3 teams the Commanders could use for daring 2024 NFL Draft trade-up

Trading up in the 2024 NFL Draft isn't something the Washington Commanders need to concentrate on with their first pick. Not when general manager Adam Peters owns the No. 2 overall selection.

This will be used on a quarterback who can hopefully propel the Commanders to greatness, but what about getting back into the first round at a later stage?

Peters certainly has the ammunition. Notably, the No. 36 and No. 40 picks near the top of Round No. 2. Those choices could be packaged in three daring ways to let the Commanders add first-round talent at positions still needing help.

Those positions include offensive tackle and edge-rusher. Here are three teams Peters could entice into a potential deal, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers and the No. 5 pick.

Commanders could trade with the Chargers

• Potential target: Joe Alt (OT)

Would the Los Angeles Chargers seriously consider giving up the fifth pick? Well, the AFC West franchise is "open to moving down," according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

The Washington Commanders could move into that spot if Peters dealt away both second-round picks this year. They would add up to 2,315, per the Fitzgerald-Spielberger Draft Trade chart found at Over the Cap.

Despite the value of those second-rounders, let's assume the Chargers would need a little more incentive to forego a top-five pick and leave the first round altogether. Maybe Peters sweetens the pot by adding his second fifth-round choice, the No. 152 pick overall.

That's a hefty price to pay, but more than enough to put the Commanders within reach of the quality left tackle they need. Notre Dame's Joe Alt is arguably the best in class at his position and a locked-on, long-term solution for Washington on the blindside.

Alt gave up one sack from 774 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF College.

The 21-year-old has NFL bloodlines as the son of former Kansas City Chiefs Pro-Bowl tackle Jon Alt. Pedigree and performance recommend this trade.

Putting Alt into the starting lineup would give the rebuilding Commanders a cornerstone player at the position that's arguably the second-most valuable in the modern game behind the quarterback.

Peters will find one of the latter by taking either Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy off the board No. 2 overall. That rookie passer will need protecting, something the Commanders wouldn't have to worry about with Alt on the field.

The Chargers having Justin Herbert as QB1 makes them a prime candidate to trade back. Striking this deal would still leave the Commanders with a trio of third-round picks, a fifth, and a seventh to find value after addressing two premium positions in the top five.

Another scenario would focus instead on adding the dynamic edge-rusher new head coach Dan Quinn needs to make his defenses work.

Commanders could trade with the Seahawks

• Potential target: Laiatu Latu (EDGE)

Dan Quinn needs to find a Micah Parsons-type to power his rush-the-passer-in-waves system. He'd struggle to come out of this draft with a better fit than Laiatu Latu.

The UCLA edge rusher could go anywhere from 12-28, but the Seattle Seahawks represent the best trade partner for the Washington Commanders in this scenario. That's based on the team owning a mere two picks in the first 100 selections.

There's an opening for Adam Peters to offer the No. 36 pick, along with his first third, the No. 67 choice. Again, this would be overvaluing the Seahawks' No. 16 selection based on most charts, but the Commanders could also snag a late-rounder as part of the deal. Maybe one of Seattle's two sixth-rounders to put Washington in play during the penultimate round.

The true value of this deal would be the chance to take Latu off the board. In the process, Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. would get a blue-chip quarterback hunter.

Latu is a superior athlete who can line up anywhere along the front, just like Parsons. As NFL Network's Brian Baldinger put it, he "can play outside linebacker, he can play defensive end, he can line up in a 3-technique and play defensive tackle."

No matter where lines up, Latu is a havoc creator. One who helped himself to 23.5 sacks during two seasons with the Bruins.

Quinn runs a multiple-front defense, so he needs all of the roving pass-rushers he can get. Free agency added some useful supporting acts like Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell, but none are as dynamic as Latu.

He would be the threat opposing offenses need special plans to stop. The Commanders have lacked one of those on the edges since they traded Chase Young and Montez Sweat midway through last season.

One more trade scenario would enable the Commanders to add a marquee target for their rookie QB1.

Commanders could trade with the Rams

• Potential target: Brock Bowers (TE)

There's something just off about the Los Angeles Rams having a first-round selection. It's an alien concept for general manager Les Snead, so the Washington Commanders should tempt him into indulging in his favorite pastime, stockpiling picks.

Sending the No. 36 and No. 78 choices should be enough to move the Commanders up to No. 19. Where they can acquire tight end Brock Bowers.

Tight end is an underrated need for coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Zach Ertz is a favorite, but the veteran is also 33 years old, has appeared in 31 games in three seasons, and is playing on a one-year contract.

Bowers is a formidable pass-catcher in space - a "move" tight end Kingsbury could align all over the field to create the multiple-receiver sets he loves. Pairing Bowers with Ertz would keep the play-caller's "Air-Raid" principles intact, even out of run-heavy, two-tight end looks.

Kingsbury has weapons at his disposal, but the wide receiver cupboard looks bare beyond Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. Fortunately, this is a draft class deep in talented wideouts, so the Commanders could feel confident about finding a starting-caliber receiver outside of Round No. 1.

It's a different story at tight end, where there's a significant drop-off after Bowers. That's hardly surprising since the latter can make plays like this one-handed snag against Auburn, highlighted by Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

Bowers' talents mean there's a chance he won't last anywhere near as long as No. 19. Yet, being something of a 'tweener as an undersized tight end or a big wide receiver with limited blocking skills, could lead to a slide.

Even if Bowers doesn't fall, trading with the Rams could still let the Commanders grab a wideout like Texas standout Adonai Mitchell or LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. Reuniting the latter with Jayden Daniels would be a first-round bonanza for Adam Peters.