3 players the Commanders should shop before 2024 trade deadline
By Dean Jones
Commanders could shop Jamin Davis
The Washington Commanders have some newfound problems on their defensive front. Interior force and inspirational locker room leader Jonathan Allen is out for the season following a torn quad suffered in Week 6 at the Baltimore Ravens. Javontae Jean-Baptiste went to injured reserve and Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s status this weekend against the Carolina Panthers is also in serious doubt.
This could lead the Commanders to Jamin Davis. The former first-round pick has been on the fringes this season after making the transition to edge rusher throughout the offseason. It was the final roll of the dice from Washington's coaching staff in pursuit of maximizing the player's physical attributes. Things haven't gone according to plan so far, which makes his departure during the 2025 offseason all but certain.
Davis could be more involved versus the Panthers and in the weeks following, but that's no guarantee. Washington seemed more eager to put a seventh-round pick chosen by the new regime front and center over than another high-end draft failure from Ron Rivera. If this continues even without Jean-Baptiste and Armstrong, there is no hope remaining.
It seems for all the smart money as if Davis and the Commanders will go their separate ways when his rookie contract expires next spring. This was always the danger after those in power declined his fifth-year option, so general manager Adam Peters could decide to try and get something back in return before the trade deadline.
Peters will take things one day at a time, evaluating the health of others rather than leaving the Commanders short of options. Davis seems pretty far down the pecking order when everyone is at full strength, so injuries could likely determine whether Washington explores other avenues or not.
Davis would probably relish the chance to start fresh a few months ahead of time despite the rejuvenated atmosphere around the franchise. Whether there would be sufficient interest from elsewhere is another matter.