Could Commanders be one of ‘multiple’ reported teams looking to trade back?

The 2022 NFL Draft has arrived, so fans should expect rumors to be reported in droves both leading up to and on draft night. This relates to the Washington Commanders, who own the No. 11 overall pick in the first round and could very well be affected by a potential trade regardless of whether they’re involved.

Despite Ron Rivera raving about Ohio State receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave during a recent interview, we like to think Washington’s head coach and general manager Martin Mayhew would prefer to keep things under raps.

That would explain why we haven’t heard many rumors about the club’s first-round plans. All fans have to go on is draft prognosticators and team writers speculating on potential best fits and prospects they’re most connected to.

Did that change Monday morning? It’s truly anyone’s guess what direction the Commanders go in the first round, but we can’t help but wonder if Rivera and Mayhew are giving some thought to moving back a couple of picks.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, ‘multiple teams’ in the top half of the draft have kicked the tired about trading back in Round 1. The NFL’s foremost insider understands there’s more interest trading back compared to moving up.

Could the Commanders trade back in Round 1 of the 2022 Draft?

The verbiage of Schefter’s tweet can certainly be connected to Washington.

Given the unpredictable nature of this year’s draft and being linked with several prospects ranging from Wilson, Olave, Kyle Hamilton, Drake London, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley, the Commanders could feel they could trade back in the first round and still be able to secure one of their draft crushes.

Of those names, Olave, Stingley and Hamilton seem the most likely to still be available a few spots after pick No. 11. And with the Ravens (No. 14), Saints (Nos. 16 and 19), Ravens (No. 17), and Steelers (No. 20) all fitting the profile of teams who could trade up, it’s certainly a feasible scenario for Washington.

We’ve been outspoken about wanting the Commanders to take a receiver with their first round pick, but picture this: they trade back five or six picks and are STILL able to net Hamilton, who’s widely viewed as a top-five prospect.

According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, Hamilton is one of just a few players whose stock is falling leading up to draft night and league sources believe he’ll “end up somewhere between picks 15 to 20.”

"“And while some players are rising, Kyle Hamilton continues to fall,” wrote Pauline. “Many in the league tell me they think Hamilton ends up somewhere between picks 15 to 20. That’s still later than I expected and is a precipitous drop for a prospect still graded by some as the top player in this draft.”"

Of course, Hamilton could very well be a top-five pick and nobody would be shocked. That encapsulates the unpredictability of this year’s draft and emphasizes how much homework the Commanders have to do before Thursday night.

The last thing we want is Washington to get cute and miss out on one of their top prospects because they wanted to trade back. But if the right opportunity presents itself and they can still net a Hamilton or Olave, then go for it.

Whatever happens, Schefter’s report indicates the Commanders could be one of the teams inquiring about moving down.