Adam Peters might not be thinking about an incoming trade right now. But if the Washington Commanders cannot rise to the occasion and beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, a situation could arise in which the general manager examines possible outgoings to recoup some much-needed draft capital.
And one NFL analyst highlighted a potential bargaining chip that nobody saw coming.
This season has been an unmitigated disaster for the Commanders thus far. Injuries, poor performances, and veteran players looking their age have contributed significantly to their demise. All hope hasn't faded just yet, but that will change with a sixth loss of the campaign against the Seahawks, who have been a formidable adversary on the road this season and are also coming off their bye week.
The cards aren't stacked in their favor. Peters will have a plan in place as the trade deadline approaches, depending on how things shake out. If he feels like cutting losses with some underperformers, he won't think twice.
ESPN analyst believes the Commanders should consider trading Deebo Samuel
Bill Barnwell from ESPN thought the Commanders should seriously consider listening to offers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. Getting something in return is worth considering, especially if they are not planning to extend the versatile offensive weapon.
"There's just not enough young talent on this roster, and the Commanders are down their second- and fourth-round picks in next year's draft. They probably won't be able to regain those selections with any of their trades, but adding some Day 3 picks would help. [Deebo] Samuel is due just $1.1 million after the season, and if the Commanders aren't going to re-sign him, getting something for the veteran wideout would make sense."Bill Barnwell
This doesn't make sense. The Commanders have relied heavily on Samuel this season, with Terry McLaurin missing so much time. He's performed well above expectations, and the fifth-round pick given to the San Francisco 49ers looks well spent. And there's no guarantee that Washington won't extend the former South Carolina standout.
Much will depend on what the money looks like. Samuel's new deal won't come cheap, but he seems settled in Washington. It could go either way, especially given how Peters handled McLaurin's contract situation this offseason.
He got the right deal for the franchise, but the lingering effects of this long contract standoff that lasted all summer are still being felt.
Whether he adopts a similar approach to Samuel remains to be seen. Either way, trading him now is not an option, even if suitable interest did arrive before the November 4 cut-off point.
For Jayden Daniels' growth, if nothing else, Samuel needs to stay. And that's without counting the uncertainty across the receiver room.