The Washington Commanders are firmly focused on getting their own house in order. General manager Adam Peters has some tough decisions ahead and some aggressive recruitment to do in the coming weeks, with free agency on the immediate horizon. However, he'll also be keeping a close eye on developments around the NFC East to see what his team stands.
And Peters might be sending Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead a thank-you card after preventing a nightmare from becoming reality.
The Rams sent shockwaves through the NFL by confirming a trade for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. While the price was steep, Snead clearly believes this is the sort of move that can get them over the hump. And with a contract extension reportedly worth around $30 million per season, it's the biggest statement of intent imaginable.
Les Snead reportedly saved the Commanders from facing Trent McDuffie twice a season
It wasn't just a one-horse race for McDuffie's services, either.
According to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, the New York Giants were also rooted deeply in negotiations for the defensive back. The report implied Washington's division rival was unwilling to go beyond a first-round pick. When the Rams came in with a much bigger offer, the decision was simple.
"The Trent McDuffie trade came down to the Rams and the Giants, I'm told. In the end, the Rams were the team willing to give up first-round PLUS. The Chiefs get a 1, 3, 5 and 6. Really good haul. It's the equivalent of the 20-21st overall pick ... where KC took McDuffie in '22."
Putting McDuffie on the Giants' defense would have been a headache, to put it mildly. Thankfully, that wasn't the case, but it does prove something that Peters was already all too aware of.
The Giants are not going to sit on their hands this offseason. Pulling off a coup by appointing John Harbaugh to be their next head coach was just the start. They want this turnaround to be quick, with intriguing young pieces alongside established stars with Pro Bowl or better credentials already on the books. With a few bold tweaks to the playing personnel, the G-Men could be a force in 2026.
Washington is another prime bounce-back candidate if Peters can maximize the resources at his disposal.
The Commanders have the second-most available salary-cap space in the league right now. They have some cornerstone pieces to build around and a fresh injection of ideas, schematically. But with the Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys all expected to make the desired improvements, the margin for error has vanished.
Still, at least the Commanders won't have McDuffie to worry about. That's something, at least.