Playoff contender highlights five hypothetical trade partners for Brian Robinson Jr. as his time with the Commanders comes to a close
The Commanders should talk to these teams and hope for similar trade packages.
All signs are pointing towards RB Brian Robinson Jr.’s time with the Washington Commanders coming to an end before the season starts. Seventh-round rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been the hype of the team since training camp began, and the team must love what they see because Robinson Jr. is being shopped around the league, according to reports.
Robinson Jr.’s make-or-break season looks to be decided before it even began. He was held out of the second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night as a possible trade looms.
Different writers around the A to Z beat chimed in with offers that their respective teams could offer for the former third-round pick. Let’s review the offers that came in.
Five Hypothetical Trade Packages for Washington Commanders Running Back Brian Robinson Jr.
Houston Texans
Proposed Trade: The Washington Commanders receive a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Texans in exchange for RB Brian Robinson Jr.
The Texans are a playoff team looking to win their division for a third consecutive year, but the running game could become a significant problem for their offense due to numerous health concerns. Joe Mixon has been dealing with a nagging foot/ankle injury that no one has any real answers about, and reports are that he could start on the non-football injury list.
They also signed Nick Chubb this offseason, but he’s coming off a season where he rushed 102 times for 332 yards and three touchdowns following his knee injury. The Texans just received a fifth-round pick back from the Philadelphia Eagles in the John Metchie III trade, and now they’re sending it to the Commanders for Robinson Jr. to help their young QB, C.J. Stroud, and a revamped offensive line.
– Josh Taylor, A to Z Sports Washington
Chicago Bears
Proposed Trade: The Washington Commanders receive a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Bears in exchange for RB Brian Robinson Jr.
General manager Ryan Poles is no stranger to making trades right before the regular season to bulk up a position of need. Last year, he did so by acquiring Darell Taylor and Chris Williams to add some depth to the defensive line. Making a swing for Robinson Jr. would be a nice opportunity for the Bears to pounce on before the start of the season.
Robinson already has a history with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who served as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator in 2023, the same season Robinson had a career-high 1,101 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns. With injuries piling up at the position, this move would make sense, but it’s not something I see the front office making a strong push for, given the talent already in the backfield for the staff to evaluate.
– Kole Noble, A to Z Sports Chicago
Carolina Panthers
Proposed Trade: The Washington Commanders receive a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Panthers in exchange for RB Brian Robinson Jr. and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
The Panthers were hoping to land a long-term star RB when they drafted Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. That hasn’t worked out, though; he has only appeared in three games and recorded nine carries for 22 yards. Sadly, he will also miss the entire 2025 season.
The Panthers have gotten solid production from Chuba Hubbard, but adding another RB to the mix could make a lot of sense, so they can make sure they are getting enough production out of their run game. Robinson Jr. would be a great addition to the room and form a solid duo with Hubbard that could ensure the team has that one-two punch they were hoping to have with a healthy Brooks. However, I doubt the Panthers would be willing to offer much in a trade offer to make this happen.
– Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis
San Francisco 49ers
Proposed Trade: The Washington Commanders receive a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the 49ers in exchange for RB Brian Robinson Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Because Robinson Jr. is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is an average starter, the compensation couldn’t get much bigger than this. The 49ers do have an elite player in Christian McCaffrey, but he has suffered numerous injuries throughout his career, and the depth behind him is further compromised by additional injury problems.
Veterans Patrick Taylor and Isaac Guerendo, plus rookie Jordan James, are all hurt. The leading backs in terms of rushing attempts against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday were Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Jeff Wilson, who both averaged less than three yards per carry.
That’s fine for a preseason game, but it would be smart to add a more capable runner as depth for the regular season. Commanders general manager Adam Peters has a strong and natural connection with the 49ers’ front office, and they made a deal for Deebo Samuel earlier this year, which could make negotiations easier.
The 49ers could make a move with higher picks in 2026 for Robinson, but they traded a fifth-rounder for Bryce Huff, and the fourth-rounder is blocked due to conditions with the Philadelphia Eagles. Their seventh-round pick is also gone due to a trade with the Houston Texans for Khalil Davis. So, a lower pick in 2026 and a swap in 2027 is the most feasible way to pull this deal off.
– Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports Green Bay
Dallas Cowboys
Proposed Trade: The Washington Commanders receive a 2025 seventh-round pick (via Giants) in exchange for RB Brian Robinson Jr.
The reality is Robinson Jr. would be an instant upgrade for the Cowboys’ running back room. They should be in these sweepstakes if they want to give Brian Schottenheimer a better backfield, which is expected to be a big part of Dallas’ offense. But the veteran running back is also owed $3.4 million. If the front office makes an offer, I would expect it to be a low one.
– Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports Dallas
Which Offer the Commanders Would Hypothetically Take:
We saw the 49ers trade RB Jordan Mason and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in March for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick, so that gives us an idea of what the Commanders could get for Robinson Jr. It’s reasonable to expect a fifth-round pick for an RB that can produce right away.
Out of all of these offers, I’d take the 49ers’, which includes two draft picks, even if the fifth-round pick is in 2027. The Commanders would get a sixth-round pick for the next draft, and essentially trade up from the seventh round into the fifth in 2027. Peters needs to build the team’s young core, and adding an extra draft pick while drastically improving another the year after will help tremendously.
Washington Commanders News
Main storylines from the Commanders’ preseason matchup vs the Bengals, including two players absent and a RB room emerging
The news continues to heat up this week for the Commanders.
