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Antonio Williams may have been just a third-round pick by the Washington Commanders out of Clemson.
But there will be few rookie receivers discussed more in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL season than Williams, because he's a guy the Commanders will be counting on.
Beyond Terry McLaurin, the Washington WR depth chart is wide open for contributors. Williams has as good a shot as any to break through.
His 2024 season at Clemson was incredible, but injuries slowed him down in 2025, which is probably part of the reason he fell to the 71st overall pick.
None of that has stopped ESPN's Field Yates from singling Williams out in a new article on Monday. Clearly, Yates believes Williams is worth paying attention to.
"Draft position and fit are why Williams cracks this list," Yates writes. "He is an extremely experienced, savvy, pro-ready wideout who can start in the slot from Day 1. The Commanders needed receiver help alongside Terry McLaurin, and Williams will compete with players such as Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey for snaps. I love Williams' instincts, as he was a persistent chain-mover at Clemson."
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The Commanders struggled through injuries in 2025, but they also didn't often have enough targets for Jayden Daniels (or even Marcus Mariota) to throw to.
On one hand, it can be tough to count on a rookie to come in and make a huge difference.
But on the other hand, more and more pass catchers are entering the league ready to make plays in the NFL, even guys who weren't chosen in the first round. Williams has a chance to be one of those guys.
The Commanders sure would like to have a season that looks more like 2024 than 2025. Williams could be a key component toward making that happen.
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