Commanders choose slim playoff chances over trade deadline action

The trade deadline in the NFL isn’t as cut and dry as it is in other sports. The Washington Commanders, in an NBA or MLB setting, would be an obvious seller halfway through the season with their 2-5-1 record, but with the division leaders on the schedule next, Washington is standing pat given their slim chance of catching up with the Giants.

It’s not like the Commanders have a ton of talent on their roster, one of the reasons their record is as poor as it is, but they do have some pieces that other teams covet.

However, general manager Adam Peters has indicated that while Washington is fielding offers like any responsible front office would, he probably wouldn’t be pulling the trigger on any trade offers.

It won’t take long to figure out whether Peters made the right choice. The Commanders face the Giants on Thursday night, a little more than 48 hours after the trade deadline passed Tuesday.

If they win, they’re still very much in the NFC East race. If they lose, Tuesday’s decision to not make any moves may bring the team closer to moving on from the current front office and starting over, once again.

Peters wasn’t moved by Rams loss

The Commanders loss Sunday didn’t have any baring on the team’s decision making, Peters said before the Week 9 matchup with the Rams.

¨The results of the game aren’t going to dictate what we do. It’s a matter of whether we think it’s a move that’s right for our team. If it’s a good value, we’ll do it, whether it’s buying or selling as they say. But what happens on Sunday doesn’t really dictate what we’re going to be doing,¨ Peters told local radio last week.

Fans have asked for the team to add wide receiver help, especially considering the injuries that have hit the position, the team has always said that they like what they have internally.

Rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams has the full confidence of the man who drafted him because ¨whether he gets the ball or not, I feel like he’s always open,¨and that Williams has ¨earned the right to get more targets.¨ Williams caught 3 of his 6 targets for 25 yards on Sunday.

The Rams game, while nice to have won, was never going to be this season’s Waterloo. The Thursday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants is the game that will decide whether the team keeps fighting on or just lives to play out the string.