Roster twist puts Kliff Kingsbury's missing puzzle piece in Commanders' grasp

Adam Peters will be scouring the available options, both on the veteran pool and the waiver wire, to see if there is a possibility or two that could help the Washington Commanders reach their raised expectations in 2025. And the missing piece to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's passing attack might just be there for the taking.

The Commanders only brought five wide receivers onto their initial 53-man roster. Terry McLaurin, fresh off signing his new three-year, $96 million deal, will lead the charge once again. He'll be ably assisted by Deebo Samuel Sr., who looks sharp and healthy following his high-profile trade earlier this offseason.

Noah Brown will be the No. 3 wideout. Rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane should also have a role to play, and Luke McCaffrey got a reprieve despite going through another rollercoaster summer.

Commanders could take a swing at Malachi Corley after shocking Jets release

That's five decent options for quarterback Jayden Daniels to depend upon. However, don't be surprised if Peters targets one more to round off the room before bringing back undrafted rookie Ja'Corey Brooks onto the practice squad if he clears waivers.

It's a gamble, but examining Malachi Corley's credentials in greater detail could be something to consider. The New York Jets coveted the versatile wideout heavily during the 2024 NFL Draft, but he didn't even make it to a second season. Those who believed in him so much were long gone, and he couldn't impress the new regime enough to stick around.

Corley is a significant threat after the catch. The Western Kentucky product drew comparisons to Samuel throughout his pre-draft assessments, but it hasn't come together as yet. Everyone thought a change of scenery in a scheme more suited to his strengths would be beneficial. Now, he gets that chance.

Kingsbury's system could maximize Corley's athletic attributes much more effectively if this scenario came to fruition. But even if the Commanders do put in a claim, they might not be high enough up the priority list to secure his services.

The Commanders might be content with what they have. They might be more comfortable with a proven commodity like recently released veteran Robert Woods. But if Washington wants something of a wildcard — a boom-or-bust option who could thrive or flounder — Corley fits the bill.

If it doesn't work out, the Commanders can move off Corley with minimal fuss. At the same time, this could be the environment that finally sparks his career into life after a rough start at MetLife Stadium.

Time will tell.

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