Sitting at 3-4 with another matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on the horizon, the Washington Commanders‘ season is looking increasingly bleak. Ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the Commanders have been getting calls for several players, including Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
Should they lose to the Eagles again in Week 8, Washington will likely be sellers at the Oct. 31 trade deadline, but they could have buying opportunities as well.
Washington Commanders Trade Deadline Moves
Trade Chase Young or Montez Sweat
One of the most obvious and rumored moves for the Commanders is trading away one of their defensive ends. The team reportedly wants at least a second-round pick in order to trade away one of the players.
Rumor has it that the Bears are interested in Young, which is unusual considering the 2-5 team is not necessarily in the position to buy. But this could make sense in the long term for Chicago as they have significant cap space in 2024.
MORE: 3 Moves the New York Giants Should Make Prior to the Trade Deadline
Regardless of who the team is, both Young and Sweat are in the last year of their contracts and ready to become free agents. It would make sense for Washington to trade away one of them, especially if they take a loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
Washington likely won’t be able to afford both players long term, given the money they have committed to defensive tackles Daron Payne (four years, $90 million) and Jonathan Allen (four years, $72 million). Beginning to acquire building blocks for a rebuild makes sense with the way things are going for the team this season.
Find a Buyer for Jacoby Brissett
The Commanders should continue to capitalize on the opportunity to put themselves in a better position for the long term.
Jacoby Brissett has become a name that has generated buzz in recent weeks as it becomes increasingly unlikely that the Vikings will trade Kirk Cousins.
The Commanders seem committed to seeing what Sam Howell can do this season. While having a potentially reliable backup QB could be valuable for the team, it may be worth it in the long run to trade him for picks if there is interest.
One team tied to Brissett is the Cleveland Browns, as he was their starter last season until Deshaun Watson returned from suspension. It would make sense for the team to acquire a veteran to have as a solid backup behind Watson.
Brissett signed a one-year deal worth $8 million this season, but $4.5 million came in the form of a signing bonus and $500,000 in a workout bonus. With a $3 million base salary, this would leave Cleveland responsible for only the remaining 11 games of the season, totaling $1.833 million.
The Commanders should seek out a decent draft pick, as Brissett is a valuable asset. Again, it would make sense if they continue to lose games and look to rebuild.
Seek Out Safety Options
One area the Commanders’ roster is lacking is at the safety position, and they could definitely afford to add depth to the role.
Three players at safety are currently on the injured reserve list, with Jeremy Reeves, Darrick Forrest, and Troy Apke all suffering injuries this season.
With options such as Budda Baker, Justin Simmons, and Xavier McKinney as trade candidates, Washington should consider their options if they’re looking to buy ahead of the upcoming deadline.
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