The Washington Commanders have stood pat at the trade deadline, which is about all they could do for a team that's not good enough to give up draft picks but not quite bad enough to quit on their 2026 season.
Of course, those plans might have shaken out differently if not for a couple of key injuries. Because of that, general manager Adam Peters' hands were tied.
And this eventual decision was shaped by defensive lineman Daron Payne and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Commanders' trade deadline stance was shaped by injuries to Daron Payne and Terry McLaurin
The Commanders were reportedly negotiating a trade for Payne, possibly to the division rival New York Giants. But then the nine-year veteran suffered a season-ending foot fracture during a Friday walkthrough session.
Unbelievable, really.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin was also considered a potential trade candidate before he tore his patellar tendon against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. His contract includes a potential out this summer, while Payne is a pending free agent.
Both would have been ideal bait if the Commanders chose to sell.
But instead, they had no legitimate tradeable assets left.
Who else on the Commanders could have been traded?
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs? Edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson? The latter is playing at a high level this season for a defense that's getting better by the week. The former is a key part of a wide receiver room that's already decimated.
Commanders had no real choice but to stand pat and hope for the best
Unless Washington had decided to make some sort of blockbuster deal involving someone like right guard Sam Cosmi or left tackle Laremy Tunsil, which would have been absurdly stupid for a whole different reason, there were really no options.
And that's okay.
The Commanders have all seven of their original draft picks next season, and the event is being held in D.C. If they hit on even a few of them, it will give them a strong foundation to go along with core building blocks in linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams, right tackle Josh Conerly Jr., and cornerback Trey Amos.
And for now, quarterback Jayden Daniels will still be on his rookie deal.
If Washington wishes to acquire additional draft capital, the offseason would be the time to do it. Not while the team has a chance to be only two games back in the race for the NFC East title a few days from now, with several more winnable games on the schedule in the coming weeks.
Peters has made his mistakes in Washington, but this was what he had to do.
Now, we'll see if it pays off with a second-half push for the divisional crown.
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