The Washington Commanders entered training camp with a major question at wide receiver. Terry McLaurin was still the clear No. 1 option, but the offense lacked an established target behind him.
The addition of Stefon Diggs changes everything.
Washington agreed to a one-year deal with Diggs worth more than $10 million and up to $12 million. The move brings the Maryland native back to the DMV after a productive season with New England and gives Jayden Daniels another proven receiver.
Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. It was his seventh 1,000-yard season in eight years, with the only exception coming during an injury-shortened 2024 season in Houston. He also caught more than 82 percent of his targets, showing that he remains one of the league’s most reliable receivers.
That is exactly what Washington needed.
Deebo Samuel returned to San Francisco after producing 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns during his only season with the Commanders. His departure left Washington without a proven second option behind McLaurin.
The Commanders added Clemson receiver Antonio Williams in the third round of the draft, but expecting a rookie to immediately replace Samuel’s production or volume would have been a significant risk. Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson also entered camp competing for roles, but none offered Diggs’ combination of experience and recent production.
Diggs gives Washington a clear top two.
McLaurin remains the offense’s primary receiver, but defenses can no longer devote the same level of attention to him without creating favorable opportunities elsewhere. Diggs can line up outside or in the slot, win against man coverage and provide Daniels with a dependable target on third downs and intermediate routes.
He has also embraced the idea of playing as a second receiver.
“You can’t name a No. 2 better than me,” Diggs said on his YouTube channel this summer.
That confidence has followed Diggs throughout his career, but the role makes sense. Washington does not need him to carry the offense. The Commanders need him to complement McLaurin, give Daniels another veteran option and allow Williams to develop without immediately becoming one of the team’s most important receivers.
No one is expecting 2019 Stefon Diggs to walk on the field in September for Washington. Diggs is 32 and has now changed teams in three consecutive offseasons. However, the one-year contract limits Washington’s commitment and gives the team flexibility beyond this season. More importantly, it’s a need that is filled right before the most important season of Dan Quinn and Adam Peter’s leadership so far.
For the Commanders, the upside is clear. Diggs is coming off another 1,000-yard season, McLaurin remains one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers, and Daniels now has two veterans capable of winning against NFL coverage.
Washington spent the offseason searching for an answer opposite McLaurin.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior NFL Insider at SportsJourney.com, where he covers the Washington Commanders and the league at large. A Northern Virginia native and George Mason University graduate, his work has appeared in FanSided, NBC Sports Washington, Heavy.com, and The Fourth Estate. He is also the host of the “After Further Review” podcast, reaching a global audience with his analysis and storytelling.
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