The Washington Commanders have two weeks and two games to sort out a simple but tricky question: are they buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between?
The NFL trade deadline arrives on November 10, and Washington’s 1-4-1 start would normally point straight toward selling. But this NFC East is packed tight enough to complicate things.
The Giants are sitting in first at 3-2-1, while the Commanders are only two games back and just a half-game behind Dallas and Philadelphia for second place. Nobody in the division has run away with it, which leaves general manager Adam Peters with a real decision to make.
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated recently listed 15 veterans who could be on the move, and two Commanders made the cut: wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Diggs came in at No. 7 on Verderame’s list. He wrote that Diggs “will turn 33 next month and is on a one-year deal.
In other words, there’s no reason to waste time on the Commanders, who appear destined for a below-.500 season. Through five games, Diggs has caught 18 passes for 170 yards, making him a worthwhile target for a contender looking to add a veteran pass catcher with postseason experience.”
Verderame named the Chiefs and Ravens as possible landing spots. Washington, though, would prefer to keep Diggs around.
He’s been happy in Washington and productive as well, leading the team with four touchdown passes already. His role could grow even more with Terry McLaurin out for the season.
Still, the logic of a trade is easy to see from a front-office standpoint. These are the kinds of moves that teams thinking ahead tend to make.
Payne landed at No. 10 on Verderame’s list, and his case is just as interesting. He’s scheduled to reach free agency after this season, and at 29, he hasn’t topped four sacks or 11 quarterback hits since 2022, when he earned his lone Pro Bowl nod. Even so, he remains a force inside, someone who draws double teams and has played at least 61% of the snaps every year of his career.
Verderame pointed to the 49ers and Lions as possible fits for Payne, though he added that other teams could make sense as well.
Payne’s availability would create a market in a hurry. He rarely misses games, which matters.
He can rush the passer, too. The concern is that his run defense hasn’t been as strong as you’d like.
And from Washington’s perspective, the bigger issue is that it does not sound like the team wants to hand him another long-term deal. If that’s the stance, then the move is obvious.
All of which makes Washington one of the most interesting teams to watch as the deadline approaches.
In Other News...
Dan Quinn Just Opened The Door To A Commanders O-Line Shakeup
The Commanders are still sorting through a stretch that has tested both sides of the ball, and the latest roster churn is a reminder of how quickly depth can get stretched. While Steve Wilks has been brought in to help the defensive staff and veteran lineman Laremy Tunsil continues to offer leadership despite injury, the offense has had its own issues, with receiver Stefon Diggs struggling with multiple drops and the line not playing cleanly enough for Dan Quinns liking.
Quinn made it clear he sees the offensive line as a spot that could change, and he did not shut the door on personnel adjustments as Washington tries to steady things. Elsewhere, receiver Jaylin Lane had surgery for a fractured and dislocated ankle and is expected back before offseason workouts, while the kind of roster movement that always follows a rough stretch has already started to show up around the edges of the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Faces A Tough New Debate After Uneven Monday Night
Jayden Daniels return to the Monday night stage came with the kind of uneven finish that tends to sharpen the conversation around a young quarterback. In Washingtons 23-17 loss to the 49ers, the Commanders saw Daniels complete nearly 73% of his passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns, a line that still offered plenty of evidence of his talent even as he continued working back from a left elbow injury.
The bigger issue for Washington was the way the night ended, and how quickly the outside debate has started to turn toward Daniels long-term development. Stephen A. Smith and Emmanuel Acho both weighed in afterward, comparing his performance and injury history with other quarterbacks and raising questions about where his growth goes from here, a conversation the Commanders would much rather have on their terms than after a frustrating loss. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinn Suddenly Has A Commanders Problem That Feels Different
The loss to the 49ers left Washington stuck at 1-4-1 and alone in the basement of the NFC East, but the noise around Dan Quinn went well beyond one bad Sunday. On ESPN, Stephen A. Smith pointed to what he sees as bigger issues than a single defeat, criticizing the Commanders for clock management and for not showing enough progress in developing a quarterback under Quinns watch.
Chris Canty added another layer to the conversation by wondering whether a change could come sooner rather than later. With the bye week up next, the discussion is no longer just about the record or the latest blown opportunity. It has turned into a wider question about whether this staff has enough time to steady the season, or whether Washington is already preparing for a reset. [Read more 🡒]