The Nov. 2 trade deadline is fast approaching, and there’s been no evidence to suggest that the Washington Football Team will be active.
We’d personally be open to Washington selling or buying certain players if the opportunity presented itself. Adding a youthful edge rusher to slot in behind Chase Young and Montez Sweat would be good business.
Adding a receiver on an expiring contract would also fall under that category, because Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown are dealing with injuries that could linger for the rest of the season.
In terms of outgoings, we’d be fine parting ways with anyone whom the front office doesn’t see as part of the future.
Fans shouldn’t get their hopes up in either direction. They’re used to being letdown. With that in mind, plus the likelihood that the other NFC East teams figure to move the needle, let’s highlight three trade scenarios that would be the worst-case scenario for fans in Ashburn.
3 NFC East trades that would break Washington fans’ hearts
3. Giants stock up on more draft picks
Like Washington, short of acquiring a franchise quarterback at the deadline, there isn’t one player the Giants could acquire at the trade deadline that would propel them into the playoff conversation.
Whether it be the offensive line, linebacker, or interior defensive line, the Giants have too many holes to fill to be a buyer. When asked about his approach to the deadline, head coach Joe Judge said “I’ve made it very clear in terms of my vision of the team and where it want to build it. It’s being built for long-term success.”
So, yeah, expect New York to sell. As far as players who could be on the move, look for the likes of Evan Engram, Jabrill Peppers, Will Hernandez, Billy Price and even Nate Solder to be floated in trade talks.
The Giants are going nowhere fast in 2021, but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel if they hit on some of their future draft picks. As things stand, they have 11 in the 2022 draft, including two firsts. They own Chicago’s first, so if they and the Bears keep losing, NYG could end up with two high picks.
The last thing Washington needs is for another team in the NFC East to start being competitive, and the Giants stockpiling draft picks for 2022 and beyond seems like the ideal plan for them to return to relevancy for the first time in six years.
2. Cowboys splurge on Marcus Maye
The Dallas Cowboys are the class of the NFC East until further notice. They’re going to win the division for the first time since 2018. The only question remaining is how big the margin is, because they currently have a 3.5-game lead.
As far as weaknesses go, Dallas doesn’t have many. Their offense has stars at every position and they lead the league in scoring at 34.2 points per game despite Michael Gallup missing the last five games with a calf strain.
The Cowboys’ defense, on the other hand, is a little suspect. They have some playmakers on that side of the ball — Trevon Diggs leads the NFL with seven interceptions and 11 pass breakups — but you kind of get the feeling that Jerry Jones will be looking to add some reinforcements in the secondary.
Marcus Maye comes to mind as a dream acquisition for Dallas. The Jets safety has expressed his desire to remain in the Big Apple, but that would make no sense.
For Maye, he’s in the prime of his career and should want to be dealt to a contender. For the Jets, why would they keep and eventually pay top-of-the-market money to a safety when they’re nowhere close to being competitive?
The Cowboys have a glut of safeties, but they use all of them in different roles. Maye could slot in as the starter alongside Jayron Kearse. That would allow Donovan Wilson, who just returned from injury, to get back up to speed.
Simply put, Maye is one of the most complete safeties in the NFL. If Dallas acquires the 28-year-old to anchor their secondary, well, Washington fans have our permission to cry until the cows come home.
1. Eagles acquire Deshaun Watson
While Dallas netting Maye would bolster their Super Bowl odds, the Eagles acquiring Deshaun Watson would be the nightmare of all nightmares for Washington, which is why it was given the top spot on this list.
After all, the Eagles (like Washington) are one of a handful of teams who are searching for a franchise quarterback. If Philadelphia solved that conundrum at the deadline with a top-five talent like Watson, fans in Ashburn might never show their faces in public again.
The good news is that there is at two other teams in the mix for Watson, who is facing more than 20 civil lawsuits accusing him of inappropriate conduct and sexual conduct but somehow isn’t on the commissioner’s exempt list.
The Dolphins are the clear frontrunners for Watson. The front office has invested a lot of draft capital and salary cap into the current roster, and they’re tired of seeing Tua Tagovailoa not make the most of it.
The Panthers, meanwhile, have all but given up on Sam Darnold after his fourth unimpressive performance in a row. Carolina was in the mix for Watson when he first made it known he wanted out of Houston, and reports indicate they’re prepared to go all-out in their pursuit of the 25-year-old superstar.
The Eagles don’t have the allure of the Dolphins or Panthers, but they have the requisite draft picks to make an appealing offer. The only question left is whether Watson would accept a trade to the City of Brotherly Love, because his no-trade clause means he basically gets to pick his next destination.