Commanders could trade for Germaine Pratt
Bobby Wagner's presence on and off the field would be a huge loss to the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters could take more drastic action to ensure no momentum is lost in this scenario.
The realistic options are in free agency and the draft. If Peters wants to think outside the box, going down the trade route with someone who's reportedly unhappy in his current place of employment cannot be completely ruled out.
Germaine Pratt handed in a trade request after becoming frustrated with the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC North team is focusing its primary resources on keeping the core offensive pieces intact. The veteran linebacker believes this is going to hurt a defense already among the league's worst.
Pratt is a proven performer. He's a genuine leader of men who racked up 143 tackles this season. He's got a lot of good football left at 28 years old. What Peters must figure out is whether giving up assets is worth it instead of examining free agents or prospects from the college ranks.
Of all the options on this list, Pratt is the most unlikely. That's not an indictment of his talent, it's more a case of Washington having to sacrifice draft capital and potentially paying the player.
Commanders could sign Nick Bolton
The salary cap is going up more than most executives around the league envisaged. Dan Graziano from ESPN reported that teams were informed the figure would be between $277.5 million to $281.5 million. That is a massive hike from $255.4 million in 2024. For Adam Peters, it's even more spare cash to find the players needed for another bold Super Bowl bid.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
That increases the chances of finding some common ground with Bobby Wagner to continue his journey in Washington. But if Pete Carroll comes calling for a reunion with the Las Vegas Raiders, that would be hard to turn down.
Peters will have contingency plans in place for every eventuality. There will be free agents worth considering and the Commanders have enough salary-cap space to explore anyone — even those expected to get paid handsomely if they hit the open market.
Nick Bolton is in the upper echelons. The Kansas City Chiefs would love to keep him around, but they might not have enough wiggle room. If the former second-round pick out of Missouri gets the chance to explore offers from elsewhere, there will be a queue of suitors ready and waiting.
This looks like the sort of target Peters goes for. He's young, dynamic, and boasts outstanding instincts. Bolton is projected to get around $12.25 million per season on a four-year, $49.03 million deal according to Spotrac. That's expensive, but the long-term benefits are there for all to see.