has received plenty of buzz since the end of the college football season. At 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, Hurst has the size to be a dominant outside receiver, and he also possesses blazing speed (4.42 40). He caught 71 passes for 1,004 yards last season with six touchdowns. One area of improvement for Hurst would be to play to his size more. He’s big and fast and should win almost every contested catch situation. Hurst would be a fun Day 2 or 3 addition who could become a downfield option for Jayden Daniels early in his career.

North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance

If the name sounds familiar to you, yes, Bryce Lance is the younger brother of former top-five pick Trey Lance, currently with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance is yet another member of Feldman’s list of elite athletes and showed why during the combine on Saturday. Lance measured in at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and finished in the top five of receiver testing in every metric. What about the production? Yeah, he aced that, too, going over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his last two college seasons, including catching 17 touchdown passes in 2024. Another terrific prospect with elite physical tools.