The Washington Commanders may have a decision to make on Stefon Diggs before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, and the timing could get interesting fast if the Los Angeles Rams come calling.
On Monday, Sean McVay said Puka Nucua is likely headed to injured reserve after suffering multiple sprains to the ligaments in his knee. With Davante Adams also on IR, the 5-4 Rams suddenly look like a team that could be shopping for help at wide receiver. Diggs fits that need on paper, especially for a club trying to win now.
There is a catch, though: cap space. Even if the Rams want to make a move, their financial flexibility could make a deal difficult. Still, Diggs would be an appealing target for any contender in need of a receiver, and Washington has to decide whether it wants to keep a DMV native it brought in during training camp or turn him into draft capital.
The appeal is easy to see. Spotrac says the team that acquires Diggs would only be on the hook for a $2.9 million cap hit because so much of his deal is tied to incentives. That makes him a relatively affordable option for a team looking for an experienced pass catcher, and his skill set could help replace some of what McVay will be missing while Nucua recovers.
Diggs also showed Sunday why he still matters. He wasn’t heavily involved early in the game and finished with three catches, but his final reception, with less than a minute left, helped get the Commanders close in their loss to the Rams.
It was the kind of play that reminded everyone what he can still do, even as it also left head coach Dan Quinn wanting more. In an interview with WUSA9, Quinn said he would have preferred Diggs to handle the play differently.
For Washington, the bigger picture is messy. Diggs has been the team’s most productive wideout this season, posting 30 receptions for 303 yards and five touchdowns.
But he has also had five drops, and those miscues have hurt the Commanders at different points. He was also flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Commanders’ own wide receiver situation is thin, but their record makes the calculus harder. At 2-5-1, their playoff path is narrow, with only a slim chance of catching the Giants and Cowboys to take the division.
As for what Diggs might bring back, one recent article suggested a 2027 fourth-round pick, but that feels rich for a receiver who is about to turn 33 and has only half a season left. A fifth- or sixth-round pick seems more realistic. That leaves Adam Peters with a straightforward but difficult choice: keep a proven veteran receiver for a fading season, or cash in if the Rams - or someone else - decide Diggs is worth the price before the deadline passes.
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Moores name has already started to circulate as one of the more intriguing defenders in the class, while Scott and Soten give Miami a pair of interior linemen who could also draw interest from teams looking to add size and disruption up front. Injuries and individual performances at the game were part of the backdrop, but for Washington the real significance was simpler: the Commanders were there, and the early signs suggest their draft board may be leaning toward defense. [Read more 🡒]
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With little proven depth behind him, the situation has become more than just a short-term patch job. Washington is now weighing its options at left tackle, and the internal conversation has turned to whether a change is needed before the problem gets any bigger, with the practice squad offering at least one possible path if the Commanders decide to make a move. [Read more 🡒]