3 Commanders who could be traded before end of 2022 season
By Jerry Trotta
The Washington Commanders haven’t really expressed themselves on the trade market during the Ron Rivera regime. If you really think about it, the trade for Carson Wentz was an anomaly relative to the front office’s roster-building philosophy.
Look at the roster. From Jonathan Allen, Terry McLaurin, Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Cole Holcomb, Kam Curl, Chase Roullier and Antonio Gibson, the majority of the team’s core hails from the NFL Draft. Others, including Kendall Fuller (well, sort of), Charles Leno, JD McKissic and Logan Thomas, all signed as free agents.
Bottom line? Rivera has been hesitant to sanction trades as Washington’s lead personnel decision-maker. But the dynamic of the roster has changed since he presided over the franchise during the 2020 offseason.
Unlike back then, Rivera and Co. can afford to offload players for the betterment of the team. What that in mind, let’s highlight three players who could get jettisoned before the end of next season, shall we?
3 Commanders who could get traded before end of 2022
3. Daron Payne
According to a recent report from The Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Commanders have “rebuffed” all trade inquires for Payne. While there’s an argument to be had that the franchise should capitalize on Payne as a trade asset before he (presumably) exits via free agency next offseason, Standig understands Washington wants to keep Payne to help the team “achieve its first winning record in Rivera’s three seasons.”
Standig is usually on the money with his intel, but let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. After all, it wasn’t that long ago (before the draft) that the Commanders were listening to trade offers for the budding interior defender. Who’s to say they don’t change their stance and look to cash in if the right offer presents itself?
In a Payne-centered trade floated by Bleacher Report’s Ian Wharton, Payne is jettisoned to Detroit for a 2023 second-round pick and veteran defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who’s started 154 games over his 10 years in the league.
Payne isn’t netting Washington a first-round pick, but if he can go for a second-rounder and a player asset that can help them win now, the front office has to consider it before he leaves for nothing in 2023, no?
It’s unlikely, but that doesn’t make it improbable.