Following NFL roster cuts on Sunday, the Washington Commanders’ defensive backfield is looking dangerously thin. Rasul Douglas, Amik Robertson, Mike Sainristil, Fabian Moreau, and Trey Amos (listed on IR) are the only cornerbacks on the roster.

That is not a group built to survive the first four games of the season (and maybe longer considering how long Amos is on IR), and the Commanders’ front office needs to act fast.

The unfortunate aspect is they did have a shot to make something happen, but totally dropped the ball.

The Clark Phillips III miss stings

The missed trade opportunity that should have Washington fans fuming is the one that sent cornerback Clark Phillips III from Atlanta to Chicago for a fifth-round pick & defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. It was a sharp deal for the Falcons, who had decent cornerback depth but needed another defensive lineman.

Washington, meanwhile, had a deep preseason roster at defensive tackle. Nobody outside of Daron Payne matched Dexter’s standard, but Charles Omenihu, Ricky Barber, & Tim Settle all could have been viable candidates to package in a similar deal to fortify the defensive backfield.

Phillips was exactly the kind of depth piece Washington needed. A young, capable corner available for a mid-round pick & a defensive lineman the Commanders could afford to part with. The opportunity was right there, & Washington let it walk to another NFC foe.

Five safeties, four cornerbacks, and a confusing roster strategy

The decision to keep five safeties and only four cornerbacks is baffling. It’s more likely than not that Washington is now scouring the free agent pool for corners released by other teams on cut day, hoping to find a passable option instead of making a trade. That approach feels passive for a team staring down one of the toughest early-season stretches on the schedule.

The Commanders open with Philadelphia, where they’ll face DeVonta Smith. Week 2 brings Dallas and the combination of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Week 3 sends them to Seattle, where Jaxon Smith-Njigba will get his shot against this thin Washington secondary. That gauntlet was already difficult. With a cornerback room this depleted, it looks significantly worse.

Washington cannot afford to wait

If it wasn’t Clark Phillips III, it needs to be someone else. Waiver pickups alone won’t solve the problem. Washington needs to make a trade happen, not sit back & hope the right name falls into its lap. They cannot jeopardize their season waiting on the perfect trade. The first three weeks will expose every weakness in this secondary, & right now, there are plenty to exploit.