Why the Commanders are resisting calls to add a receiver — for now

ASHBURN, Va. — Jaylin Lane has heard all about the wide receiver rumors.

Truth be told, it’d be impossible for him not to. When every week there’s a new saga connecting Brandon Aiyuk or Stefon Diggs to Washington, the Commanders’ receivers see the updates.

Lane usually sees the accompanying commentary, too. The steady stream of voices who say Washington doesn’t have enough talented pass catchers around quarterback Jayden Daniels to contend for the playoffs. Add a veteran. Buy the insurance package.

His response?

“I feel like we have a great group,” the second-year receiver said. “Once they get better every day [it will be fine]. We got Van [Jefferson] coming in. Dyami [Brown] coming back. Guys have been playing football at a high level.”

A measured reply to a chaotic discourse.

That has been Washington’s answer to the most pressing question of training camp. Even as the offense has looked shaky in camp, the Commanders are preaching patience, not reinforcements. At least not yet.

General manager Adam Peters set the tone this week. He sidestepped all the Diggs and Aiyuk drama and calmed the waters.

Maybe they’ll add a receiver, he said. But there’s no need to bail on the current group right now.

“I’m really happy with what we’ve done in the offseason,” Peters said. “Really happy with who’s in that room. Really happy with how the guys progressed. I think they’re going to take another step in this training camp. Just like with any other room, if we have ways to get better, we’re always going to look into that.”

There is a reason the drumbeat around the receiver position has intensified.

Washington is going into a critical third year with Daniels and has only one receiver who had more than 350 yards last year. Outside of Terry McLaurin, the Commanders are treating training camp like a glorified tryout to see which pass catchers will make the 53-man roster.

Nobody has a slam-dunk case. Jefferson is a former Super Bowl winner but hasn’t had more than 400 yards in a season since 2021. Brown was a Washington draft pick but is coming off a disappointing year in Jacksonville. Lane had an underwhelming rookie year.

And the man with the highest hopes to play alongside McLaurin got hurt on the first day of camp. Treylon Burks, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, is dealing with foot soreness. It’s an ominous sign for a prospect whose career has been derailed by injuries.

Predictably under those circumstances, the first two days of camp have been difficult for the offense. Receivers haven’t always been open, and the defense is having its way.

But McLaurin is among those in Washington wanting more time, not more options.

“We’re building things up,” he said. “The point of the matter is you want to come out here [as an offense] and win the day. I don’t think we did that today, but this is Day 2.”

Any big-picture concerns about a sloppy camp?

“I’m not worried about where we’re at right now,” he insisted.

Still, there will be some who want the Commanders to rip the Band-Aid and buy the insurance package already. Get out in front of it so they aren’t reliant on untested options emerging in camp.

Diggs is from the area and remains unsigned. He played for New England last year and is a four-time Pro Bowler. He led the league in receiving in 2020. Surely, he could help the group.

Aiyuk is a wild card who played with Daniels at Arizona State. But he appears to be off the radar as he remains embroiled in a standoff with the 49ers and took a dig at Daniels on social media.

Peters was playfully asked if social media will play any factor in evaluating players Washington might sign. He laughed and said no.

“We want to make sure it’s the right player to be in our locker room, in our bloodstream and in our culture,” Peters said. “Social media is not always the first thing we look at. Obviously, you’re looking at the tape and you talk to the teams that the players have been on and how they were in the locker room. Social media, that’s not usually a huge part of it. Usually.”

There is another reason Peters is giving this receiver room more time. He is looking at how much the team has invested in the current roster. Several receivers fighting to make the depth chart were Washington’s own draft picks. He wants them to develop.

Others were signed this offseason, specifically with the idea they would compete. Now is the time for them to see it play out, not panic, Peters said.

“We’ve invested in that position in terms of draft capital. I think we’ve invested a lot,” Peters said. “In the free-agent market too, bringing in some real good competition there. So what it does is create great competition.”

“The cream will rise to the top,” he added.

That’s the message out of Washington. The Commanders want to see it play out, even if it looks clunky the first week of camp.