There is no doubt Adam Peters won't buy at the 2025 trade deadline. It's the bed he made for himself, and he must now lie in it.
The Washington Commanders are on a four-game losing run with almost no hope of making it to the playoffs. They are also dealing with significant injury concerns, with quarterback Jayden Daniels, veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey joining the ever-growing list of long-term absences.
But when it comes to potentially selling assets, the story is different. And there is one franchise-shattering move that could be considered.
Commanders should consider trading Daron Payne for the right price
Peters doesn't have many legitimate trade options that would generate value on the market. This is the NFL's oldest roster, which brings its own complications. Teams will be reluctant to take them on, and this threadbare squad might need to keep them around if any more injury concerns arrive.
Daron Payne lies somewhere in the middle. The former Alabama standout has been a formidable presence on the interior of the defensive line this season. He's emerged from Jonathan Allen's shadow to become a shining light amid the chaos. At the same time, his stock might never be higher for maximizing his trade value.
This would be a devastating loss for the Commanders, especially considering how Javon Kinlaw and Johnny Newton are struggling to find the consistency needed. However, Payne is currently Washington's highest salary-cap hit, and that will remain the case on the final year of his deal in 2026.
Given that Payne has no guaranteed salary beyond this year, he'll likely want an extension in advance. This could also explain why he's playing so well: the last time fans saw production like this was in 2022, which just so happened to be a contract year.
Payne got paid. He was franchise-tagged and extended. But his influence waned significantly until this season, so Peters might take that into account before deciding on his future.
There aren't many players that Peters should not listen to offers for, in all honesty. It would have to be a very decent offer for Payne, but teams are always looking for difference-makers on the defensive front to help with their playoff or Super Bowl push.
All signs point to Payne staying in Washington beyond the league's 2025 trade deadline. But if Peters' time as general manager has taught fans anything so far, it's to expect the unexpected.
We don't have much time left before finding out for sure.