The Washington Commanders enter Day 2 with just one pick. That’s not ideal considering this a draft where NFL teams can find a bevy of talent in Rounds 2 and 3.

The Commanders are also without a fourth-round pick. Meaning, they don’t have any draft assets that move the needle enough to help them get into Round 2.

They do, however, have a few accomplished veterans they could trade in hopes of getting some extra picks. Whether or not those picks help them climb into Round 2, or add another third-rounder, or even a fourth, remains to be seen. At the same time, though, I’m sure Adam Peters will take any additional selections as long as it makes sense on the Commanders’ side of the fence.

Let’s take a look at three Commanders veterans who are trade bait after Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

3 veterans the Commanders could trade on Day 2 of the draft

LB Frankie Luvu

The Sonny Styles selection makes Luvu expendable because Styles can do everything Luvu does, only better. He can cover, play the run, and blitz off the edge while lining up across the defense on a consistent basis.

Luvu’s in the final year of his deal and the Commanders would clear nearly $8 million in cash for the 2026 by trading him. They would probably get anywhere from a fifth- to seventh-round pick for his services. The key here, too, is the fact Washington wouldn’t be creating a roster hole by trading him away.

---

DE Dorance Armstrong

Armstrong was having a very solid season before an unfortunate injury cut it short after just seven games. Even then, it wasn’t enough to stop the Commanders from going out and signing Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson to sizable deals in free agency.

Now, Armstrong is likely a rotational guy and while it’s very valuable to have a guy of his caliber as a depth player – he’s way too expensive in a 2026 vacuum to hold that role. He’s currently set to make more than $9 million in cash and count more than $12 million against the salary cap.

Like Luvu, Armstrong is in the last year of his deal and trading him won’t create a hole on the roster. He might be the Commanders’ most valuable trade asset, as well, even coming off a season-ending injury. If the Commanders package some picks of their own, they could probably swing a solid Day 3 pick for Armstrong.

---

DL Daron Payne

There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding Payne’s future in Washington, as he’s set to make more than $22 million in cash this year and he simply hasn’t lived up to the four-year, $90 million deal he signed back in 2023. Simply put: He has 11.0 sacks since signing that deal and had 11.5 in 2022, alone.

That’s just not going to cut it as he enters the last year of his deal. Payne is still a good player, but he’s not worth this price point. I’m frankly still surprised they didn’t find a way to rework the $5 million roster bonus he received earlier in the offseason and if Peters wants to be frugal, that’s why Payne stays on the roster.

At the same time, he would likely fetch a draft pick similar to Armstrong’s so the idea is totally worth exploring. And, like the others, no roster hole is created, as Jer’Zhan Newton could step in and fill the role.

---

There’s one common denominator that could hold all of this back

And that’s the amount of injuries the Commanders went through, last year. Sure, teams can’t play scared and base decisions around injuries, but man, last year was brutal.

Trading these guys away won’t create roster holes, but it would certainly dent the Commanders’ depth at the respective positions. Having Styles mixed in with Luvu and Leo Chenal, instead of just Styles and Chenal, is a valuable commodity to have. The same goes with Armstrong as EDGE3 and Newton as DT2.

Still, the Commanders would replace them with draft picks and while said picks have zero guarantee of even providing adequate depth, it’s not like the Commanders are completely opening themselves up to danger.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens and if these guys are still on the roster by the time everything ends on Saturday afternoon.