The Washington Commanders will leave no stone unturned in their quest to build on a sensational start to general manager Adam Peters' exciting rebuild. Nothing is off the table, including another aggressive trade for an immediate difference-maker.
All the current speculation centers on Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. The Commanders are being widely linked with the generational edge rusher, although they won't be alone in coveting his services. One respected NFL insider also believes that they could make an effort to acquire wide receiver Cooper Kupp after the Los Angeles Rams made him available.
Kupp needs no introduction to NFL fans. He is a former All-Pro and Triple Crown winner. He's one of the smartest players and shrewdest route runners around. The former third-round pick's powers might be waning and there are injury red flags to consider, but this represents an immediate upgrade on anything aside from Terry McLaurin.
Senior insider raises speclation linking Commanders with Cooper Kupp
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN touted the Commanders as a potential landing spot for Kupp. He thought the Eastern Washington product could be the perfect foil for McLaurin in the passing game. He also believes the Rams would be willing to take on some of his salary to get a better draft pick back in return.
"The executives I spoke to believe Cooper Kupp will have a market. We might not be talking about a robust market because of the age, the declining production, some of the injuries, and then he's due $20 million next year — $5.5 million of that is guaranteed. As far as the teams being banded about… The Pittsburgh Steelers inquired about Kupp last season, they still have a need there. Washington could look for a compliment to Terry McLaurin. The Patriots would be foolish not to at least check in on this given their receiver situation."Jeremy Fowler
The Commanders are ready to win now. Their Super Bowl window is open after reaching the NFC Championship game and quarterback Jayden Daniels' phenomenal rookie campaign. Getting complacent is not an option, so fans should expect Peters to be more aggressive with the vast resources at his disposal.
Kupp would be an outstanding addition. It doesn't come without risk, so much will depend on the compensation involved. If he got a clear run of luck on the health front, his hypothetical partnership with McLaurin is a mouth-watering proposition.
There are other avenues the Commanders could go down. They'll be examining possible free-agent acquisitions closely, though the likes of Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin wouldn't be cheap. There's also the 2025 NFL Draft class to assess, but it'll be a waiting game for Washington at No. 29 overall.
Peters has a long-term vision for the franchise. He wants sustained growth and will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives. However, he's also willing to make trades (in or out) as demonstrated by his bold acquisition of stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore before the 2024 deadline.
Washington's primary focus should be Garrett. If this looks like a non-starter for whatever reason, giving up a mid-level draft pick for Kupp wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
Time will tell…