The Washington Commanders are 1-3-1 and have a real chance of being 1-4-1 at the bye week. And yet, some still believe general manager Adam Peters should make incoming trades to fix it.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is the hot topic in parts of the media and among some fans. He has a previous connection to quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at LSU, and it looks like the wideout could benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Unfortunately, this does not match the Commanders' current standing.
Commanders should not entertain trading for Brian Thomas Jr. amid rumors
The Commanders should retain their draft picks, not ship them off in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the campaign. Thomas is a good player, and he could thrive being back with Daniels. But it's far from guaranteed.
Of course, the Houston Texans have gone down this route recently, acquiring Marvin Harrison Jr. via trade from the Arizona Cardinals. He's now reunited with quarterback C.J. Stroud, and considering how this partnership flourished at Ohio State, hopes are high despite the wideout's difficult start to his career.
Washington may decide to explore doing the same for Daniels and Thomas. But unless they pick up some wins over a difficult-looking three-game stretch before and after the bye week, it's absolutely out of the question.
The Commanders need some long-term optimism at receiver. But they should find it in the draft, not with another trade that may or may not work out.
Stefon Diggs is on a one-year deal. Terry McLaurin's future beyond 2026 is coming under scrutiny. Only third-round rookie Antonio Williams would be considered a potential cornerstone among the others, so Peters must resolve it at some stage to take the pressure off Daniels.
That should be during the offseason, not before the 2026 trade deadline.
Commanders are in no position to be making bold trades right now
If the Commanders were 3-1 or 4-1, it's a different story. But throwing valuable draft picks at this problem now just doesn't seem smart.
The Jaguars aren't going to give Thomas away, even if he's fallen behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers in the pecking order. They will know what the Texans gave up for Harrison, and Thomas has produced more.
The contract is easily absorbed, but the compensation would be too much for the Commanders. And they just aren't in the position to make any trades right now.
That's the long and short of it.
Depending on how the Commanders fare both before and after the bye, Peters may be more willing to sell than buy.
He made some bold trades last year after overjudging just where Washington stood after a conference championship game appearance, and he's been reluctant to do the same since. Thomas is a promising player with WR1 potential, but he's also on a downward trajectory.
This is concerning.
The Jaguars prefer Washington and Meyers, but they aren't in the business of willingly removing young players. It needs to be the right offer, and they hold the leverage, which only puts the Commanders in a tougher spot in this scenario.
Just stick with what you have and worry about the rest later. Some fans may not like it, but it's where the Commanders are right now.
And considering how strong the 2027 NFL Draft class is expected to be, that should be Peters' priority.
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