Elijah Sarratt is emerging as a possible Day Two fit for the Washington Commanders in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Indiana wide receiver could be on the board early in the second round, and he gives Washington a different kind of target after offseason changes at tight end and receiver.
Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic identified Sarratt as one of a couple of wideouts who could make sense for the Commanders. The case is straightforward: Washington lost Zach Ertz and Deebo Samuel in the offseason context discussed in the piece, and the offense could use another pass catcher for Jayden Daniels.
Sarratt played only two seasons at Indiana, but he made them count. He finished with 23 touchdown catches, the third-most in program history, and the quote from Jhabvala put it plainly: Sarratt played only two seasons at Indiana but had the third-most touchdown catches in program history. He is listed at 6-3 and 210 pounds, and the profile in the piece described him as a physical receiver who wins on third downs and in the red zone.
That production did not start in Bloomington. Sarratt began his college career at St. Francis, then transferred to James Madison, where he recorded his only 1,000-yard season as a sophomore before moving on to Indiana. He flourished with Kurtis Rourke and Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, and the article also noted that teammates nicknamed him “Waffle House” because he was always open.
The broader fit is what makes the projection interesting. Washington was described as looking for receiver help after the departures at tight end and wideout, and Sarratt’s style would bring something different from the quick-slant and screen usage associated with Samuel. He was also credited with a 2.7 drop percentage, while Samuel and Ertz combined for 11 dropped passes last season, a reminder of why the Commanders could be shopping for more reliable hands.
If Washington waits for a wideout on Day Two, Sarratt could be one of the cleaner options available. He has the production, the size and the kind of red-zone value teams tend to trust when the draft reaches the early second round.