The Washington Commanders will likely select a wide receiver high in this month’s 2022 NFL draft. Not only do the Commanders desperately need receiver help opposite Terry McLaurin, but Washington has also done a ton of homework on this class of wideouts.
Head coach Ron Rivera hasn’t been to many pro days this cycle, but he was in Columbus, Ohio, for Ohio State’s pro day last month. The Buckeyes have arguably the top two wide receivers in this class in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Rivera was spotted speaking to Olave at one point.
Olave and Wilson have been popular picks for Washington in recent mock drafts. However, another former Ohio State wide receiver could also be in play for the Commanders at No. 11.
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams may be the top wideout in the 2022 class if not for a knee injury suffered in the national championship game. Yet, despite that injury, Williams is still expected to go in the first half of the first round.
Williams, who spent his first two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama in 2021, caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns in his lone season with the Crimson Tide.
Evan Silva of Establish the Run recently released his first mock draft of the season, and he has Williams landing with the Commanders:
This draft’s most dynamic receiver, Williams scored 15 TDs on 79 receptions and hit paydirt twice as a kickoff returner in his final college season, only to tear his ACL in Alabama’s national championship loss. Yet all signs point to Williams making a smooth recovery. Drafting Williams to bookend Terry McLaurin would increase Washington’s (long) odds of making good on its questionable Carson Wentz investment.
After the trade for Wentz, we know Washington isn’t picking a quarterback high in the draft. One could argue the team should still be looking at a quarterback, but with the picks used to acquire Wentz and his salary for 2022, the Commanders must do everything possible to help him succeed.
Adding Williams, who says he will be ready for the start of the 2022 NFL season despite tearing his ACL in January, would make a perfect complement for McLaurin.
Whether Washington drafts Olave, Wilson, or Williams, Wentz should have no excuses in 2022.
