Commanders Open To Trade Offers?

Sitting at 1-4-1 on the year, Washington is not in position to operate as a buyer on the trade front. On the other hand, the team could be willing to entertain a number of offers from contenders over the coming days. The Commanders are “pretty open for business” at this point, Jason La Canfora of Casino Guru News writes.

A seller’s approach to the deadline would come as little surprise. Even in an NFC East which is lacking in juggernauts, Washington’s playoff outlook is not particularly strong. The Commanders’ offense has been without left tackle Laremy Tunsil all season, while receiver Terry McLaurin is out for the remainder of the year. The team has also struggled in several defensive areas and currently ranks 31st in points allowed per game.

One notable name who could emerge as a trade target is defensive tackle Daron Payne. The veteran recorded 11.5 sacks in 2022, earning him the lone Pro Bowl nod of his career. The Alabama product has not come close to matching that figure since, but he’s continued to play a major role on Washington’s defensive line. That includes a 2026 campaign where he’s appeared in about 74 percent of his team’s defensive snaps while tallying 14 stops and one sack.

As our own Adam La Rose recently noted, Payne’s current pact – a four-year, $90MM contract – is set to void in February. That makes the defensive tackle an intriguing rental options for team’s seeking enforcement along the defensive line.

Otherwise, the Commanders could be an option for team’s seeking some depth. As La Canfora notes, the team’s injuries removed a number of intriguing names from the market, but Washington could still be a source for “solid vets who could improve depth on contending teams.”

Ben Levine contributed to this post.