Brian Robinson Jr. trade grade: Commanders squeeze value from tough hand

Brian Robinson Jr. was no longer needed by the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters is a ruthless roster builder, so it came as no surprise to see the general manager bring a quick resolution to this potential headache.

Everyone around the league knew that Robinson's days in Washington were numbered. They also knew that if no willing suitor came forward, he'd be released. And yet, Peters still managed to get something back in return.

Not for the first time, Peters struck an agreement with his old employers, sending Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick . The third-round selection out of Alabama will back up Christian McCaffrey, providing relief in between the tackles to keep the All-Pro fresh after another injury-plagued campaign in 2024.

Commanders did well to get what they could for Brian Robinson Jr.

The Commanders will move forward with their current quartet, and confidence is high within the building that they can provide a more explosive edge. There is the right blend of youth and experience, so hopefully this can bear fruit behind an improved offensive line.

Robinson was dead weight. He lacked the dynamic big-play capabilities that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was looking for. He was probably gone after his contract expired in 2026, so Peters opted to cut the cord early when he fell further out of favor.

Although Robinson was a popular figure in the locker room, consistency was nowhere near what it needed to be. He never went over 800 rushing yards in a season, and his p owers often waned as campaigns wore on. Some nagging injury issues reared their head last season, which speaks to his lack of dependability. The pass-catching out of the backfield wasn't exactly stellar, either.

Peters' purge of Ron Rivera draft picks is nothing short of extraordinary. Almost every high-end pick over his four years is no longer around. Robinson adds his name to the long list of prospects who never reached the end of their rookie deals. And he might not be the last.

• Trade grade: A

This is a good deal for the Commanders. They were never going to get much for Robinson, but most were anticipating a pick swap of some kind rather than a Day 3 pick outright. Whether the team's running back gamble with Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt pays off remains to be seen, but this always seemed like a realistic outcome at some stage.

And as every Commanders fan knows, Peters doesn't wait around.

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