Grading Commanders' pick of Clemson WR Antonio Williams in NFL draft
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders needed a wide receiver. Their aggressive pursuit of Alec Pierce in free agency, followed by a pursuit of Romeo Doubs, proved Washington understood its need to improve the receiver position. On Friday, the Commandersselected Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams with the No. 71 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Washington had been linked to the draft's top three receivers, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon, passing on all but Tate, who went No. 4 overall to Tennessee. However, the Commanders landed Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, addressing a major defensive need, allowing them to focus on receiver with their next pick.
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It was a wise strategy considering the depth of the receiver class. In landing the 5-foot-11, 187-pound Williams, Washington has a player who can play in the slot or outside at the next level. While many draft analysts were quick to point out that he'd be best in the slot in the NFL, GM Adam Peters made it clear that Williams is also capable of playing outside at a high level.
How good was the Williams pick? Let's grade it:
Grade: A
Williams was ranked No. 57 on Daniel Jeremiah's final list of the top 150 prospects. He'd previously been inside the top 50. So, the value was there for the Commanders.
A multi-year starter at one of college football's top programs, Williams is ready to play Day 1. A productive player in each of his healthy seasons at Clemson, Williams could start for the Commanders in 2026. Currently, only Terry McLaurin is penciled in as a starting wideout.
Here's NFL.com's Lance Zierlein's scouting report on Williams:
Williams is a bona fide ball player with good size and an ability to make mischief when he totes the pigskin. There is freestyling inside his routes that create uncertainty for corners but teams might drill down on attention to detail and better efficiency to keep him on schedule. He’s not a field-stretcher but he plays fast from snap to whistle and has the ball skills to bring in challenging catches. He’s more slippery than explosive with outstanding run-after-catch ability. Williams projects as a productive slot receiver with legitimate run/pass/catch talent that should appeal to creative play-callers.
Some things stick out here: slippery, outstanding run-after-catch ability and plays fast. These are important qualities for the Commanders. Not only did the Williams' pick have high value, but he can help immediately. His versatility should help him earn a starting role sooner rather than later.
Overall, a good pick for Washington.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Grading Antonio Williams' pick in NFL draft