The Washington Commanders are in an interesting spot heading into the 2024 trade deadline. Nobody anticipated this exciting new regime to be so far ahead at such an early stage. If head coach Dan Quinn can pick up a few more wins in the coming weeks, general manager Adam Peters has some big decisions to make.
Peters won't be erratic in his decision-making. He has a long-term plan for sustainable growth en route to perennial contention in Washington. But if the Commanders are sitting at 6-2 at the midway point, being more aggressive to enhance their postseason aspirations cannot be completely dismissed.
The front-office leader will have a good lay of the land right now. He'll know the Commanders aren't quite in the elite category yet. He also knows there is enough talent to hang with anybody thanks to the presence of Jayden Daniels under center. It is the window that this storied franchise has been anticipating for almost two decades.
If suitable interest arrives, Peters might also dispose of more deadweight to bolster his draft assets in 2025. With this in mind, here are three players the Commanders could shop before the 2024 trade deadline.
Players the Commanders should shop before the 2024 trade deadline
Commanders could shop Dyami Brown
The Washington Commanders' wide receiver room has performed much better than most envisaged. Jayden Daniels' sensational start to life in the NFL and Kliff Kingsbury's masterful concepts are helping tremendously. Considering the defensive frailties on occasion, it's been an integral part of the team's rise to prominence.
Reports surfaced about Adam Peters potentially looking to add another receiving threat before the 2024 trade deadline. Those options are getting thinner after Davante Adams and Amari Cooper secured moves to the AFC East. However, the general manager could still identify someone with less compensation attached that represents a good scheme fit in the coming weeks.
What any new arrival would mean for Dyami Brown's future is anyone's guess. He's been used sparingly in the passing game once again despite flashing moments of quality en route to eight receptions from 10 targets for 105 receiving yards and one touchdown through Week 6. But there are six options ahead of him in the queue considering the presence of Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz.
Couple this with Brown being out of contract next spring, getting some draft compensation back in return if there's interest wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
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.
Commanders could shop Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. came into the Washington Commanders with high expectations on his shoulders. The cornerback became the center of Ron Rivera's attention during his final draft as the primary decision-maker in 2023. Even when Christian Gonzalez - a much more accomplished prospect based on athletic build and college production - fell into his lap, his conviction in the player never wavered.
This was the latest in a series of immense disappointments where Rivera's draft picks are concerned. Forbes' rookie campaign was a catastrophe and things haven't looked much better under the new regime. The fact he wasn't trusted to suit up in Week 6 during Washington's pivotal clash with the Baltimore Ravens spoke volumes.
Dan Quinn stated this was to place another defensive tackle on the squad to counteract the supreme threat posed by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. But the fact Forbes wasn't active over the likes of Mike Davis and Noah Igbinoghene is a damning indictment of his development.
Some fans want to see Forbes get an extended run despite the obvious concerns that could arise. Others see the former Mississippi State standout as a lost cause and are calling for general manager Adam Peters to try and maximize his value while the is still something left.
Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s defensive scheme relies a lot on man coverage. Forbes is incapable of doing this effectively due to his lack of size and poor tackling. That's a dangerous combination that's been exposed almost constantly since he entered the league.
Peters has shown no problem disposing of Rivera draft picks who aren't part of the team's long-term plans. He's also a shrewd negotiator as demonstrated by the compensation received for wideout Jahan Dotson.
There might be a team that wants to take a chance on Forbes, seeing him as a reclamation project to salvage in a scheme better suited to his strengths. It wouldn't hurt Peters to instruct the player's representatives to gauge interest from elsewhere based on how things have unfolded up to now.