Commanders face brutal NFL trade deadline dilemma as Washington’s depleted roster leaves few good options
Washington needs help at several positions, but its most valuable players are difficult to part with. With the Giants looming, the Commanders face uncomfortable decisions about their future.
The Washington Commanders need a running back. They need a wide receiver, a safety and a center. They need everything, and with the NFL trade deadline closing in, the real question isn’t whether Washington should be buyers or sellers. It’s what the Commanders can actually do.
The roster that took the field in Week 1 looks nothing like the one limping into Week 10. Fans were sold a bill of goods on players and position groups that were supposed to be impactful. They aren’t. The holes are bright as day now, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Washington has a short week before a must-win Thursday game against the New York Giants after failing to win a must-win game against the Los Angeles Rams, a team that tried to give a win away on multiple occasions.
Would buying even save the season?
The Commanders don’t even know exactly which version of the Giants they’ll face Thursday night.
J.J. McCarthy is dealing with a hip injury suffered against Philadelphia, although New York expects him to be available. Jameis Winston stepped in when McCarthy left Sunday’s game.
But Washington’s problem isn’t really who’s playing quarterback for the Giants.
It’s that the Commanders are 2-5-1 and have done little to prove they should be favored against a division leader sitting at 5-2-1.
And Adam Peters has to make his trade deadline decisions before Thursday’s game can provide any more answers.
A trade would probably help in the short term. A running back acquired this week doesn’t answer the long-term question, though. The core group seems to be the core group, and a lot of it got hurt this season, which derailed what could have been. I acknowledge that. It also means a true rebuild isn’t the obvious answer.
Adam Peters already has a different way of looking at the deadline
Washington general manager Adam Peters has made it clear that he isn’t necessarily approaching the deadline as a simple choice between buying and selling.
Speaking with 106.7 The Fan last week, Peters explained that the Commanders would consider a move if it represented good value for the team.
He also indicated that the result against Los Angeles wouldn’t determine Washington’s approach.
That’s a reasonable philosophy in theory.
But it doesn’t make the roster-building challenge any easier.
The Commanders have needs at running back, wide receiver, safety, center and several other positions. They also have a collection of young players who should be part of their long-term plans.
Adding one expensive veteran won’t solve all of those problems.
And trading away productive players for modest draft compensation won’t necessarily make Washington better next season.
Peters doesn’t need to win the trade deadline. He needs to avoid making a disappointing season even more damaging to the franchise’s future.
Who could Washington actually sell?
Go to the depth chart. Do a scan. I can’t find anyone the Commanders could get a third-round pick for who isn’t a massive part of the long-term plan.
Jayden Daniels draws value. You’re starting to hear rumblings from the fan base, but he’s still the franchise quarterback, and you don’t trade the franchise quarterback. Rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams is one of the few value pieces on the roster, which is exactly why he stays. Stefon Diggs has been a pleasant surprise for the offense, and I’d try hard to bring him back next season. Chig Okonkwo just got here. Are you ready to end that experiment after nine weeks? Right guard Sam Cosmi is a cornerstone lineman, same with Josh Conerly Jr. Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles? No shot. Amik Robertson is one of the few defensive players who has stayed consistent.
That leaves three names: Mike Sainristil, Rachaad White & Frankie Luvu.
The 3 players Washington should move
Sainristil tricked the NFL, and so did the rest of that Michigan class. It isn’t his fault he went that high. That’s on a front office that overvalued a national champion from a program that got busted over its scouting practices, and now it won’t get enough return to match the pick. Take whatever value exists. Sainristil could be a rotational corner somewhere else, and Washington can address defensive back in free agency or the draft. The Commanders already tried with Rasul Douglas, but DBs are brake pads. They age out and you’re always going to need new ones.
White was a nice experiment. He’s a third-down back who is now expected to be the guy, and the offense isn’t good enough to make him the focal point of the rushing attack. The running back room is hideous. Jacory Croskey-Merritt isn’t playing right now, and Austin Ekeler is no form of a long term solution.
Luvu has been a great character guy and a leader. He also shouldn’t be a starting linebacker for this team next season because he isn’t strong enough. Watch him tackle, then watch Styles tackle. The difference is stark, and Styles is a rookie. The character guys aren’t leading Washington to a winning record, and that’s and unfortunate part of where football guys have to deal with business guys.
Washington has to make its decision before Thursday
Here’s the most frustrating part of Washington’s situation.
The Commanders have to make their trade deadline decisions by Tuesday afternoon. They won’t know whether they can beat the Giants until Thursday night.
That means Adam Peters can’t wait for one more result to tell him what this team is.
He has to evaluate the roster as it stands right now.
And right now, Washington is 2-5-1 with too many holes, too many injuries and too few expendable players who could bring back significant draft capital.
I’m not opposed to making a trade. If Peters can acquire a player who improves the Commanders beyond this season without sacrificing their future, he should absolutely explore it.
I’m also not opposed to selling. If another team is willing to overpay for a player Washington doesn’t consider essential to its long-term plans, take the call.
But buying just to pretend this season is salvageable would be a mistake.
So would selling productive players for pennies on the dollar simply because the team is struggling.
The harsh reality is that Washington might not have a good move available.
And that says more about the current state of the roster than any deadline transaction possibly could.
