# Chris Hilton Jr.
**Chris Hilton Jr.** (born 2002) is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) wide receiver who played five seasons at [Louisiana State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/louisiana-state-university) (LSU) and entered the NFL in 2026 as an undrafted free agent with the [Washington Commanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-commanders), who later lost him on waivers to the Green Bay Packers[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr) • [2](https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Chris-HiltonJr-WR-LSU). His profile is built on straight-line speed: he ran an official 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, but his college production stayed low because injuries cost him parts of three seasons[3](https://theringer.com/todd-mcshay/2026/players/chris-hilton-jr) • [4](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, size | Wide receiver, 6-0, 188-190 lbs, arms 32 inches, hands 9 1/4 inches[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr) • [3](https://theringer.com/todd-mcshay/2026/players/chris-hilton-jr) |
| College career | 38 games with 7 starts in five seasons (2021-25) at LSU; 41 receptions for 780 yards (19.0 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr) |
| Best testing result | Official 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 combine, plus a 1.57-second 10-yard split, 34-inch vertical, and 10'2" broad jump[3](https://theringer.com/todd-mcshay/2026/players/chris-hilton-jr) |
| NFL moves | Claimed off waivers by Green Bay on August 10, 2026 (No. 37); released from the Packers' practice squad on September 15, 2026[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr) • [5](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-announce-roster-move-sept-15-2026) |
| Background | From Zachary, Louisiana; Zachary High School; 5th-year senior in 2025[6](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/chris-hilton-jr) |
## College career at LSU
Hilton arrived at LSU as a highly regarded recruit: a former blue-chip prospect rated the WR5 in the 2021 class, part of a loaded receiver group that also included Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., both of whom became first-round draft picks within three seasons[7](https://staging-www.fbg-dev.com/article/chris-hilton-jr-scouting-report-wr-lsu). He played primarily on the outside for the Tigers and was regarded as one of the fastest players in college football[4](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu) • [8](https://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Game-1-LSU-Game-Notes-vs.-Clemson.pdf).
**Injuries shaped his tenure.** As a freshman in 2021 he suffered a torn meniscus in both knees; a torn labrum cost him most of 2022, when he appeared in only six games; and an ankle injury limited him to six games in 2024[4](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu). Across five seasons he never ran more than 149 routes in a single season and never topped 243 receiving yards, finishing with no more than 13 receptions in any year[4](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu) • [9](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/players/26700928/chris-hilton-jr/).
The production he did manage came in large chunks. His career average of 19.0 yards per catch reflects a deep-threat role, and as a true freshman he caught an 81-yard touchdown pass as time expired in a bowl game against Kansas State[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr) • [10](https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/pdf/football/2022/LSUNotes.pdf).
## Scouting profile
**Testing was his selling point.** At the 2026 combine Hilton recorded a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, a 1.57-second 10-yard split, a 34-inch vertical jump, a 10'2" broad jump, a 4.41-second 20-yard shuttle, and a 7.25-second three-cone drill, at 6'0" and 188 pounds with 32-inch arms and 9 1/4-inch hands[3](https://theringer.com/todd-mcshay/2026/players/chris-hilton-jr). The 40 time placed him in the 81st percentile among historical wide receiver combine performances, while his three-cone (9th percentile) and shuttle (12th percentile) measured far lower[2](https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Chris-HiltonJr-WR-LSU).
Scouting reports describe a vertical specialist. Strengths include tracking the ball downfield, running under long throws, suddenness off the line, and elite top-end speed; weaknesses include catching deep throws against his pads and chest rather than with his hands, trouble against press coverage, and drops when coming back to the ball[2](https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Chris-HiltonJr-WR-LSU). Analysts also flagged unpolished route running underneath and inconsistency when contested[11](https://www.thehogsty.com/2026/06/19/washington-position-group-breakdown-wide-receivers-3/). He was considered a high-character player with strong football IQ, and he chose to play in all-star showcases throughout January rather than only train, earning a Shrine Bowl invite[4](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu) • [12](https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/player-profiles/chris-hilton-jr-s-competitiveness-is-turning-heads-before-nfl-draft) • [2](https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Chris-HiltonJr-WR-LSU).
**Draft stock reflected the production gap.** Public boards placed him far down the 2026 class: No. 290 by ESPN. He went unselected and signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2026[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr).
## Professional career
Hilton joined a Washington Commanders offense coordinated by [David Blough](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-blough), where analysts projected him as a vertical deep threat whose speed stretches the field and opens space underneath[11](https://www.thehogsty.com/2026/06/19/washington-position-group-breakdown-wide-receivers-3/). His LSU overlap with quarterback [Jayden Daniels](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayden-daniels) in 2022 and 2023 gave him a familiar connection on the roster[13](https://staging-aws.sports.yahoo.com/articles/commanders-undrafted-rookie-wr-chris-095023520.html).
**Green Bay claimed him in August 2026.** On August 10, 2026, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced that Green Bay had claimed Hilton off waivers from Washington; he was listed at 6-0 and 188 pounds and assigned jersey No. 37[1](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr). The Packers released him from the practice squad on September 15, 2026[5](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-announce-roster-move-sept-15-2026).
## Evaluation summary
The consensus view entering the league was that Hilton is a late-round speed flier whose value depends on health and landing spot. [CBS Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-sports) noted that special teams, where he has been described as a potential gunner, offered a path to a roster spot given his testing[9](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/players/26700928/chris-hilton-jr/) • [11](https://www.thehogsty.com/2026/06/19/washington-position-group-breakdown-wide-receivers-3/).
## References
1. [Packers claim WR Chris Hilton Jr., Packers.com](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-claim-wr-chris-hilton-jr)
2. [Chris Hilton Jr. NFL Draft Profile, NFL Draft Buzz](https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/player/Chris-HiltonJr-WR-LSU)
3. [Chris Hilton Jr. Draft Profile & Scouting Report, The Ringer (Todd McShay)](https://theringer.com/todd-mcshay/2026/players/chris-hilton-jr)
4. [Washington Commanders UDFA Spotlight: WR Chris Hilton Jr., LSU, Hogs Haven](https://www.hogshaven.com/nfl-draft/415927/washington-commanders-udfa-spotlight-chris-hilton-jr-lsu)
5. [Packers announce roster move, Sept. 15, 2026, Packers.com](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-announce-roster-move-sept-15-2026)
6. [Chris Hilton Jr., Football 2025 roster, LSUsports.net](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/chris-hilton-jr)
7. [Chris Hilton Jr. Scouting Report - WR, LSU, Footballguys](https://staging-www.fbg-dev.com/article/chris-hilton-jr-scouting-report-wr-lsu)
8. [Player Profiles, LSU Game Notes vs. Clemson](https://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Game-1-LSU-Game-Notes-vs.-Clemson.pdf)
9. [Chris Hilton Jr., LSU Tigers, WR, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/players/26700928/chris-hilton-jr/)
10. [FIGHTING TIGERS Player Profiles, LSU Notes (2022)](https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/pdf/football/2022/LSUNotes.pdf)
11. [Washington Position Group Breakdown: Wide Receivers, The Hog Sty](https://www.thehogsty.com/2026/06/19/washington-position-group-breakdown-wide-receivers-3/)
12. [Chris Hilton Jr.'s Rare Competitiveness Is Turning Heads Before NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/player-profiles/chris-hilton-jr-s-competitiveness-is-turning-heads-before-nfl-draft)
13. [Who is Commanders' undrafted rookie WR Chris Hilton?, Yahoo Sports](https://staging-aws.sports.yahoo.com/articles/commanders-undrafted-rookie-wr-chris-095023520.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Wide receivers › Active NFL wide receivers › Rookie and second-year wide receivers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license