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Reporting to training camp on July 24, Antonio Williams begins his NFL journey with a chance to be a difference-maker for the Commanders. Drafted in the third round, Williams caught the eye of general manager Adam Peters with his speed and route-running abilities. Listed at 5-foot-11, he fits the mold of a traditional slot receiver like Wes Welker, relying on quickness and agility to create separation from defenders.
"Williams is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 55 passes on 72 targets for 604 yards and four touchdowns, but if you want to see what he’s really capable of, go back to the 2024 season, where he caught 75 passes on 100 targets for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns," Doug Farrar wrote.
Playing all four years at Clemson, Williams racked up 2,523 total yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns. During a matchup against Duke in 2025, Williams broke off a 64-yard catch, nearly half of which came after the reception. He posted a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, putting his explosiveness on full display.
Antonio Williams inherits Washington's unsolved No. 2 role
Outside of Terry McLaurin, the pass-catching options have been slim in Washington for years. After trading for Deebo Samuel before the 2025 season, Washington attempted to mold him into a No. 2 wide receiver. However, after injuries plagued the offense and constant shuffling disrupted the game plan, the plan never materialized, and Samuel remains a free agent a week before training camp starts across the league.
Thanks to his acceleration and versatility as a playmaker, Williams will be able to replicate the role Samuel tried to fill. He took a direct snap during a game against Boston College and rushed for 33 yards, seeing the blocks in front of him and reading his next steps.
"His route-running in the short- to intermediate areas of the field is first-class. The player's ability to get his body moving upfield quickly after the catch is rare. There is absolutely no hesitancy from a savvy technician who can be fully trusted in the biggest moments," Dean Jones wrote.
Despite missing a handful of games due to injury, Williams was drafted into a system with veteran presence and consistency, as Jayden Daniels returns to the squad fully healthy. Going into camp, several other receivers will be jockeying for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but Williams brings the skills and youth needed to complement McLaurin.
