The Washington Commanders begin Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week. It’s the first week of three weeks of OTAs for Washington before the team’s mandatory minicamp next month. Over the next few weeks, several young Commanders will hit the practice field for the first time.
For the first time since the offseason program opened last month, NFL teams can hold practice sessions during OTAs. While no live contact is allowed, 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed. That creates an opportunity for new Commanders to stand out, or a chance for some returning players to show Washington’s new coordinators they deserve a more significant role in 2026.
Offensively, one player stands out: wide receiver Treylon Burks.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Burks is an intriguing prospect. A former first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft, Burks struggled with injuries and was waived last October after only 27 games in four seasons for the Titans. Washington wasted no time in adding Burks to the practice squad, with the intention of promoting him to the 53-man roster once he was acclimated.
Burks would appear in eight games for the Commanders last season, catching 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown was arguably the NFL’s catch of the year in 2025.
TREYLON BURKS JUST MADE AN INSANE CATCH.
DENvsWAS on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/vT5P5AOGwv— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2025
Burks flashed the potential that made him a first-round pick in the first place, leading the Commanders to bring him back on a one-year deal in 2026. Everyone praised Burks, from head coach Dan Quinn to GM Adam Peters to several of his teammates. With a new offensive coordinator, David Blough, Burks has an opportunity to stand out over the next few weeks. Remember, Blough was in Washington last year as the assistant quarterbacks coach, so he knows what Burks is capable of. It’s worth nothing that the Commanders chose to re-sign Burks after Blough was named OC.
Washington’s receiving core was depleted last year. In most weeks, the Commanders had to rely on players elevated from the practice squad to fill out the depth chart. Those struggles impacted the offense, including the quarterback position. Washington desperately needed someone to step up opposite Terry McLaurin, so this offseason, it pursued free agents Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs. While the Commanders landed neither, they did bring back Dyami Brown and added veteran Van Jefferson. In the third round, Washington selected Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams, who can play the slot or on the outside.
The Commanders will be better at wide receiver in 2026. However, they remain linked to veterans Brandon Aiyuk (still with the 49ers) and Stefon Diggs. Remember us saying these next three weeks are an opportunity for Burks?
Could the fifth-year wideout show enough over the next few weeks to make GM Adam Peters think twice about bringing in Aiyuk or Diggs? It’s possible, but unlikely. If and when Aiyuk becomes available, it almost feels like a certainty that the Commanders sign him. That doesn’t mean Burks can’t make himself hard to take off the field with a good few weeks of practice this spring.
What is Burks’ upside? Well, at one time, his upside appeared to be an NFL WR1. That may have changed over the course of his career, but there’s potential for Burks to be a starting NFL wide receiver. He just needs to stay healthy. While Burks is known for his ability after the catch, he’s shown glimpses of winning downfield, too. Over the next few weeks, he must show a little bit of everything.
You could make the case that Burks could be a big winner for Washington with a standout performance throughout OTAs.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Treylon Burks could be a big winner during OTAs