Commanders tied to shocking trade move fans didn’t see coming

Trading Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers signaled a new era in the Washington Commanders' running back room. However, it's also a journey into the unknown.

Austin Ekeler should carry the early load. He was among the league's most productive dual threats once upon a time, but that's not the case anymore. Jeremy McNichols is seen as a special teams ace but not much more. Chris Rodriguez Jr. and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt have potential, but both are unproven.

The Commanders cannot leave anything to chance in 2025. There is a real need to cement their status as a contender and prove that a memorable run to the NFC Championship game wasn't a fleeting moment of success. If this backfield quartet cannot set the tone, that could provoke general manager Adam Peters into drastic action.

Commanders touted as ideal landing spot for Jets running back Breece Hall

Zach Pressnell from Sports Illustrated had the perfect trade target in mind. The analyst thought the Commanders look like a tremendous fit for New York Jets running back Breece Hall, who's the starter heading into 2025 but could be unseated by some younger options in a contract year.

The Washington Commanders cut ties with Brian Robinson Jr. earlier this offseason because they seemingly believe in their running back room, but there's still a chance they look to add on, especially considering how talented the rest of the roster is. Austin Ekeler isn't an explosive enough running back to carry the load for Washington. Shipping a mid-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Hall would be the perfect solution that would give Washington the talent it needs beside Jayden Daniels.Zach Pressnell

Hall looked like a superstar in his rookie campaign before a devastating injury quickly halted his momentum. He's been pretty solid in the two years since, but this represents a crossroads campaign for the Iowa State product with a new deal at stake.

Much will depend on how Hall fits into the Jets' new regime. Whether the Commanders would be interested is dependent on how Ekeler, McNichols, Rodriguez, and Croskey-Merritt perform early in the campaign.

Peters won't hesitate to make changes if he feels like standards aren't where they need to be. He's got a cutthroat mindset to his roster construction, which keeps urgency high and avoids any danger of complacency setting in.

Hall wouldn't be a bad option if the Commanders decided on another option. However, it might only be a short-term fix when one considers he's a free agent next spring. Paying him on an extension seems risky business, but Washington is also pushing its chips into the middle in win-now mode.

Time will tell, but it's nothing more than wild speculation right now.