Adam Peters has a lot on his plate as the Commanders head into roster cutdown weekend. Washington still has to get to an initial 53-man roster, build out a practice squad and keep one eye on the waiver wire for any help that shakes loose before the 2026 regular season opens.
That means Peters is not only looking for additions. He may also be staring at a few names who could bring back something in return.
The Commanders have some areas where the depth chart is crowded enough that a trade could make sense, especially at receiver and linebacker. Player-for-player swaps don’t happen often in the NFL, but Washington could still use a surplus piece to collect an asset or help cover a weaker spot. With that in mind, here are three players who could be moved.
Dyami Brown is the most obvious one to watch. He has put together a strong camp, particularly in recent days, but he still finds himself on the bubble in a deep receiver room. The signing of Stefon Diggs shifted the whole group and pushed the players fighting for bigger roles further down the pecking order.
Special teams also matters here. Jaylin Lane looks safe because of his return value, and Luke McCaffrey appears safer than most.
That leaves Brown and Treylon Burks battling for what seems like the No. 6 receiver job, since keeping seven wideouts does not look likely. That kind of squeeze could make either player a trade candidate.
Brown might actually bring back the better return. He has speed and has been available consistently, which gives him some appeal. Burks offers big-play ability, injury insurance and size in the passing game, but Washington could afford to move Brown and still manage the roster.
Jordan Magee is another possibility. He looks headed for the 53-man roster as a reserve behind Sonny Styles, Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal, but the Commanders also have Kain Medrano and Ale Kaho in the mix. Both have flashed this preseason and both bring athleticism and special teams value, though they remain on the bubble.
Magee has also dealt with shoulder problems during camp, which could affect how another team views him. Still, he may be seen as a dependable backup. If Washington moved him, the Commanders would need Medrano and Kaho to hold up, and any deal would have to make sense in return.
Dorance Armstrong is the name that feels more like a trade deadline possibility than a move before the season. He is coming off a torn ACL and is also set to serve a one-game suspension to open the year. Washington has gotten encouraging early production from rookie Joshua Josephs, who is still developing, as well as Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
Armstrong remains a valuable depth rusher. He has experience, he can help protect against injuries at a premium position and he is in a contract year.
That combination could make him especially attractive later, once he has shown he can produce after the injury. For now, he may be more likely to draw interest down the line than before roster cuts, but the logic is the same: sometimes you have to part with something valuable to get something valuable.
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