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This sneaky pre-camp trade heist could change everything for the Commanders

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Ryan Heckman | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The Washington Commanders have been one of the most active and aggressive teams over the course of the NFL offseason thanks to a pair of big-time trades.

But, why should Adam Peters stop there? The iron is hot for yet another opportunity to strike, and the Commanders could wind up being the team which takes the massive risk currently sitting in front of 31 NFL teams.

The Commanders need to go all-in on trading for Cincinnati Bengals' first-round pick Shemar Stewart before the opportunity gets taken from them. Stewart is in the midst of a contract impasse with the Bengals after Cincinnati has wanted to include language in his deal which may take away future guarantees.

The Commanders would be crazy not to poke around a Shemar Stewart

First and foremost, there are some red flags with Stewart. Coming out of college, he only tallied 4.5 sacks in three seasons. That's not exactly going to scream "future first-round pick" to the masses, but his raw traits show a guy who could truly become a Pro Bowler.

He is the ultimate "boom or bust" type of prospect, but if the Commanders want to address one of their glaring needs, this could be the route they go. And, the culture they've built over the past year or two has been one of a legitimate contender.

That atmosphere is something Stewart might thrive in, versus Cincinnati being more of a toxic place for the rookie.

Many fans would agree that the Commanders just need to find some help at the pass rush spot and, if they did, this team is a real threat in the NFC. Obviously, they're coming off an NFC Championship game appearance. But the Commanders would cement themselves as a Super Bowl favorite.

What would it take to get Stewart? That's the big question. Would the Bengals be able to fetch a future first rounder? It's very possible, since most teams likely had him as a first-round prospect anyway.

The Commanders' 2026 first-round pick will likely be later, too, so they'd come out on top if Stewart pans out.