With the trade deadline drawing closer, Washington has surfaced in ESPN’s latest trade chatter despite sitting at 1-4-1. The Commanders were mentioned as possible landing spots for six players, and two of the names on the running back list are Jonathan Taylor and Tony Pollard.
Taylor is the bigger swing. Washington saw him up close in Week 4 in London, when he ran for 95 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns against the Commanders.
The Colts back has been a Pro-Bowler in each of the last two seasons, and his 2021 season still stands out as one of the most dominant by a runner in NFL history. That year, he led the league in rushing attempts with 332, rushing yards with 1,811, rushing touchdowns with 18 and yards per game at 106.5.
He was an All-Pro, too, and finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Indianapolis could be open to moving him. Since losing to the Minnesota Vikings, the Colts have dealt away two of their top players, and there’s speculation Taylor could be next as they try to collect draft picks and reset. ESPN put Taylor’s chance of being traded at 30 percent and listed Washington as the second-most likely fit, behind the Seattle Seahawks.
Pollard is the other option, but the road there looks steeper. He just produced a big game against the Cleveland Browns, piling up 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He doesn’t carry Taylor’s ceiling, but he has been steady enough to post 1,000-yard seasons in four of the last four years.
ESPN gave Pollard just a 15 percent chance of being traded, and the main obstacle is obvious: Tennessee values him as one of the offense’s key weapons. The Titans are not eager to strip playmakers away from their young quarterback, Cam Ward.
Even with those names in the mix, the overall read is pretty clear: Washington’s odds of landing a running back before the deadline remain very slim.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Face A Big Trade Deadline Decision At Wide Receiver
The wide receiver market is starting to loom over Washington as the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 approaches, and the Commanders are at least being linked to a move that could help deepen their passing game. ESPN has put three names in the conversation: Clevelands Jerry Jeudy, Baltimores Rashod Bateman and Tampa Bays Chris Godwin, giving the front office a short list of options with very different levels of appeal.
Each candidate comes with a different type of fit and a different level of realism, which is what makes this such a tricky decision for Washington. Bateman appears to be the cleanest match for what the Commanders might want, while Godwin is the most complicated swing of the group because of his injury history and age, leaving the team to weigh upside against the kind of certainty it can actually get before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Trade Debate Just Got Real On The Offensive Line
Washingtons offensive line has been a point of concern this season, with the unit sitting 20th in the NFL by PFFs grading. That backdrop is what makes the latest trade chatter worth watching, because any move up front would be aimed at stabilizing a group that has not consistently given the offense the kind of protection and flexibility it needs.
ESPN has floated the Commanders as a possible landing spot for New Orleans guard Cesar Ruiz, a player whose appeal goes beyond one spot on the interior. Ruiz brings the kind of versatility teams covet along the line, and a deal would make sense on paper for both sides, but for now it remains only a projection rather than an actual transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Season Could Decide How Soon Laremy Tunsil Returns
Laremy Tunsils road back to the field is still in the early stages, but there is at least some encouraging news for the Commanders. The veteran left tackle tore his triceps in training camp and had surgery, leaving Washington to move forward without one of its biggest offseason additions while he works through the rehab process.
Dan Quinn said Tunsil is still a few weeks away from his next medical check to see how the healing is progressing, and the signs so far have been described as on track. Even so, whether Tunsil plays again this season may end up depending as much on where the Commanders stand in the standings as on the next round of evaluations. [Read more 🡒]