The Washington Commanders this week added a trio of pass rushers, brought in a versatile linebacker, signed a scrappy cornerback and a safety, added a dynamic running back and landed a physical tight end, leaving one position as their remaining glaring void: wide receiver.
But Washington addressed that too Friday afternoon by bringing back Dyami Brown, a 2021 third-round pick by the franchise, and agreeing to terms with veteran wideout Van Jefferson, a 2020 second-round pick who won Super Bowl LVI with the L.A. Rams.
Neither receiver has proven they can consistently carry the load of a true No. 2 wideout behind Terry McLaurin. But both provide traits that Washington sorely needs.
Brown, who is only 26, spent his first four seasons in Washington before leaving in 2025 to take a one-year, $10 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Commanders’ receiving corps was decimated by injuries last season, but noticeably absent was another threat who had speed and could win over the top, like Brown did at times in his first stint in Washington.
Brown was Washington’s leader in playoff receiving yards (229) two seasons ago, including a 21-yard catch that helped set up the Commanders’ game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
Jefferson, drafted 57th out of Florida in 2020, had a breakout season in 2021, when he filled in for an injured Robert Woods in L.A. Jefferson finished the regular season with 50 catches, 806 receiving yards and six touchdowns before making four catches in that season’s Super Bowl, when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s yet to discover similar production elsewhere.
He was traded during the 2023 season to Atlanta, where he totaled 101 receiving yards in 12 games (five starts). A season in Pittsburgh ended with 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and last year he played in Tennessee. Although he began the preseason as a projected starter, he opened the regular season fourth on the depth chart.
Although the production hasn’t always been there, Jefferson provides versatility, speed and depth, which Washington badly needs at the position. He can play in the slot and outside, giving first-year offensive coordinator David Blough some flexibility. Jefferson also ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 2020, proving his speed and potential ability to stretch the field.
Neither deal precludes the Commanders from adding at the position; they likely will and need to acquire more receiving help, and this year’s draft class is especially deep on receiving talent. But general manager Adam Peters has said his goal in free agency is to build up the roster so he can pick the best player available in the draft, and not necessarily the position that needs filling.
Washington also needs more running backs, more help in the secondary and more depth across the board. The Commanders are far from finished with their latest rebuild, but the start offers plenty of intrigue.