Daron Payne - Commanders DL
As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders are not blessed with many players of value that Adam Peters would be willing to dispose of right now. He's removed deadwood at the correct times before, but this is the price you pay for having the NFL's oldest roster.
That brings Daron Payne under the microscope. The defensive tackle has been a legitimate bright spot amid the doom and gloom, putting together arguably his best campaign since 2022. Even so, a contract collision is upcoming that might make Peters think twice about refusing offers.
Payne has one more year remaining on his deal. He'll want to be paid in advance, and the Commanders might not be willing to meet his demands.
Zach Ertz - Commanders TE
The Commanders galvanized Zach Ertz's career when it seemed as if the tight end was going to be cast aside by the league. He proved there is plenty of life left in the tank, performing exceptionally well in 2024 en route to deserving a new deal.
Ertz is getting older and slower. He still knows how to get open and makes tough catches. But with quarterback Jayden Daniels now out, the chances of Washington generating any momentum offensively with Marcus Mariota appear remote.
If a tight-end-needy team, perhaps someone like the Green Bay Packers, needs a short-term solution to their injury problems, it's something Adam Peters should consider. That would give them time to see if Ben Sinnott can become the TE1 they envisaged before the draft.
Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB
Bobby Wagner's influence during Washington's remarkable culture shift last season cannot be overstated. The future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker raised the bar and set the tone through leadership, mentoring, and on-field communication. Earning second-team All-Pro honors so late into his career was a testament to his exceptional impact.
Things have gone as well this time around. Wagner is still a force in between the tackles, but teams have figured out how to isolate him in space and exposed his dwindling athleticism. He's never been great in coverage, and it's becoming an ongoing concern.
Whether a team would be willing to part ways with a draft pick for Wagner is highly debatable. But the Commanders should be listening.
Quan Martin - Commanders S
The Commanders were expecting a breakout campaign from Quan Martin in Year 3 of his professional career. Washington made him the top dog in its safety room after letting Jeremy Chinn walk for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. He's not met the billing.
Martin's performances have been lackluster. His positional sense has been targeted as a weak link with great success. He's fundamentally sloppy, making several critical missed tackles that have cost his team in crucial moments. That's a bad combination showing up weekly.
Trading Martin seems a bit drastic in the grand scheme of things. However, he'll have some value, and it's also worth remembering that he is a draft pick from the previous regime.