Commanders Give Jayden Daniels A New No 1 Wr In New 2026 Nfl Mock Draf

Bonisiwe Shabane
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commanders give jayden daniels a new no 1 wr in new 2026 nfl mock draf

Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders played in the NFC Championship game in 2024. Big things were expected in 2025, but injuries had other ideas. Now 3-6, the Commanders are on the outside looking in on the NFC playoff picture, and it's been a lost season for Daniels due to injuries, including a dislocated elbow last week. The biggest storyline of Washington's offseason was wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract standoff. While McLaurin and the Commanders eventually settled on a three-year extension two weeks before the season opener, it took him missing OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Unsurprisingly, McLaurin injured his quad in Week 3, returned in Week 8, and will be out for his sixth game on Sunday when Washington hosts the Detroit Lions.

It's been that type of season for the Commanders. And Washington's lack of depth at wide receiver is more glaring than ever. While we are still months away from the 2026 NFL draft, the Commanders look like a contender for a top-10 pick, which could land them one of the draft's top receiver prospects. In a new mock draft for The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner has Washington selecting Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson with the No. 9 overall pick. The Commanders could go with an edge in Round 1, but Jayden Daniels still needs a big-time, future No.

1 receiver who can help set a tone for the rest of the offense. And Tyson is the most complete WR in this draft. He blocks, and wins both in the air and underneath. Tyson does everything — and does it well. Jayden Daniels might be able to recover from injury in time to play again for the Commanders this season. That does not mean Washington should allow their franchise quarterback back on the field during the 2025 campaign.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has the report that Daniels will not need surgery to repair his injured elbow. That revelation opens up the door for the young signal-caller to return at some point before the end of the regular season. Clearly, Washington's chances of winning games go up when their No. 1 quarterback is able to line up under center. None of that changes the reality that Washington currently owns an ugly record of 3-6. That puts them 3.5 games behind the Eagles in the division and comfortably outside of a Wild Card place in the NFC.

To put it bluntly, the Commanders' chances of earning a postseason berth this year are minimal. This is especially true if they're forced to play a few more key games with Marcus Mariota taking snaps. That's why the higher-ups in Washington need to step in and do what's best for their franchise quarterback's long-term health. It's time for the front office to put Daniels on the shelf for the rest of the year. It's far more important to make sure Daniels gets fully healthy this offseason than to rush him back into action for a meaningless game or two at the end of this season. Keeping Daniels on the shelf until 2026 would also give the Commanders a chance to build a better offensive ecosystem around him.

Trading for Laremy Tunsil gave his offensive line a big boost, but rookie Josh Conerly needs more reps before he's a quality option at the other tackle spot. It might also be advisable for Washington to look for better options at guard through free agency or next year's draft. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) takes a water break during practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin walks across the field after a practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin walks across the field after a practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders’ seventh training camp practice, all without hold-in wide receiver Terry McLaurin, occurred during another punishing wave of summer heat. The kind that can make a day feel much longer. The Washington Commanders have made a significant move, signing former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup.

They are aiming to strengthen their offense for the 2025 NFL season. This acquisition is particularly noteworthy as Gallup, a longtime division rival, will now be catching passes from Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ promising quarterback coming off a record-breaking rookie season. The Commanders continue their aggressive offseason approach by adding Gallup, who spent five seasons in Dallas before joining Washington. The move — reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter — further builds around Daniels, who had a stellar rookie campaign in 2024. Gallup, a proven playmaker, has recorded 21 career touchdowns and started 67 games for the Cowboys. His ability to stretch the field and provide a reliable target will complement Washington’s new-look receiving corps, which now includes Deebo Samuel Sr., acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.

The addition of Gallup gives Daniels another veteran presence alongside Samuel, adding further depth to an already formidable offensive lineup. Before he reaches year two in the NFL, Washington Commanders wide receiver Jayden Daniels is watching a potential holdout situation play out. If Terry McLaurin feels he has to force his team's hand to offer him a new deal, it could directly affect the sophomore passer. Fortunately for the Commanders, Daniels hasn't lost his focus. He remains in good standing with his All-Pro weapon and, ultimately, understands that the business side of the game sometimes overshadows the rest. Recently, Daniels spoke on the situation involving McLaurin, which includes an absence from minicamp.

"Me and Terry have a good relationship outside of football," Daniels told reporters recently, according to Pro Football Talk. "Obviously, he has to handle what he has to handle, but that doesn't change anything, the fact that he is part of our brotherhood. We know Terry is working and everything. We have to get better, and he knows he has to get better each and every day." The Washington Commanders are going to need to rattle off some wins to save their season. They're going to have to do it with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota as the new starter in place of the injured Jayden Daniels.

Mariota's new stint starts Sunday in Week 10. The Commanders take on the Detroit Lions in the late afternoon window. In a bit of irony, Mariota was once the No. 2 overall pick, just like the player he is replacing, Daniels. The Commanders and their fanbase will hope he can play like a guy once drafted that high. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had an outstanding collegiate career, headlined by his final two seasons with the LSU Tigers.

While with the Tigers, he developed a rapport with Malik Nabers, who wound up being the No. 6 overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels and Nabers were named as the best teammates in the last 10 drafts. READ MORE: Adam Peters sees ‘monster’ potential in former Jets star for Commanders "In 2022, Jayden Daniels transferred from Arizona State to LSU, and this quarterback-receiver pair built an immediate connection on the field," Moton writes.

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