An ESPN NFL analyst just made a prediction that sounds bold until you actually walk through the logic. And then it still sounds bold, but maybe not crazy.
Ben Solak put his name behind Antonio Williams, a Washington Commanders wide receiver drafted in the third round with the No. 71 pick, as his pick to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026. Not a quarterback. Not a top-10 pick. A 21-year-old who played four years at Clemson.
Solak’s reasoning is less about Williams being a generational talent and more about the landscape of this rookie class.
“It’ll take a down year for a late-drafted WR to win this award, but this looks like a down year,” Solak wrote. Only two quarterbacks went in the first two rounds. One of them, Ty Simpson, has no clear path to starting. The other, Fernando Mendoza, might not take over for Kirk Cousins until midseason. If Mendoza struggles or doesn’t start right away, the door opens for a skill position player.
And Williams happens to be standing in that doorway with maybe the best quarterback situation of any rookie receiver. Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year himself, is expected to be fully healthy after an injury-marred 2025 season. Daniels missed nine games with various issues to his left knee, right hamstring, and left elbow. The Commanders went 5-12 after reaching the NFC Championship Game the year before.
Washington’s offense still has Terry McLaurin. But after him, there’s not much competition in the receiver room. Solak says Williams should see plenty of targets.
“Williams has an opportunity that stacks up against many of his early-drafted contemporaries. There is hardly any competition in the Commanders’ receivers room behind Terry McLaurin. Williams will catch passes from Jayden Daniels, a remarkably better quarterback than players such as KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston (Cleveland Browns) or Omar Cooper Jr. (New York Jets) will work with in 2026,” Solak wrote.
That part matters. A lot of rookie receivers get stuck with bad quarterback play. Williams walks into a situation where the quarterback is already proven and the depth chart is thin.
At Clemson, Williams put up 207 catches for 2,320 yards and 21 touchdowns over four seasons. He was First Team All-ACC in 2024 and Third Team All-ACC in 2025. Solak described him as a “hand-in-glove fit” for offensive coordinator David Blough’s system and compared his game to Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. High praise, but also a specific type of praise — a slot receiver who works the middle of the field and builds chemistry with his quarterback.
Of course, Williams still has to earn the job. And no third-round receiver has won Offensive Rookie of the Year since the award started. But with Daniels throwing him the ball and a clear path to playing time, it’s not the wildest take you’ll hear this offseason.
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