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The Washington Commanders hope to bounce back in the 2026-27 campaign after ending last season with a 5-12 record. Injuries didn’t do the club any favors, and there was speculation that the front office would add more talent to the skills positions to help quarterback Jayden Daniels. That possibility still exists with Brandon Aiyuk continually sharing videos expressing his desire to play in Washington.
ESPN’s latest rankings of every team’s skill position groups, by Bill Barnwell, even suggest the franchise might have to entertain adding the 28-year-old wide receiver, considering what the rest of that position group looks like. Barnwell ranked the Commanders’ wide receiver, tight end, and running back groups 27th in the NFL in his column.
Barnwell explained that, while Terry McLaurin is a special talent, his 2025-26 season was nothing to gloat about. McClaurin is coming off a disappointing campaign where he struggled with injuries, and he will be 31 years old by September. Additionally, Barnwell is not too impressed with the depth behind McLaurin in the wide receiver room, while the tight end group and running backs are unproven.
The NFL insider goes on to explain that adding Brandon Aiyuk might be the best route forward for the Commanders to improve the offense. However, he warns the franchise that because Aiyuk hasn’t played a down of football since the 2024-25 campaign, he might not be fully brought up to speed until the second half of next season, or even next year in 2027.
“Of course, the missing player here might be Brandon Aiyuk, with plenty of speculation that the former 49ers receiver will join the Commanders once he is inevitably cut by the 49ers, given his ties to Daniels and former Niners executive Adam Peters,” Barnwell wrote. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened, and Aiyuk would be an upgrade on the likes of Burks and Jefferson on the outside.
“But it would also be smart to set expectations appropriately. Aiyuk hasn’t played since the middle of the 2024 season and won’t even have practiced before joining the Commanders,” continued Barnwell. “It seems reasonable to expect that we won’t see anything close to Aiyuk’s best until the second half of 2026 or even 2027.”
Since Aiyuk did not play last year, the 206-27 season will be the sixth campaign of his career. In his first five years with the 49ers, Aiyuk recorded 294 receptions, 4,305 yards, and 25 touchdowns.
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