For a franchise that never seems to fill out the roster correctly, suggesting one perfect move the Washington Commanders need to make before 2024 training camp is a challenging exercise. The Commanders perpetually have a glaring weakness. And this year it could be wide receiver.
Surprise! What a shock for a troubled organization.
The Commanders drafted what they hope will be a generational talent at the quarterback position (Jayden Daniels, No. 2 overall pick), and failed to provide him with depth at one of the two positions he needs the most. The other is the offensive line, but that's a story for later.
The answer: Sign a free agent wide receiver. This will push the players already on the roster to perform better, or the new guy could actually add something to the offense.
There are a few marginally good options, and former Raiders' slot specialist Hunter Renfrow tops the list. He's 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, and fits the Commanders need.
How so? To get there, let's see what Washington has in the house right now.
Former Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow could help Commanders' roster
First, let's be clear about one thing. Terry McLaurin is an elite NFL receiver. If you need proof, look at these stats compiled with sub-marginal play from the quarterback position. McLaurin reached the 1,000-yard mark for four straight seasons with 77 or more receptions.
The other players who have matched those numbers are superstars Davante Adams (Raiders), Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) and Stefon Diggs (Bills).
Washington has its go-to guy. McLaurin is a target monster. But Daniels, especially as a rookie without knowing all the wiles of those sneaky defensive backs, can't pepper McLaurin with 15 targets a game. Daniels needs at outlet.
And here's the problem: The other two starters are Jahan Dotson and Luke McCaffrey.
First, the statistics tell the story for Dotson. He did less with more in 2023. As a rookie, he turned 61 targets into 523 yards and seven touchdowns. However, last season, he received 83 targets while managing only 518 yards and four scores. Ick.
Making the numbers even worse, Dotson started 16 games in 2023 compared to only 10 in 2022. And before you scream, “The quarterback did it!” remember consistent Terry put up his usual numbers with the same signal-callers.
But what about WR Luke McCaffrey?
He's a rookie. Maybe he'll be a star. Truth be told, that may very well happen. The problem is two-fold. The Commanders apparently expect him to shine right out of the box. That's a big ask for the No. 100 pick in the draft.
And it's even less likely to happen if Dotson can't get out of the shadow of opposing cornerbacks. Dotson's on-field separation anxiety means teams can pay more attention to McCaffrey, if needed. That will make it even harder for him to be a legitimate starting slot receiver right from the get-go.
Wait. There has to be more. Who else do the Commanders have at wideout? Well, here's the lovely (tongue planted firmly in cheek) lineup:
- Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jamison Crowder
- Dax Milne, Mitchell Tinsley, Damiere Byrd
- Davion Davis, Brycen Tremayne, Kazmeir Allen
You have permission to stop cringing now.
Honestly, does Hunter Renfrow make a ton of sense? He would allow McCaffrey to develop slowly, AND, save a little wear and tear on the rookie so that if the Commanders are in the playoff hunt …
I'm sorry, did I use Commanders and playoff hunt in the same sentence. Forgive me. Maybe we can edit that out later.
Yes, Renfrow, endured a rough two-year stretch. He missed significant time because of injury before being phased out of the Raiders' passing attack. But his 74.1% target-to-catch ratio would look good in RGBs of 90, 20, 20 (burgundy) and 255, 182, 18 (gold).
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