Anticipation is at an all-time high heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Who will the Washington Commanders pick in the first round? Well, there's a chance the answer to that is nobody.
The Commanders currently only hold five selections in the draft. After their first-rounder, they only hold one pick on Day 2 and three on Day 3. Trades have been made to improve the roster, but having so little can put you in a tough spot.
Due to the low assortment of draft selections, Adam Peters is likely calling around the league to gauge interest in who'd be willing to trade up to No. 29 overall. If this happens, it would be confirmed on draft night when the Commanders are on the clock.
A trade-down could allow Peters to add a lot more ammunition on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft to help build up the roster. Here are some teams (and offers) that could be mutually beneficial.
Trade offers that could move the Commanders out of pick No. 29
Philadelphia Eagles
- Commanders receive No. 32 and No. 134
- Eagles receive No. 29
This is the one scenario in which the Commanders do not trade out of the first round. The Philadelphia Eagles hold the No. 32 pick and could look to jump in front of the Buffalo Bills.
In-division trades are a rarity in the NFL, but Peters and Howie Roseman proved that they are not afraid to strike a trade with each other during the draft. This could be a mutually beneficial trade for the two division rivals.
The Eagles need a wide receiver, edge rusher, or safety in this draft, as do the Commanders and Bills. In Washington's situation, trading down three spots would not cost them much value in the player they take, if any at all. However, it would allow the team to gain an extra pick and still get the fifth-year option.
If a certain player, such as Luther Burden III or Malaki Starks, falls to No. 29 and the Eagles fall in love with their tape, they could spend one of their many late fourth-round picks to move up.
Cleveland Browns
- Commanders receive No. 33, No. 104, and No. 216
- Browns receive No. 29 and No. 245
The Cleveland Browns are one of the several teams with an early second-round pick that need a quarterback. If a signal-caller they love, such as Shedeur Sanders, falls to the late first round, they could decide to trade up to get the fifth-year option.
It would likely be similar to what the Commanders would get from a trade down with the Eagles. But a possible bidding war could force the Browns to overpay in this scenario.
The only downside to this for the Commanders would be trading only four picks back but losing the fifth-year option on their first selection.
New England Patriots
- Commanders receive No. 38, No. 106, and No. 171
- Patriots receive No. 29 and No. 205
The New England Patriots are one of the young and rising teams in the NFL. They drafted Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, right after the Commanders took Jayden Daniels. The former dynasty has also made several moves in free agency to vastly improve its roster.
The Patriots' biggest need is the offensive line. They must protect their Maye and don't have the talent to do that currently.
There will likely be good offensive line options available at No. 38, but there is also a good chance that there are better options, such as Josh Conerly Jr. available at No. 29. If this is the case, the Patriots should be blowing up Peters' phone to make a move up.
New Orleans Saints
- Commanders receive No. 40, No. 93, and No. 184
- Saints receive No. 29 and No. 205
The New Orleans Saints are the second team in this list that could trade up for a quarterback. Their team is not in a very good spot and has several holes to fill. However, coming out of the draft with a franchise presence under center could turn the franchise around.
Luckily for the Saints, they also have enough picks to make it easy to trade up 21 spots into the late first round. That roster is likely a lot more than a year away from competing, so their front office knows sacrificing picks on Days 2 and 3 is worth the risk.
There has been a lot of buzz around both Sanders and Jaxson Dart. One of those quarterbacks would be the likely target in a trade up to No. 29. The Commanders and Saints made a trade involving Marshon Lattimore, which could mean a working relationship between the front offices is still there.
Seattle Seahawks
- Commanders receive No. 50, No. 82, No. 175, and No. 234
- Seahawks receive No. 29 and No. 205
The Seattle Seahawks currently have 10 picks in the draft, including two second-round selections and two third-rounders. This gives them the luxury of using some of those picks to trade up for a player high on their draft board that falls.
The Seahawks have holes on the roster at positions that will be available deep into the first round. Prospects like Tyler Booker, Nick Emmanwori, and Grey Zabel could be ripe for Seattle to fill positional needs.
Although those are all prospects that the Commanders could take to fill their draft needs, the front office could see the value in still trading down.